ENSIKLOPEDIA
Young Matildas
.svg) | |||
| Nickname | Young Matildas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Football Australia | ||
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) | ||
| Sub-confederation | AFF (South-East Asia) | ||
| Head coach | Alex Epakis | ||
| FIFA code | AUS | ||
| |||
| FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 5 (first in 2002) | ||
| Best result | Quarter-finals (2002, 2004) | ||
The Australian women's national under-20 soccer team represents Australia in international women's under-20 soccer. The team is controlled by the governing body for soccer in Australia, Football Australia (FA), which is currently a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the regional ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) since leaving the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) in 2006. The team's official nickname is the Young Matildas.
History
The Australia women's national under-20 soccer team (later nicknamed Young Matildas) were established in the early 1990s.[1] Initially they were organised as an under-19 team,[2]: 16 which played a three-match series against New Zealand U19 in Australia in September 1991.[3] Another U19 squad toured Netherlands in 1998.[4] As a member of Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) the Young Matildas participated in the 2002 OFC Women's Under 19 Qualifying Tournament, held in Tonga from 23 April to 3 May. After winning their group matches against Tonga (hosts) 0–16 and Cook Islands (0–15) they defeated Samoa (13–0) in the semi-final and New Zealand (0–6) in the final. With that victory Australia U19 qualified for the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship (predecessor to U-20 Women's World Cup).[2]: 16 That tournament was held in Canada in August–September,[2]: 16 and the Young Matildas finished fifth. This is the highest finishing place in a FIFA sanctioned world-wide competition of any Australian women's national soccer team until the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, when the senior Matildas reached fourth.[2]: 16
In April 2004 with Adrian Santrac coaching, the team won the 2004 OFC Women's Under 19 Qualifying Tournament, where they defeated Solomon Islands 13–0,[5] and hosts Papua New Guinea 14–1,[6] to proceed to the U-19 Women's World Championship in Thailand in November.[7] The Young Matildas were sent home after losing their quarterfinal 0–2 against United States.[7][8]
Young Matildas became a U-20 team when FIFA changed the upper age limit for its top women's age-grade competition from 19 to 20 effective in 2006. Also during that year all Australian international soccer teams switched from OFC to Asian Football Confederation (AFC).[9] Alistair Edwards, as coach, took the team to the 2006 AFC U-19 Women's Championship in Malaysia in April,[10] where they finished third by defeating Japan 3–2 in the third place play-off.[11] Due to their performance, the Young Matildas qualified for the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship, held in Russia.[12] At that tournament Australia U20 were eliminated in the group stage.[13]
As the third-placed team for the 2006 tournament, the Young Matildas automatically qualified for 2007 AFC U-19 Women's Championship in Chongqing, China during October 2007.[14] With their 1–0 loss against Japan and a 2–1 loss against North Korea, the Australians were eliminated at the group stage and did not qualify for the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[14] The Young Matildas did not qualify for any U-19/U-20 world cup until 2022 when Leah Blayney coached the Australian squad in Costa Rica, where they were eliminated in the group stage.[15]
From 2013 to 2018, the Young Matildas represented their nation at successive AFF Women's Championships (later renamed ASEAN Women's Championships): a regional tournament for senior national teams in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). Australia U20's best performances were finishing runners-up in both 2013 and 2018.[16][17] In the latter final, they lost 3–2 against three-time champion Thailand despite Mary Fowler's Player of the Match performance scoring both Australian goals - Fowler also won the Golden Boot for most goals (ten) in the tournament.[17][18]
Blayney coached the squad, which qualified for the 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup, held in Uzbekistan in March.[19] The Young Matildas reached the finals, finishing third by defeating South Korea, 1–0.[19][20] New coach Alex Epakis oversaw their three victories in the 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup qualifiers for Group C, held during August 2025 in Tajikistan.[21] Young Matildas reached the related tournament, which was held in April 2026 in Thailand.[21]
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
- Legend
Win Draw Loss Fixture
2025
v 
Tajikistan
| 6 August AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers | Australia | 14–0 | Tajikistan | Dushanbe, Tajikistan |
| 22:00 UTC+5 |
|
Report | Stadium: Pamir Stadium Referee: Dong Fangyu (China) |
v Australia
| 8 August AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers | Palestine | 0–3 | Australia | Dushanbe, Tajikistan |
| 19:00 UTC+5 | Report |
|
Stadium: Pamir Stadium Referee: Haruna Kanematsu (Japan) |
v 
Chinese Taipei
| 10 August AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers | Australia | 3–0 | Chinese Taipei | Dushanbe, Tajikistan |
| 19:00 UTC+5 |
|
Report | Stadium: Pamir Stadium Referee: Dong Fangyu (China) |
v 
South Korea
| 28 November Friendly | Australia | 1–0 | South Korea | Canberra, Australia |
|
Report (FA) Report (KFA) |
Stadium: Australian Institute of Sport Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
v South Korea
| 30 November Friendly | Australia | 4–1 | South Korea | Canberra, Australia |
| Report (FA) Report (KFA) |
|
Stadium: Australian Institute of Sport Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
2026
v Chinese Taipei
| 2 April 2026 U-20 Asian Cup GS | Australia | 5–0 | Chinese Taipei | Pathum Thani, Thailand |
| 16:00 UTC+7 | Report | Stadium: Pathum Thani Stadium Attendance: 75 Referee: Gulshoda Saidqulova (Uzbekistan) |
v Australia
| 5 April 2026 U-20 Asian Cup GS | India | 0–5 | Australia | Pathum Thani, Thailand |
| 16:00 UTC+7 | Report | Stadium: Pathum Thani Stadium Attendance: 66 Referee: Esra'a Al-Mbaidin (Jordan) |
v Australia
| 8 April 2026 U-20 Asian Cup GS | Japan | 5–2 | Australia | Nonthaburi, Thailand |
| 16:00 UTC+7 | Report | Stadium: Nonthaburi Province Stadium Referee: Rawdha Al-Mansoori (United Arab Emirates) |
v Australia
| 12 April 2026 U-20 Asian Cup QF | North Korea | 3–0 | Australia | Pathum Thani, Thailand |
| 16:00 UTC+7 |
|
Report | Stadium: Pathum Thani Stadium Attendance: 137 Referee: Gulshoda Saidqulova (Uzbekistan) |
v 
New Zealand
| 20 May Friendly | Australia | v | New Zealand | Canberra, Australia |
| Source | Stadium: Australian Institute of Sport Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) |
v New Zealand
| 23 May Friendly | Australia | v | New Zealand | Canberra, Australia |
| Source | Stadium: Australian Institute of Sport |
Coaching staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Alex Epakis[22] |
Former managers
- Mike Mulvey (fl. 2001)[23]
- Adrian Santrac (fl. 2004)[7]
- Alistair Edwards (2005–2006)[24]
- Alen Stajcic (2007–2010)[25]
- Jeff Hopkins (2011–2012)[26]
- Spencer Prior (2012–2013)[27]
- Ante Juric (2014–2015)[28]
- Gary van Egmond (fl. 2016–2019)[29][30]
- Leah Blayney (2019–2024)[31]
- Kory Babington (2025, interim coach)[32]
- Alex Epakis (2025–present)[22]
Players
Current squad
The following 25 players were called up for friendlies against New Zealand on 20 and 23 May.[33]
Caps and goals are current as of 12 April 2026 after the match against North Korea.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1GK | Ilona Melegh | (2008-07-02) 2 July 2008 (age 17) | 7 | 0 | Adelaide United | |
| 1GK | Georgia Ritchie | (2008-03-11) 11 March 2008 (age 18) | 0 | 0 | Newcastle Jets | |
| 2DF | Amy Barker | (2008-06-17) 17 June 2008 (age 17) | 0 | 0 | Western Sydney Wanderers | |
| 2DF | Amelia Bennett | (2008-05-22) 22 May 2008 (age 17) | 4 | 0 | Western Sydney Wanderers | |
| 2DF | Tegan Bertolissio | (2006-08-01) 1 August 2006 (age 19) | 12 | 0 | Canberra United | |
| 2DF | Chelsea Biggs | 0 | 0 | Melbourne City | ||
| 2DF | Isabela Hoyos | (2008-05-23) 23 May 2008 (age 17) | Brisbane Roar | |||
| 2DF | Rubi Sullivan | (2009-01-07) 7 January 2009 (age 17) | 6 | 0 | Sydney FC | |
| 3MF | Ischia Brooking | (2008-11-23) 23 November 2008 (age 17) | 0 | 0 | Perth Glory | |
| 3MF | Daisy Brown | (2006-07-13) 13 July 2006 (age 19) | 3 | 2 | Brisbane Roar | |
| 3MF | Emma Dundas | (2007-05-29) 29 May 2007 (age 18) | 4 | 0 | Newcastle Jets | |
| 3MF | Clara Hoarau | (2007-04-08) 8 April 2007 (age 19) | 0 | 0 |  Fleury 91 | |
| 3MF | Zara Kruger | (2006-05-29) 29 May 2006 (age 19) | 19 | 1 | Brisbane Roar | |
| 3MF | Poppy O'Keefe | (2008-08-17) 17 August 2008 (age 17) | 4 | 0 | Melbourne Victory | |
| 3MF | Avaani Prakash | (2006-12-13) 13 December 2006 (age 19) | 14 | 4 | Central Coast Mariners | |
| 4FW | Amelia Cassar | (2008-02-09) 9 February 2008 (age 18) | 6 | 0 | Sydney FC | |
| 4FW | Sienna Dale | (2007-04-19) 19 April 2007 (age 19) | 3 | 0 | Canberra United | |
| 4FW | Eliza Familton | (2008-01-17) 17 January 2008 (age 18) | 0 | 0 | Central Coast Mariners | |
| 4FW | Tiana Fuller | (2008-07-28) 28 July 2008 (age 17) | 5 | 2 | Central Coast Mariners | |
| 4FW | Skye Halmarick | (2008-02-13) 13 February 2008 (age 18) | 7 | 11 | Sydney FC | |
| 4FW | Allyssa Ng-Saad | (2008-08-12) 12 August 2008 (age 17) | 0 | 0 | Western Sydney Wanderers | |
| 4FW | Lily Punch | (2008-09-25) 25 September 2008 (age 17) | 0 | 0 | Brisbane Roar | |
| 4FW | Sienna Saveska | (2006-09-25) 25 September 2006 (age 19) | 3 | 3 | Melbourne Victory | |
| 4FW | Talia Younis | (2008-10-26) 26 October 2008 (age 17) | 4 | 0 | Western Sydney Wanderers | |
| 4FW | Miriam Zumaya | (2008-06-23) 23 June 2008 (age 17) | 0 | 0 | Western Sydney Wanderers | |
Recent call-ups
The following players were called up to the squad within the last 12 months and still remain eligible for selection.
- Notes
- PRE Preliminary squad / on stand-by.
- INJ Withdrew due to injury
Competitive record
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
| Year | Result | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 2002 | Quarter-finals | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 9 | |
 2004 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | ||
 2006 | Group stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | |
 2008 | Did not qualify | |||||||
 2010 | ||||||||
| 2012 | ||||||||
| 2014 | ||||||||
 2016 | ||||||||
| 2018 | ||||||||
 2022 | Group stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
 2024 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||
 2026 | Did not qualify | |||||||
| Total | 5/12 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 21 | 32 | |
OFC U-20 Women's qualifying tournament
| OFC Women's U-20 Qualifying Tournament record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
 2002 | Winners | 1st | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 0 |
| 2004 | Winners | 1st | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 1 |
| Total | 2/2 | 2 Titles | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 1 |
AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup
| AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup | Qualification | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
| 2002 | Did not enter | No qualification | |||||||||||||
 2004 | |||||||||||||||
 2006 | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | |
| 2007 | Group stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | automatically qualified | ||||||
| 2009 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 2 | |||
 2011 | Fifth place | 5th | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 12 | automatically qualified | ||||||
| 2013 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 12 | automatically qualified | ||||||||
| 2015 | Group stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| 2017 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 3 | |||
 | Competition cancelled | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| 2026 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| Total:10/12 | Third place | 3rd | 43 | 19 | 1 | 23 | 89 | 88 | 25 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 182 | 8 | |
ASEAN Women's Championship
| ASEAN Women's Championship record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 2004 |
Did not enter | |||||||
| 2006 | ||||||||
 2007 | ||||||||
| 2008 |
See Australia women's national soccer team | |||||||
 2011 |
Did not enter | |||||||
| 2012 | ||||||||
 2013 |
Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 5 |
| 2015 |
Third place | 3rd | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 4 |
| 2016 |
Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 4 |
 2018 |
Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 36 | 9 |
| 2019 | Did not enter | |||||||
 2022 | See Australia women's national under-23 soccer team | |||||||
| 2025 | ||||||||
| Total | 4/12 | 0 titles | 22 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 89 | 22 |
ASEAN U-19 Women's Championship
| ASEAN U-19 Women's Championship record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 2022 |
See Australia women's national under-17 soccer team | |||||||
| 2023 |
Did not enter | |||||||
| 2025 | ||||||||
| Total | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Honours
OFC Women's U-20 Qualifying Tournament
PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament
- Winners: 2025
See also
References
- ↑ "Womens U20s". Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 Stell, Marion (2004). Soccer. Girls in Sport. ABC Books. ISBN 0-7333-1426-0.
- ↑ Cooke, Graham (8 September 1991). "Rogic forces way back into Metro's". The Canberra Times. Vol. 66, no. 20, 602. p. 20. Retrieved 15 July 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ Cohen, Brandon (25 June 2004). "Sport Karp selected for Olympics". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. 110, no. 39. New South Wales, Australia. p. 24. Retrieved 13 July 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Young Matildas outclass Solomon Islands - 2004 OFC U19 Women's Qualifier - PNG". SportingPulse. 22 April 2004. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ↑ "Australia books ticket to Thailand - 2004 OFC U19 Women's Qualifier - PNG". SportingPulse. 24 April 2004. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- 1 2 3 Associated Press (AP) (22 November 2004). "Matildas out of U19 world champs". news.ninemsn.com.au. Australian Associated Press (AAP). Archived from the original on 23 November 2004. Retrieved 9 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship Thailand 2004 - USA 2:0 (0:0) Australia - Overview". FIFA.com. 21 November 2004. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ↑ "Timeline of Australian Football". migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ↑ "Asian Women U-19 Championship 2006". rsssf.org. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ↑ "Schedule & Results". the-afc.com. 2006. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ↑ "Young Matildas". Football Australia. August 2006. Archived from the original on 23 August 2006. Retrieved 9 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Results". Football Australia. 2011. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- 1 2 Roman, Todd; King, Ian (17 April 2014). "Asian Women U-19 Championship 2007". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
- ↑ "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup™". fifa.com. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
- ↑ "The invited team for the regional competition clinched the AFF title after a beating Australia 5-3 on penalties". goal.com. 23 September 2013. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
- 1 2 "ASEAN Football Federation Knock-out Stage Match Summary M24: THA (W) vs AUS U20 (W)" (PDF). aseanfootball.org. 13 July 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
- ↑ TWG staff (18 July 2018). "Teenager Mary Fowler comes into Matildas squad". The Women's Game (TWG). Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- 1 2 "Watch CommBank Young Matildas vs Korea Republic at AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup 2024". Mirage News. 16 March 2024. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Young Matildas Clinch U20 Asian Cup Bronze, Beat Korea 1-0". Mirage News. 16 March 2024. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- 1 2 Woods, Julia (11 August 2025). "The CommBank Young Matildas secure spot in the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Thailand 2026™ after a 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei". Football Australia. Archived from the original on 21 September 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- 1 2 "Football Australia Announces New Head Coaches for U-20 and U-17 Women's National Team as Part of 'Team of Coaches' Initiative | Football Australia". www.footballaustralia.com.au. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
- ↑ "Young Matildas and NSWIS Opening Day Victors". Matildas. 5 August 2001. Archived from the original on 13 November 2003. Retrieved 13 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Alistair Edwards scores FFA role". Football West. 23 September 2009. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ Cockerill, Michael (5 August 2009). "Young Matildas pelted". The Age. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Official Home of Asian Football". the-afc.com. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ TWG Staff (16 October 2013). "Young Matildas downed 2-1 by China". The Women's Game. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ Staff writer (19 November 2014). "Ante Juric confident for Young Matildas' qualification campaign". Westfield Young Matildas U20s. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ Staff writer (21 October 2016). "Young Matildas squad announced for AFC U-19 Qualifiers". Westfield Young Matildas U20s. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Young Socceroos & Westfield Young Matildas squad updates". Western Sydney Wanderers FC. 19 October 2018. Archived from the original on 17 March 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Football Australia thanks Leah Blayney". Football Australia. 5 January 2025. Archived from the original on 27 January 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ↑ "CommBank Young Matildas open PacificAus Four Nations Tournament with a victory". Football Australia. 19 February 2025. Archived from the original on 19 February 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ↑ Woods, Julia (8 May 2026). "CommBank Young Matildas Squad confirmed for a two-match series against New Zealand at the AIS, Canberra". Matildas. Football Australia.
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