Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson has revealed his final squad set to compete at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with Kyah Simon the surprise selection among the 23-strong outfit.
Captain and Chelsea FC star Sam Kerr headlines the squad selected to represent the nation at the major tournament staged in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20.
Kerr is joined by the likes of Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso, Clare Polkinghorne and Ellie Carpenter as expected inclusions among the final 23-player squad; Simon would normally join those familiar names as a World Cup certainty, if not for an ACL injury in October whilst playing for English club Tottenham Hotspur.
Simon is yet to return to action, but has been entrusted with a spot in the 23-player squad by Gustavsson in what can only be described as a roll of the dice from the Matildas head coach.
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Meanwhile, there’s heartbreak for Chloe Logarzo, who was named in the 29-player preliminary squad in June but does not make the final cut for the World Cup. Logarzo recovered from an ACL injury of her own, returning through the Liberty A-League with Western United before making her Matildas comeback in October. A subsequent plantar fasciitis injury in her left foot has kept Logarzo sidelined since January, and she’s one of the unfortunate names from the preliminary squad to miss out on selection for the major tournament.
Of the 29-player preliminary squad, Logarzo is one of six to make way along with Amy Sayer, Remy Siemsen, Jada Whyman, Larissa Crummer and Emily Gielnik.
A-Leagues stars Clare Hunt (Western Sydney) and Cortnee Vine (Sydney FC) earned their respective spots in the final 23; they’ll venture to the World Cup for the very first time.
Joining Vine and Hunt as World Cup debutants are Alex Chidiac, Clare Wheeler, Charlotte Grant, Courtney Nevin and Kyra Cooney-Cross, while veterans Clare Polkinghorne and Lydia Williams both prepare to take part in their fifth World Cup.
“Today is the end of a two-and-a-half-year process and the wonderful start of a thrilling new journey for the team,” Gustavsson said, upon announcing his 23-player squad.
“Selecting this World Cup squad has been the toughest challenge so far, but the whole coaching and support staff are all completely overjoyed for the 23 players who will represent the nation during this tournament.”
“These 23 players not only exemplify what it means to be a part of the tradition of the CommBank Matildas, but also what it means to represent the 25 million Australians we know are fully behind us. They have the heart, desire and the passion for the crest, and I can’t wait to see the next part of their story.”
VISIT KEEPUP’S WOMEN’S WORLD CUP HUB!
READ: Every 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad confirmed so far
ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know about the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
SQUAD NOTES
Provided by Football Australia
- The average age of the Matildas squad is 27.9 years; Mary Fowler is the youngest player selected at 20 years, and Aivi Luik is the eldest at 38
- There’s an average of 67 caps per player among the selected squad
- The 2023 squad is the most experienced of any Matildas squad across eight Women’s World Cups
CommBank Matildas | Final Squad | FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
| # | NAME | CLUB | CAPS (GOALS) | FWWC APPS | JUNIOR CLUB / MEMBER FEDERATION |
| 1 | Lydia WILLIAMS | Brighton & Hove Albion WFC | 102 (0) | 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 | Tuggeranong, Woden Valley / Capital Football |
| 2 | Courtney NEVIN | Leicester City WFC | 22 (0) | Debut | Oakville Ravens SC / Football New South Wales |
| 3 | Aivi LUIK | BK Häcken | 42 (1) | 2019 | Palm Beach SC / Football Queensland |
| 4 | Clare POLKINGHORNE | Vittsjö GIK | 156 (16) | 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 | Wynnum Wolves, Capalaba Bulldogs / Football Queensland |
| 5 | Cortnee VINE | Sydney FC | 16 (3) | Debut | Peninsula Power FC / Football Queensland |
| 6 | Clare WHEELER | Everton WFC | 14 (0) | Debut | Adamstown Rosebud / Northern NSW Football |
| 7 | Steph CATLEY | Arsenal WFC | 109 (3) | 2015, 2019 | East Bentleigh, SE Cougars / Football Victoria |
| 8 | Alex CHIDIAC | Racing Louisville FC | 27 (2) | Debut | Croydon Kings/ Football South Australia |
| 9 | Caitlin FOORD | Arsenal WFC | 108 (29) | 2011, 2015, 2019 | Warilla Wanderers / Football New South Wales |
| 10 | Emily VAN EGMOND | San Diego Wave FC | 127 (30) | 2011, 2015, 2019 | Dudley Redhead United FC / Northern NSW Football |
| 11 | Mary FOWLER | Manchester City FC | 36 (9) | 2019 | Leichhardt FC / Football Queensland |
| 12 | Teagan MICAH | FC Rosengård | 14 (0) | 2019 | Brisbane Blue, Brisbane Central / Football Queensland |
| 13 | Tameka YALLOP | SK Brann | 112 (12) | 2011, 2015, 2019 | Mudgeeraba SC / Football Queensland |
| 14 | Alanna KENNEDY | Manchester City WFC | 108 (8) | 2015, 2019 | Campbelltown Cobras SC / Football New South Wales |
| 15 | Clare HUNT | Western Sydney Wanderers FC | 5 (0) | Debut | Grenfell Junior Soccer Club / Football New South Wales |
| 16 | Hayley RASO | Unattached | 70 (12) | 2015, 2019 | Banora Point SC / Football Queensland |
| 17 | Kyah SIMON | Unattached | 111 (29) | 2011, 2015 | Quakers Hill, Hills Brumbies / Football New South Wales |
| 18 | Mackenzie ARNOLD | West Ham United FC | 34 (0) | 2015, 2019 | Burleigh Heads SC / Football Queensland |
| 19 | Katrina GORRY | Vittsjö GIK | 93 (17) | 2015, 2019 | Mount Gravatt Hawks FC / Football Queensland |
| 20 | Sam KERR | Chelsea WFC | 120 (63) | 2011, 2015, 2019 | Western Knights SC / Football West |
| 21 | Ellie CARPENTER | Olympique Lyon | 61 (3) | 2019 | Cowra and District JSC / Football New South Wales |
| 22 | Charlotte GRANT | Vittsjö GIK | 18 (1) | Debut | Cumberland United Women’s FC / Football South Australia |
| 23 | Kyra COONEY-CROSS | Hammarby IF | 27 (0) | Debut | Bli Bli United FC / Football Queensland |
Fixtures | Group B | FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Australia v Republic of Ireland
Date: 20 July 2023
Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney/Wangal
Kick-off Time: 8:00pm (AEST)
Broadcast: Optus Sport and Channel 7
Australia v Nigeria
Date: 27 July 2023
Venue: Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane/Meanjin
Kick-off Time: 8:00pm (AEST)
Broadcast: Optus Sport and Channel 7
Canada v Australia
Date: 31 July 2023
