The bulk of Australia’s FIFA Women’s World Cup squad looks fully settled after Matildas boss Tony Gustavsson named close to his strongest playing group for the forthcoming Cup of Nations in New South Wales.
In a 24-player squad featuring five names from the Liberty A-League, there is only one fresh face – Western Sydney Wanderers defender Clare Hunt brought in on the back of some impressive displays this season.
Uncapped Hunt is one of six Liberty A-League players in the squad, alongside Katrina Gorry and Larissa Crummer (both Brisbane Roar), Alex Chidiac and Elise Kellond-Knight (both Melbourne Victory), and Sydney FC forward Cortnee Vine.
Otherwise, 21 of the 24 players named for last November’s games with Sweden and Thailand keep their places, with experienced trio Emily Gielnik, Tameka Yallop and Mackenzie Arnold all returning from injuries that kept them out.
In the tournament where Australia will play against Czechia (in Gosford), Spain (in Parramatta) and Jamaica (in Newcastle), Gustavsson aims to mirror the opposition to be faced in Australia’s group-stage games when the World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand in July.
One of those games is almost certain to be record-breaking, with experienced defender Clare Polkinghorne needing one more appearance to move clear of Cheryl Salisbury as the most-capped Matilda.
Most of the squad is likely to get game time, as Gustavsson looks to build the “chemistry” he sees as vital for his team to make progress deep into the World Cup as co-hosts.
“The first camp of the year is always an exciting prospect following a lengthy break from the team environment, and in a FIFA Women’s World Cup year, it adds a little more anticipation,” Gustavsson said.
“Our Cup of Nations squad has been selected in line with our principles built in the back half of 2022 as we continue to create consistency and chemistry among the playing group. This is particularly important in a tournament that mirrors the group stage play and presents an opportunity to maximise our time together with less than 200 days until the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off.”
Outside of this group, only Ellie Carpenter, Kyah Simon and Holly McNamara are certainties to make the World Cup squad – if they can recover in time and prove they are fully fit following respective serious injuries.
“We were pleased with the way the team progressed towards the end of 2022 and the matches provided many learnings for us to build on during these games later this month,” Gustavsson added.
“We know there are some areas we need to continue evolving in and that will be the focus of our matches against three opponents that provide real variety of approach.”
| NAME | POSITION | CLUB | CAPS (GOALS) | JUNIOR CLUB / MEMBER FEDERATION |
| Mackenzie ARNOLD | Goalkeeper | West Ham United FC | 29 (0) | Burleigh / Football Queensland |
| Steph CATLEY | Defender | Arsenal WFC | 106 (3) | East Bentleigh, SE Cougars / Football Victoria |
| Alex CHIDIAC | Midfielder | Melbourne Victory on loan from Racing Louisville FC | 22 (1) | Croydon Kings/ Football South Australia |
| Kyra COONEY-CROSS | Midfielder | Hammarby IF | 22 (0) | Ballarat City / Football Victoria |
| Larissa CRUMMER | Forward | Brisbane Roar FC | 30 (4) | Peninsula Power / Football Queensland |
| Caitlin FOORD | Forward | Arsenal WFC | 106 (27) | Warilla Wanderers / Football New South Wales |
| Mary FOWLER | Forward | Manchester City FC | 32 (8) | Leichhardt / Football Queensland |
| Emily GIELNIK | Forward | Aston Villa FC | 57 (11) | Redlands United / Football Queensland |
| Katrina GORRY | Midfielder | Vittsjö GIK | 88 (16) | Mt Gravatt Hawks / Football Queensland |
| Charlotte GRANT | Defender | Vittsjö GIK | 13 (0) | Cumberland United Women’s FC / Football South Australia |
| Clare HUNT | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers FC | 0 (0) | Grenfell Junior Soccer Club / Football NSW |
| Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT | Midfielder | Melbourne Victory FC | 114 (2) | Runaway Bay / Football Queensland |
| Alanna KENNEDY | Defender | Manchester City FC | 108 (8) | Campbelltown Cobras / Football New South Wales |
| Sam KERR | Forward | Chelsea WFC | 116 (61) | Western Knights / Football West |
| Aivi LUIK | Defender | BK Hacken | 41 (1) | Palm Beach SC / Football Queensland |
| Teagan MICAH | Goalkeeper | FC Rosengård | 14 (0) | Brisbane Blue, Brisbane Central / Football Queensland |
| Courtney NEVIN | Defender | Leicester City on loan from Hammarby IF | 18 (0) | Oakville Ravens / Football New South Wales |
| Clare POLKINGHORNE | Defender | Vittsjö GIK | 151 (14) | Wynnum Wolves, Capalaba / Football Queensland |
| Hayley RASO | Forward | Manchester City FC | 66 (9) | Banora Point/Football Queensland |
| Amy Sayer | Midfielder | Stanford University | 6 (0) | Northbridge FC / Football New South Wales |
| Emily VAN EGMOND | Midfielder | San Diego WAVE FC | 124 (30) | Dudley-Redhead / Northern NSW Football |
| Cortnee VINE | Forward | Sydney FC | 11 (2) | Peninsula Power FC / Football Queensland |
| Clare WHEELER | Midfielder | Everton WFC | 11 (0) | Adamstown Rosebud / Northern NSW Football |
| Tameka YALLOP | Midfielder | SK Brann | 109 (12) | Mudgeeraba / Football Queensland |
| Lydia WILLIAMS | Goalkeeper | Brighton & Hove Albion | 102 (0) | Tuggeranong, Woden Valley / Capital Football |
