HEYMAN IN COMMBANK MATILDAS SQUAD FOR INTERNATIONAL AGAINST MEXICO

Twenty-three players have been named in the CommBank Matildas squad for the upcoming international with Mexico hosted at Toyota Field, San Antonio including United’s Michelle Heyman. 

Australia will take on the recent Concacaf W Gold Cup semi-finalists on Tuesday, 9 April 2024 (local) / Wednesday, 10 April 2024 (AEST) in their first meeting in thirteen years. 

The match will mark the first outing for the team since qualifying for the Paris 2024™ Olympic Games in February and will formally commence Australia’s preparations for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.  

CommBank Matildas’ Head Coach Tony Gustavsson said: “Following the achievement of Paris 2024™ qualification, our attention turns fully to ensuring the best preparation in terms of matches and training activity for the Olympics.”

“With our opponents revealed at the Olympic Draw this Thursday, our extremely challenging assignment over the coming months, and next two FIFA international windows, is to narrow down on the final 18 players that will provide the best chance for success when taking on those rivals in France. 

“That those decisions will be difficult speaks to the genuine depth and competition for places that we have created over the past three years. Unfortunately, due to limited roster spots for the Olympics, that results in some very good players in strong form missing out on selection for this window and for the Olympics,” he concluded. 

In a squad that features many familiar and consistent performers for club and country, it contains players from 16 different clubs, including three clubs from the A-League Women’s competition.

It also sees two changes from the squad that aided Australia in defeating Uzbekistan 13-0 on aggregate in Tashkent and Melbourne during the Round 3 Asian Qualifiers. 

Defender Courtney Nevin has earned a recall fresh off assisting Leicester City WFC in securing a place in the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals for the first time. A blistering six goals in her last five matches for Sydney FC, including three braces, has seen the in-form Cortnee Vine back in the reckoning after taking personal leave from February’s qualifiers. 

Midfielder Chloe Logarzo (hip) has been ruled out through injury, while goalkeeper Lydia Williams (ankle), defender Charlie Rule, and forward Sam Kerr (knee) all continue rehab in their club environments. 

“We have been consistent on the keys for squad selection which incorporates individual performances for club and in previous camps, combined with connection and chemistry. This 23-player squad looks to balance those areas as best as possible,” Gustavsson explained. 

“The upcoming international against Mexico will see one eye on preparation mode against a quality opponent who recently defeated the USWNT last month, while also continuing to implement our evolving playing style ahead of what will be a very competitive Olympic tournament,” Gustavsson concluded.  

The CommBank Matildas match against Mexico will air on Football Australia’s broadcast partner, Paramount ANZ.

Australia’s Paris 2024™ Olympic group stage opponents will be revealed tomorrow, Thursday, 21 March in Paris with the coverage commencing at 6.00am AEDT.  The draw procedures and broadcast details are available at matildas.com.au.

MATCH DETAILS | APRIL 2024 FIFA WINDOW

Mexico v Australia
Date: Tuesday, 9 April 2024 (local) / Wed, 10 April 2024 (AUS)
Kick-off: 7.00pm (local) / 10.00am (AEST)
Venue: Toyota Field, San Antonio, TX
Broadcast: Paramount ANZ  
Tickets: ticketmaster.com

FINAL SQUAD | APRIL 2024 FIFA WINDOW

NAME  POSITIONCLUB  CAPS (GOALS)JUNIOR CLUB /
MEMBER FEDERATION 
Mackenzie ARNOLD GoalkeeperWest Ham United FC 46 (0)  Burleigh Heads SC / Football Queensland  
Ellie CARPENTER (VC)BackOlympique Lyon 74 (4) Cowra and District JSC / Football New South Wales 
Steph CATLEY (C)BackArsenal WFC 123 (5) East Bentleigh, SE Cougars / Football Victoria  
Kyra COONEY-CROSS MidfielderArsenal WFC42 (0)  Bli Bli United FC / Football Queensland 
Caitlin FOORD ForwardArsenal WFC 121 (35)  Warilla Wanderers / Football New South Wales  
Mary FOWLER MidfielderManchester City WFC 50 (15)  Leichhardt FC / Football Queensland  
Katrina GORRY MidfielderWest Ham United FC107 (17)  Mount Gravatt Hawks FC / Football Queensland 
Charlotte GRANT BackTottenham Hotspur FC 23 (1)  Cumberland United Women’s FC / Football South Australia  
Michelle HEYMANForwardCanberra United FC63 (25)Illawarra Stingrays / Football NSW
Clare HUNT BackParis Saint-Germain FC18 (0) Grenfell Junior Soccer Club / Football New South Wales 
Alanna KENNEDY BackManchester City WFC 121 (9) Campbelltown Cobras SC / Football New South Wales 
Aivi LUIKBackBK Häcken 45 (1) Palm Beach SC / Football Queensland 
Teagan MICAH GoalkeeperLiverpool WFC17 (0)  Brisbane Blue, Brisbane Central / Football Queensland 
Courtney NEVINBackLeicester City WFC27 (0)Oakville Ravens / Football New South Wales
Clare POLKINGHORNE BackKristianstads DFF165 (16)  Wynnum Wolves, Capalaba Bulldogs / Football Queensland  
Hayley RASO ForwardReal Madrid Femenino84 (16) Palm Beach SC / Football Queensland 
Amy SAYERForwardKristianstads DFF11 (1)Northbridge FC / Football New South Wales
Kaitlyn TORPEYBackSan Diego Wave FC 2 (1)Olympic FC / Football Queensland
Emily VAN EGMOND (VC)MidfielderSan Diego Wave FC 141 (31) Dudley Redhead United FC / Northern NSW Football 
Cortnee VINEForwardSydney FC26 (3)Peninsula Power FC / Football Queensland 
Clare WHEELER MidfielderEverton WFC 18 (1) Adamstown Rosebud / Northern NSW Football 
Jada WHYMANGoalkeeperSydney FC0 (0)Tolland football Club / Football New South Wales
Tameka YALLOP MidfielderBrisbane Roar FC121 (13) Mudgeeraba SC / Football Queensland