The CommBank Matildas will make their historic debut in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup with United captain Michelle Heyman named in the 23-player squad to represent Australia at the prestigious four nations tournament in the United States.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the tournament has Australia scheduled to face Japan (current world number eight), the United States (reigning Olympic gold medallists), and Colombia (current world number 21) in a highly competitive round-robin format.
With just over a year until the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™, the SheBelieves Cup serves as a key milestone in the CommBank Matildas’ journey with the tournament offering an invaluable platform to build on the efforts undertaken late in 2024.
Interim Head Coach Tom Sermanni said: “The SheBelieves Cup allows us to challenge ourselves against some of the best teams globally, and it’s an essential step as we work toward establishing a strong foundation for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2026.
“To play three quality nations, all with differing styles, in a tournament style format will allow us to continue assessing the squad and identify the areas that we will need to continue to invest in improving over the next twelve months.
“We’ve selected a squad with the clear objective of winning this tournament. While some challenges came with players returning from European winter breaks and the restart of the USA and Scandinavian leagues, these realities also created opportunities. It’s important to carry on exposing emerging players to high-level, tournament-style football early.
“Our Technical Staff have been watching Ninja A-League matches all summer, ensuring we get a full picture of player form and fitness. Selection is always competitive, and we’ve built a squad that reflects that. It’s crucial to have depth and balance in the group as we prepare for the challenges ahead.
“We know how important it is to keep this team on a stable footing, and that means performing at our best every time we step onto the pitch. We want to play the Australian wa —aggressive, front-foot football, always looking for ways to win. This tournament is another opportunity to reinforce that style and build momentum.
“With the AFC Women’s Asian Cup on the horizon, internal competition within the squad is key. Every player knows they need to push for their place, and this tournament gives us another chance to see how they respond in a high-pressure environment. SheBelieves will provide valuable insights as we fine-tune our preparations moving forward,” Sermanni concluded.
Australia’s campaign begins on February 19, when they take on Asian Football Confederation compatriots Japan at the Toyota Stadium in Houston, Texas (4.05pm local). The CommBank Matildas will then meet the world number one United States on February 22 at State Farm Stadium, Glendale (3.05pm local) before concluding the tournament with a clash against Colombia on February 25 at the Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego (4:30 PM local).
Australia’s participation in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup will be available for fans to watch live on Paramount+ thanks to Football Australia’s broadcast partner, Paramount Australia.
