Australia women's national under-20 soccer team

This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Australia men's national under-20 soccer team.
Australia under-20
Nickname(s)Young Matildas
AssociationFootball Australia
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Sub-confederationAFF (South-East Asia)
Head coachAlex Epakis
FIFA codeAUS
First colours
Second colours
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Appearances5 (first in 2002)
Best resultQuarter-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 squad U19 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 

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.

Coaching staff

Position Name
Head coach Alex Epakis[5]

Players

Current squad

The following 23 players were called up for the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers on 6–10 August 2025.[6][7]

Caps and goals are current as of 6 August 2025 after the match against Tajikistan.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Ilona Melegh (2008-07-02) 2 July 2008 1 0 FSA NTC
12 1GK Jasmine Black (2006-05-03) 3 May 2006 0 0 Northern Tigers
18 1GK Sofia Fante 0 0 Sydney University
2 2DF Amelia Bennett (2008-05-22) 22 May 2008 0 0 Western Sydney Wanderers
3 2DF Tegan Bertolissio (2006-08-01) 1 August 2006 6 0 Macarthur Rams
4 2DF Maya Lobo (2005-11-28) 28 November 2005 9 1 Macarthur Rams
15 2DF Alexia Apostolakis (captain) (2006-05-16) 16 May 2006 20 1 Melbourne City
22 2DF Rubi Sullivan (2009-01-07) 7 January 2009 1 0 NWS Spirit
23 2DF Amali Kinsella 1 0 Brisbane Roar
5 3MF Sian Dewey (2007-06-09) 9 June 2007 FSA NTC
10 3MF Amelia Cassar 0 0 Sydney FC
14 3MF Zara Kruger (2006-05-29) 29 May 2006 15 1 Brisbane Roar
16 3MF Avaani Prakash (2006-12-13) 13 December 2006 8 3 Western United
17 3MF Madeleine Caspers (2007-03-15) 15 March 2007 5 1 Sydney University
6 4FW Milly Boughton (2006-02-03) 3 February 2006 6 0 Unattached
7 4FW India Breier (2006-04-30) 30 April 2006 1 1 Macarthur Rams
8 4FW Amber Luchtmeijer (2007-02-26) 26 February 2007 4 1 Sydney FC
9 4FW Skye Halmarick 1 4 Sydney FC
11 4FW Sienna Saveska (2006-09-25) 25 September 2006 1 3 Illawarra Stingrays
13 4FW Tiana Fuller (2008-07-28) 28 July 2008 1 1 Sydney Olympic
19 4FW Talia Younis (2008-10-26) 26 October 2008 1 0 Western Sydney Wanderers
20 4FW Caley Tallon-Henniker (2006-02-17) 17 February 2006 0 0 Illawarra Stingrays
21 4FW Peta Trimis (2006-05-18) 18 May 2006 14 3 Sydney Olympic

Recent call-ups

The following players were called up to the squad within the last 12 months and still remain eligible for selection.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Tahlia Franco (2006-06-29) 29 June 2006 2 0 Sydney FC 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, 31 August–22 September 2024
GK Chloe Lincoln (2005-01-04) 4 January 2005 19 0 Western United 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, 31 August–22 September 2024
GK Grace Wilson (2005-03-04) 4 March 2005 2 0 Maine Black Bears 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, 31 August–22 September 2024
DF Isabela Hoyos (2008-05-23) 23 May 2008 Brisbane Roar AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers, 6–10 August 2025PRE
DF Alexis Collins (2008-03-10) 10 March 2008 0 0 Newcastle Jets PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament, 17–26 February 2025
DF Anastasia Simic 0 0 FSA NTC PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament, 17–26 February 2025
MF Claire Adams (2006-08-26) 26 August 2006 0 0 Newcastle Jets AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers Training Camp, 23 June–2 July 2025
MF Daniela Galic (2006-06-17) 17 June 2006 19 6 Vittsjö GIK AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers Training Camp, 23 June–2 July 2025
MF Shelby McMahon (2008-05-13) 13 May 2008 0 0 Melbourne City AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers Training Camp, 23 June–2 July 2025
MF Mary Stanic-Floody (2006-01-03) 3 January 2006 0 0 Canberra United AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers Training Camp, 23 June–2 July 2025
MF Indiana dos Santos (2007-10-10) 10 October 2007 12 0 Sydney FC PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament, 17–26 February 2025
MF Shay Hollman (2005-09-19) 19 September 2005 14 2 Sydney FC 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, 31 August–22 September 2024
FW Grace Kuilamu (2007-03-13) 13 March 2007 0 0 Brisbane Roar AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers, 6–10 August 2025PRE
FW Claire Adams (2006-08-26) 26 August 2006 0 0 Newcastle Jets AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers Training Camp, 23 June–2 July 2025
FW Josie Allan (2006-06-23) 23 June 2006 0 0 Newcastle Jets AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers Training Camp, 23 June–2 July 2025
FW Daisy Brown 0 0 QAS Academy AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers Training Camp, 23 June–2 July 2025
FW Kiera Myers 0 0 Unattached AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers Training Camp, 23 June–2 July 2025
FW Nikkita Fazzari (2007-01-01) 1 January 2007 0 0 Western Sydney Wanderers PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament, 17–26 February 2025
FW Jynaya dos Santos (2005-09-22) 22 September 2005 12 4 Canberra United 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, 31 August–22 September 2024
FW Lara Gooch (2005-11-02) 2 November 2005 8 1 Newcastle Jets 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, 31 August–22 September 2024
FW Ella O'Grady (2006-12-31) 31 December 2006 7 3 Melbourne Victory 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, 31 August–22 September 2024
Notes
  • PRE Preliminary squad / on stand-by.

Recent 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

2024

23 August Friendly Nigeria  2–1   Bogotá, Colombia
--:-- UTC−5 Report Stadium: Club Banco de la República
31 August 2024 World Cup GS Colombia  2–0   Bogotá, Colombia
18:00 UTC−5
  • Y. López 58'
  • Caicedo 76'
 Report Stadium: Estadio El Campín
Referee: Ivana Martinčić (Croatia)
3 September 2024 World Cup GS Mexico  2–0   Bogotá, Colombia
17:00 UTC−5
Report Stadium: Estadio El Campín
6 September 2024 World Cup GS   0–2  Cameroon Bogotá, Colombia
17:00 UTC−5 Report
  • Toko Njoya 45+4'
  • Eto 61'
 Stadium: Estadio El Campín
Referee: Natalie Simon (United States)

2025

19 February PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament   9–0  Vanuatu Canberra
15:00 UTC+11
  • Saveska 13', 17'
  • Kuilamu 30'
  • Allan 34'
  • Caspers 44'
  • Breier 50'
  • Lobo 63'
  • Stanic-Floody 72', 90+4'
 Report Stadium: Viking Park
22 February PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament   12–0  Solomon Islands Canberra
18:30 UTC+11
  • McMahon 9', 23'
  • Trimis 27', 48', 65'
  • Collins 40', 51', 69'
  • Tallon-Henniker 54', 90+1'
  • Lobo 73'
  • Saveska 89'
 Report Stadium: Viking Park
25 February PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament   5–2  Thailand Canberra
18:30 UTC+11
  • Saveska 10', 27' (pen.), 77'
  • ? 70' (o.g.)
  • Tallon-Henniker 90+4'
 Report
  • Casteen 19', 34'
 Stadium: Deakin Stadium
6 August AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers   14–0  Tajikistan Dushanbe, Tajikistan
22:00 UTC+5
  • Halmarick 3', 7', 20', 42'
  • Breier 22'
  • Caspers 28'
  • Ochildieva 31' (o.g.)
  • Fuller 48'
  • Prakash 50' (pen.), 72'
  • Saveska 58', 82', 90+4'
  • Luchtmeijer 89'
 Report Stadium: Pamir Stadium
Referee: Dong Fangyu (China)
8 August AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers Palestine  0–3   Dushanbe, Tajikistan
19:00 UTC+5 Report
  • Trimis 8'
  • Luchtmeijer 68'
  • Lobo 80'
 Stadium: Pamir Stadium
Referee: Haruna Kanematsu (Japan)
10 August AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers   v  Chinese Taipei Dushanbe, Tajikistan
19:00 UTC+5 Source Stadium: Pamir Stadium

Competitive record

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA
2002 Quarter-finals 5th 4 1 1 2 8 9
2004 Quarter-finals 7th 4 1 0 3 6 8
2006 Group stage 9th 3 1 1 1 4 3
2008 Did not qualify
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2022 Group stage 12th 3 1 0 2 3 6
2024 Group stage 20th 3 0 0 3 0 6
Total 4/11 0 Titles 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 did not enter no qualification
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 Group stage 5th 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 Fifth place 5th 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 Fourth place 4th 5 2 0 3 6 22 6 6 0 0 41 3
2022 Competition cancelled
2024 Third place 3rd 5 4 0 1 9 6 5 5 0 0 30 0
Total 9/11 0 Titles 39 17 1 21 77 80 22 21 0 1 162 8

AFF Women's Championship

AFF 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
Total 4/12 0 titles 22 14 3 5 89 22

Honours

OFC Women's U-20 Qualifying Tournament

AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup

2025 Pacific Women's Four Nations Tournament

Notes

References

  1. ^ "Womens U20s". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d Stell, Marion (2004). Soccer. Girls in Sport. ABC Books. ISBN 0-7333-1426-0.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "CommBank Young Matildas squad confirmed for the AFC U-20 Womens Asian Cup Qualifiers". Matildas. Football Australia. 21 July 2025.
  7. ^ "CommBank Young Matildas Squad Update – AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers". Football Australia. 29 July 2025.
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