The Matildas gear as much as thrill followers on the 2026 AFC Ladies’s Asian Cup, hosted throughout Sydney, Perth, and the Gold Coast in March. This complete squad breakdown highlights key gamers, from established stars like Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter, and Mary Fowler to promising newcomers together with Amy Sayer, Winonah Heatley, and Kahli Johnson.
Goalkeepers
Mackenzie Arnold
Hometown: Gold Coast, QLD
Present membership: Portland Thorns (USA)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 61 (0)
Mackenzie Arnold earned lasting fame for her penalty shootout heroics in Australia’s 2023 World Cup quarterfinal win in opposition to France, stopping three photographs in a 20-kick thriller. Debuting internationally in 2012, she has represented golf equipment in Australia, England, and the US. Arnold advocates for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing neighborhood whereas managing her personal listening to loss.
Jada Whyman
Hometown: Wagga Wagga, NSW
Present membership: AIK (Sweden)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 0 (0)
The only real uncapped member of the squad, Jada Whyman steps up as second-choice keeper behind Arnold following Teagan Micah’s withdrawal. A Wiradjuri Yorta Yorta lady, she performed for Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC earlier than becoming a member of AIK in 2024.
Chloe Lincoln
Hometown: Armidale, NSW
Present membership: Brisbane Roar (Australia)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 3 (0)
Chloe Lincoln, 21, joins the squad on account of Micah’s late pullout after lacking preliminary choice. She debuted internationally in 2024 and has constructed her profession within the A-League with Canberra United, Western United, and now Brisbane Roar forward of the 2025/26 season.
Defenders
Clare Hunt
Hometown: Grenfell, NSW
Present membership: Tottenham Hotspur (England)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 39 (1)
Clare Hunt rocketed to prominence, debuting in February 2023 and anchoring Australia’s protection at that 12 months’s World Cup. She superior to PSG then Tottenham, the place she begins repeatedly within the Ladies’s Tremendous League.
Steph Catley
Hometown: Melbourne, VIC
Present membership: Arsenal (England)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 141 (7)
A 3-time World Cup veteran and fifth-most capped Matilda, Steph Catley embodies Australian soccer legacy. Shifting from fullback to central roles, she received the UEFA Champions League and two FA Cups with Arsenal after stints in Australia and the US.
Alanna Kennedy
Hometown: Sydney, NSW
Present membership: London Metropolis Lionesses (England)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 142 (12)
Alanna Kennedy, a tenacious center-back since her 2012 debut at 17, enters her fourth Asian Cup and third World Cup. She just lately joined London Metropolis after golf equipment in Australia, England, and the US.
Winonah Heatley
Hometown: Port Douglas, QLD
Present membership: AS Roma (Italy)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 13 (0)
Versatile throughout protection and holding midfield, Winonah Heatley eyes a breakout on the match. After impressing in Sweden and Denmark, she signed with AS Roma in 2025 following her 2021 debut.
Charlize Rule
Hometown: Sydney, NSW
Present membership: Brighton & Hove Albion (England)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 1 (0)
Charlize Rule presents utility at center-back or right-back. Debuting in 2023 earlier than harm sidelined her, she received the A-League with Sydney FC previous to her 2023 transfer to England.
Courtney Nevin
Hometown: Sydney, NSW
Present membership: Malmo FF (Sweden)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 40 (1)
At 24, energetic fullback Courtney Nevin brings Olympic and World Cup expertise since her 2021 debut. A probable starter, she joined Malmo FF after Australia, Denmark, and England.
Ellie Carpenter
Hometown: Cowra, NSW
Present membership: Chelsea (England)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 93 (5)
The primary post-2000 born Matilda in 2016, 25-year-old Ellie Carpenter excels as a dynamic fullback. Her profession spans high golf equipment in Australia, the US, France, and England.
Jamilla Rankin
Hometown: Eureka, NSW
Present membership: TSG Hoffenheim (Germany)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 7 (0)
Central defender Jamilla Rankin transitioned from A-League stints with Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory to common begins at Hoffenheim. Debuting in 2022, she supplies rotation depth.
Midfielders
Clare Wheeler
Hometown: Newcastle, NSW
Present membership: Everton (England)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 34 (2)
Technically gifted as a No. 6 or box-to-box, Clare Wheeler grew right into a key Everton participant post-2023 World Cup squad inclusion. She eyes a beginning midfield function.
Alex Chidiac
Hometown: Adelaide, SA
Present membership: FC Como (Italy)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 37 (2)
Debuting at 16, versatile Alex Chidiac received a second Julie Dolan Medal final 12 months. She thrives at Como since mid-2025 regardless of inconsistent nationwide begins.
Kyra Cooney-Cross
Hometown: Sunshine Coast, QLD
Present membership: Arsenal (England)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 63 (2)
Inventive hub Kyra Cooney-Cross, 24, delivers beautiful long-range targets. Growing Arsenal minutes this season, she drew neighborhood help amid her mom’s uncommon most cancers analysis.
Katrina Gorry
Hometown: Brisbane, QLD
Present membership: West Ham United (England)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 118 (18)
Legendary “Mini” Gorry, a decade-plus fixture, chases her first main trophy post-2010 Asian Cup debut. Her international profession contains three World Cups and golf equipment throughout three continents.
Amy Sayer
Hometown: Sydney, NSW
Present membership: Malmo FF (Sweden)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 19 (4)
A Stanford graduate in human biology and philosophy with an ideal ATAR, Amy Sayer overcame an ACL harm that sidelined her from the 2024 Olympics.
Emily van Egmond
Hometown: Newcastle, NSW
Present membership: Leicester Metropolis (England)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 165 (32)
Squad’s most capped participant, Emily van Egmond presents invaluable expertise regardless of youth competitors. She impacts huge moments at Leicester Metropolis.
Forwards
Caitlin Foord
Hometown: Shellharbour, NSW
Present membership: Arsenal (England)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 140 (39)
Electrifying at 31 since her 2011 debut, Caitlin Foord anchors the entrance line with world-class tempo and ending.
Mary Fowler
Hometown: Cairns, QLD
Present membership: Manchester Metropolis (England)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 63 (16)
Visionary Mary Fowler, totally recovered from a ruptured ACL, boasts unmatched creativity. Coach Joe Montemurro confirms her health after detailing profession challenges like psychological well being and racism in her guide.
Hayley Raso
Hometown: Gold Coast, QLD
Present membership: Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 103 (24)
Relentless winger Hayley Raso brings blistering velocity, a nationwide group staple amid membership strikes throughout Australia, US, England, Spain, and Germany.
Michelle Heyman
Hometown: Shellharbour, NSW
Present membership: Canberra United (Australia)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 85 (33)
37-year-old Michelle Heyman staged a surprising return post-2019 retirement, aiding Olympic qualification and starring in A-League Ladies after Kerr’s harm.
Kahli Johnson
Hometown: Sydney, NSW
Present membership: Calgary Wild FC (Canada)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 3 (1)
Squad’s sole Northern Tremendous League participant, Kahli Johnson debuts at a serious match post-U20 World Cups and a breakout A-League season with Western United.
Sam Kerr
Hometown: Perth, WA
Present membership: Chelsea (England)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 131 (69)
Captain Sam Kerr, again from a two-year ACL absence, elevates the group in her fifth Asian Cup. The 2010 winner eyes trophy glory.
Holly McNamara
Hometown: Sydney, NSW
Present membership: Melbourne Metropolis (Australia)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 16 (1)
Overcoming three ACL tears that dashed World Cup and Olympic hopes, Holly McNamara dominates A-League Ladies and leads the road successfully.
Remy Siemsen
Hometown: Sydney, NSW
Present membership: FC Rosengard (Sweden)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 14 (0)
Remy Siemsen seeks redemption post-2023 World Cup omission, now at Rosengard as a dependable bench possibility.
Kaitlyn Torpey
Hometown: Brisbane, QLD
Present membership: Newcastle United (England)
Caps/targets pre-tournament: 21 (2)
Versatile ahead or wing-back Kaitlyn Torpey maximizes worldwide probabilities.
Coach
Joe Montemurro
Hometown: Melbourne
In his first nationwide function, Joe Montemurro brings European success: A-League doubles with Melbourne Metropolis, Arsenal’s FA Cup and WSL titles, Juventus treble, and Lyon’s Premiere Ligue. He left Lyon early for the Matildas.
