Head Coach Tony Gustavsson has named a 23-player CommBank Matildas squad to face Canada in a two-match series later this month.
In their final internationals for 2023, Australia will take on the world number 10 at Starlight Stadium in Victoria on Friday, 1 December with kick off at 7.30pm PST (2 December at 2.30pm AEDT) before closing out the year at BC Place in Vancouver on Tuesday, 5 December with kick off at 7.00pm PST (6 December at 2.00pm AEDT).
The 23-player squad carries over significant experience from the recent Paris 2024™ Asian Qualifiers with 20 members of that squad retained.
After featuring as a train-on-player last camp, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Charlize Rule has earned a full call-up, while defender Aivi Luik has recovered from injury to assist BK Häcken to second in the Swedish League. Fresh off a hat trick last weekend, A-League Women’s Golden Boot leader Holly McNamara rounds out the new faces as the 20-year-old returns to the national team for her first call-up since April 2023.
Gustavsson noted that the upcoming internationals will see Australia balancing preparations for February 2024’s Olympic Qualifiers against Uzbekistan with a deepening progression of playing style.
“We know plenty about Canada with some fierce battles over the past 18 months,” Gustavsson said. “These final 180 minutes of the year against a nation that has already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are the type of preparation matches that are invaluable for the players.”
“Our selected squad continues to meld established performers with some new players that have impressed in their league form recently.
“The two matches will allow us to continue evolving our play heading into the final phase of Olympic Qualification and beyond against a challenging opponent. It is critical to our continued growth as a team and for the players to test ourselves against quality nations.”
The CommBank Matildas’ final internationals of 2023 will be available in Australia live and free on Network 10 and live on Paramount+.
COMMBANK MATILDAS | NOV/DEC 2023 INTERNATIONALS
Canada v CommBank Matildas
Date: Friday, 1 December 2023 (local) / Saturday, 2 December (AEDT)
Kick-off: 7.30pm PST (local) / 2.30pm (AEDT)
Venue: Starlight Stadium, Langford, BC
Broadcast: Network 10 and Paramount+
Canada v CommBank Matildas
Date: Tuesday, 5 December 2023 (local) / Wednesday, 6 December (AEDT)
Kick-off: 7.00pm PST (local) / 2.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: BC Place, Vancouver, BC
Broadcast: Network 10 and Paramount+
COMMBANK MATILDAS | SQUAD | NOV/DEC FIFA INTERNATIONAL WINDOW
| NAME | POSITION | CLUB | CAPS (GOALS) | JUNIOR CLUB / MEMBER FEDERATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mackenzie ARNOLD | Goalkeeper | West Ham United FC | 44 (0) | Burleigh Heads SC / Football Queensland |
| Ellie CARPENTER | Back | Olympique Lyon | 71 (4) | Cowra and District JSC / Football New South Wales |
| Steph CATLEY (VC) | Back | Arsenal WFC | 120 (5) | East Bentleigh, SE Cougars / Football Victoria |
| Kyra COONEY-CROSS | Midfielder | Arsenal WFC | 38 (0) | Bli Bli United FC / Football Queensland |
| Caitlin FOORD | Forward | Arsenal WFC | 118 (33) | Warilla Wanderers / Football New South Wales |
| Mary FOWLER | Midfielder | Manchester City WFC | 46 (13) | Leichhardt FC / Football Queensland |
| Katrina GORRY | Midfielder | Unattached | 103 (17) | Mount Gravatt Hawks FC / Football Queensland |
| Charlotte GRANT | Back | Unattached | 21 (1) | Cumberland United Women’s FC / Football South Australia |
| Clare HUNT | Back | Paris Saint-Germain FC | 15 (0) | Grenfell Junior Soccer Club / Football New South Wales |
| Alanna KENNEDY | Back | Manchester City WFC | 117 (9) | Campbelltown Cobras SC / Football New South Wales |
| Sam KERR (C) | Forward | Chelsea WFC | 128 (69) | Western Knights SC / Football West |
| Aivi LUIK | Back | BK Häcken | 43 (1) | Palm Beach SC / Football Queensland |
| Holly McNAMARA | Forward | Melbourne City FC | 3 (0) | Ermington United Sports and Recreation Club / Football NSW |
| Teagan MICAH | Goalkeeper | Liverpool WFC | 15 (0) | Brisbane Blue, Brisbane Central / Football Queensland |
| Courtney NEVIN | Back | Leicester City WFC | 26 (0) | Oakville Ravens SC / Football New South Wales |
| Clare POLKINGHORNE | Back | Vittsjö GIK | 164 (16) | Wynnum Wolves, Capalaba Bulldogs / Football Queensland |
| Hayley RASO | Forward | Real Madrid Femenino | 80 (15) | Palm Beach SC / Football Queensland |
| Charlize RULE | Forward | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 0 (0) | Queens Park FC / Football New South Wales |
| Amy SAYER | Midfielder | Kristianstads DFF | 9 (0) | Northbridge FC / Football New South Wales |
| Emily VAN EGMOND | Midfielder | San Diego Wave FC | 137 (31) | Dudley Redhead United FC / Northern NSW Football |
| Clare WHEELER | Midfielder | Everton WFC | 17 (1) | Adamstown Rosebud / Northern NSW Football |
| Lydia WILLIAMS | Goalkeeper | Melbourne Victory FC | 103 (0) | Tuggeranong, Woden Valley / Capital Football |
| Tameka YALLOP | Midfielder | Brisbane Roar FC | 117 (13) | Mudgeeraba SC / Football Queensland |
