Australia women's national under-20 soccer team

History

The Australia women's national under-20 soccer team (later nicknamed Young Matildas) were established in the early 1990s. Initially they were organised as an under-19 team, which played a three-match series against New Zealand U19 in Australia in September 1991. Another U19 squad toured Netherlands in 1998. 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). That tournament was held in Canada in August–September, 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.

In April 2004 with Adrian Santrac coaching, the team won the 2004 OFC Women's Under 19 Qualifying Tournament, where they defeated Solomon Islands 13–0, and hosts Papua New Guinea 14–1, to proceed to the U-19 Women's World Championship in Thailand in November. The Young Matildas were sent home after losing their quarterfinal 0–2 against United States.

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. Also during that year all Australian international soccer teams switched from OFC to Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Alistair Edwards, as coach, took the team to the 2006 AFC U-19 Women's Championship in Malaysia in April, where they finished third by defeating Japan 3–2 in the third place play-off. Due to their performance, the Young Matildas qualified for the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship, held in Russia. At that tournament Australia U20 were eliminated in the group stage.

As the third-placed team for the 2006 tournament, the Young Matildas automatically qualified for 2007 AFC U-19 Women's Championship in Chongqing, China during October 2007. With their 1–0 loss against Japan and a 2–1 loss against North Korea, the Australians were eliminated at the group stage and did not qualify for the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. The Young Matildas did not qualify for any U-19/U-20 world cup until 2022 when Leah Blayney coached the Australian squad in Costa Rica, where they were eliminated in the group stage.

From 2013 to 2018, the Young Matildas represented their nation at successive AFF Women's Championships (later renamed ASEAN Women's Championships): a regional tournament for senior national teams in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). Australia U20's best performances were finishing runners-up in both 2013 and 2018. In the latter final, they lost 3–2 against three-time champion Thailand despite Mary Fowler's Player of the Match performance scoring both Australian goals - Fowler also won the Golden Boot for most goals (ten) in the tournament.

Blayney coached the squad, which qualified for the 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup, held in Uzbekistan in March. The Young Matildas reached the finals, finishing third by defeating South Korea, 1–0. New coach Alex Epakis oversaw their three victories in the 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup qualifiers for Group C, held during August 2025 in Tajikistan. Young Matildas reached the related tournament, which is due in April 2026 in Thailand.

Coaching staff

Former managers

• Mike Mulvey ( 2001)
• Adrian Santrac ( 2004)
• Alistair Edwards (2005–2006)
• Alen Stajcic (2007–2010)
• Jeff Hopkins (2011–2012)
• Spencer Prior (2012–2013)
• Ante Juric (2014–2015)
• Gary van Egmond ( 2016–2019)
• Leah Blayney (2019–2024)
• Kory Babington (2025, interim coach)
• Alex Epakis (2025–present)

Players

Current squad

The following 23 players were called up for friendly matches against South Korea on 28 and 30 November 2025.

Caps and goals are current as of 10 August 2025 after the match against Chinese Taipei.

Recent call-ups

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

;Notes:

• PRE Preliminary squad / on stand-by.
• ALT Alternate.
• INJ Withdrew due to injury
• TOP Train-on or Shadow player.--

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

2025

• Saveska
• Kuilamu
• Allan
• Caspers
• Breier
• Lobo
• Stanic-Floody
• McMahon
• Trimis
• Collins
• Tallon-Henniker
• Lobo
• Saveska
• Saveska
• ?
• Tallon-Henniker
• Casteen
• Halmarick
• Breier
• Caspers
• Ochildieva
• Fuller
• Prakash
• Saveska
• Luchtmeijer
• Trimis
• Luchtmeijer
• Lobo
• Lin Szu-ying
• Halmarick Report (KFA)
• Halmarick Report (KFA)
• Prakash
• Allan
• Kuilamu
• Galic
• Lee Hae-nae

2026

Competitive record

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

OFC U-20 Women's qualifying tournament

AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup

ASEAN Women's Championship

ASEAN U-19 Women's Championship

Honours

OFC Women's U-20 Qualifying Tournament

• Winners: 2002, 2004

AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup

• Third place: 2006, 2024

ASEAN Women's Championship

• Second place: 2013, 2018
• Third place: 2015

PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament

• Winners: 2025

References

References

1. "Womens U20s". Football Federation Australia.
2. Stell, Marion. (2004). "Soccer". ABC Books.
3. Cooke, Graham. (8 September 1991). "Rogic forces way back into Metro's". [[The Canberra Times]].
4. Cohen, Brandon. (25 June 2004). "Sport Karp selected for Olympics". [[The Australian Jewish News]].
5. (22 April 2004). "Young Matildas outclass Solomon Islands - 2004 OFC U19 Women's Qualifier - PNG".
6. (24 April 2004). "Australia books ticket to Thailand - 2004 OFC U19 Women's Qualifier - PNG".
7. [[Associated Press]] (AP). (22 November 2004). "Matildas out of U19 world champs".
8. (21 November 2004). "FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship Thailand 2004 - USA 2:0 (0:0) Australia - Overview".
9. "Timeline of Australian Football". migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au.
10. "Asian Women U-19 Championship 2006".
11. (2006). "Schedule & Results".
12. (August 2006). "Young Matildas". Football Australia.
13. (2011). "Results". Football Australia.
14. Roman, Todd. (17 April 2014). "Asian Women U-19 Championship 2007". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
15. (11 August 2022). "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup™".
16. (23 September 2013). "The invited team for the regional competition clinched the AFF title after a beating Australia 5-3 on penalties".
17. (13 July 2018). "ASEAN Football Federation Knock-out Stage Match Summary M24: THA (W) vs AUS U20 (W)".
18. TWG staff. (18 July 2018). "Teenager Mary Fowler comes into Matildas squad".
19. (16 March 2024). "Watch CommBank Young Matildas vs Korea Republic at AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup 2024".
20. (16 March 2024). "Young Matildas Clinch U20 Asian Cup Bronze, Beat Korea 1-0".
21. Woods, Julia. (11 August 2025). "The CommBank Young Matildas secure spot in the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Thailand 2026™ after a 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei". Football Australia.
22. (2025-03-10). "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".
23. (5 August 2001). "Young Matildas and NSWIS Opening Day Victors".
24. (23 September 2009). "Alistair Edwards scores FFA role". Football West.
25. Cockerill, Michael. (5 August 2009). "Young Matildas pelted". [[The Age]].
26. (6 October 2011). "Official Home of Asian Football".
27. TWG Staff. (16 October 2013). "Young Matildas downed 2-1 by China".
28. Staff writer. (19 November 2014). "Ante Juric confident for Young Matildas' qualification campaign". Westfield Young Matildas U20s.
29. Staff writer. (21 October 2016). "Young Matildas squad announced for AFC U-19 Qualifiers". Westfield Young Matildas U20s.
30. (19 October 2018). "Young Socceroos & Westfield Young Matildas squad updates". Western Sydney Wanderers FC.
31. (5 January 2025). "Football Australia thanks Leah Blayney". Football Australia.
32. (19 February 2025). "CommBank Young Matildas open PacificAus Four Nations Tournament with a victory". Football Australia.
33. (20 November 2025). "CommBank Young Matildas squad confirmed for series against Korea Republic". [[Football Australia]].
34. (27 November 2025). "CommBank Young Matildas squad update". [[Football Australia]].