The subsequent Matildas coach might expertise a baptism of fireplace in video games in opposition to Japan, america and Colombia in Australia’s debut on the SheBelieves Cup.
Soccer Australia is being affected person within the hunt for a brand new full-time coach, however Tony Gustavsson’s everlasting alternative is anticipated to be in place by the primary window of 2025, which might doubtlessly additionally mark Sam Kerr’s worldwide return from harm.
The Matildas will journey to america for the tenth version of the celebrated worldwide round-robin match, kicking off their marketing campaign in opposition to world quantity 4 Japan on February 20 in Houston, Texas.
They’ll then face world primary the US on February 23 in Glendale, Arizona and Twenty first-ranked Colombia on February 26 at in San Diego, California.
The Matildas misplaced 2-1 to the US Ladies’s Nationwide Crew to formally finish their Paris Olympics marketing campaign earlier this yr, however will hope mercurial skipper Kerr is again enjoying by their subsequent conflict, as it is going to be greater than 12 months since her ACL rupture.
Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor this week flagged Kerr might return to coaching together with her membership staff by yr’s finish.
No matter her availability, the matches will function essential preparation for the 2026 Asian Cup and 2027 Ladies’s World Cup qualifiers.
“This can be a super alternative for the Matildas to compete in opposition to among the world’s finest groups on a global platform,” Soccer Australia chief government James Johnson stated in an announcement.
“The SheBelieves Cup aligns with our imaginative and prescient to problem the staff in high-stakes environments as we proceed to raise the Matildas and construct in direction of the following FIFA Ladies’s World Cup.
“The invitation to this revered match speaks to the excessive regard of the Matildas internationally.
“With the line-up of US ladies’s nationwide staff, Japan, and Colombia, the significant expertise gained from being part of top-quality competitors can be a useful set of matches for our AFC Ladies’s Asian Cup 2026 preparations.
“The combination of types, world-class gamers, and replication of a tournament-style enjoying schedule gives a chance for the additional improvement and roster evolution on the street to 2026 and the following cycle.”
The Matildas, beneath interim coach Tom Sermanni, subsequent have two friendlies in opposition to Brazil adopted by one other pair in opposition to Chinese language Taipei throughout the prolonged November-December worldwide window.
AAP
