CommBank Young Matildas to gather for March/April Training Camp in Sydney

Australia’s preparations for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ Qualifiers will continue with a Sydney-based training camp during the March/April FIFA Women’s International Window.

New CommBank Young Matildas’ Head Coach Alex Epakis has called together a 25-player squad for the nine-day assembly to be held at Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub from 31 March – 8 April.

Epakis will take charge for the first since being appointed to lead the U-20 Women’s National Team during the next international cycle which will include the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026™.

Epakis said: “I’m really looking forward to starting this two-year journey with this cycle of CommBank Young Matildas as we enter our first camp together. For the staff and I, this is a great opportunity to really get to know the squad, start building those key relationships and ensuring we’re all united on what’s ahead.

“On the pitch, we’re focusing on both the football and the culture around it. We want to define how we play as a team and start embedding those key principles. We will be able to begin gaining an understanding of how the players perform in a structured training environment and setting a strong foundation for the August qualifiers.

“Off the pitch, it’s just as important we’re setting the standards for our performance culture and the behaviours that will drive us forward,” Epakis concluded.

The squad features a distinctly Liberty A-League flavour with 23 of the 25 members currently playing their club football locally across 10 clubs. Capped CommBank Matilda Daniela Galic headlines a roster that includes 19 players who claimed the 2025 PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament in Canberra during February.

Alexia Apostolakis, Tiana Fuller, Isabela Hoyos and Amber Luchtmeijer have all recovered from injury to be available for the camp, while Brisbane Roar defender Ruby Cuthbert and Newcastle Jets midfielder Emma Dundas have received their first call up at the U-20 level after graduating from the CommBank Junior Matildas.

“When selecting this squad, we looked at a few key things – current A-League Women’s match minutes, ensuring positional balance, and identifying one or two players who could add depth in areas we want to strengthen. This camp is a great chance to get a closer look and refine our squad moving forward,” Epakis explained.

“I am eager to see these players in action and starting to shape our structure – both with and without the ball. We’ve got a talented group, and we want to explore different squad combinations while also building team cohesion through off-field activities. It’s about developing our identity and making sure we’re in the best position for what’s ahead,” he concluded.

The top four nations from the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ will represent Asia at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026™ running from 5 – 27 September 2025.

Australia will commence its qualification for the continental championships from 2 – 10 August 2025 with the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ Qualification Draw held on 30 April 2025.