CommBank Young Matildas Head Coach Alex Epakis has confirmed the 23-player squad that will be competing in the AFC U-20 Women鈥檚 Asian Cup Thailand 2026鈩 Qualifiers this August.
Australia is due to face Tajikistan, Palestine, and Chinese Taipei in Group C, with all the matches to take place at Pamir Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. As the reigning bronze medallists from the 2024 tournament, the CommBank Young Matildas will need to finish in the top two positions of the group with the eight group winners and three best runners up advancing.
Qualification at the AFC U-20 Women鈥檚 Asian Cup Thailand 2026鈩 will mean a direct pathway to the FIFA U-20 Women鈥檚 World Cup Poland 2026鈩.
Head Coach Alex Epakis said that every player in the squad has earned their place, and he is excited for the challenge ahead.
"The CommBank Young Matildas squad selected for the upcoming AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Thailand 2026鈩 Group C Qualifiers, held in Tajikistan, showcases a group of players who have impressed throughout the 2024/25 A-League Women鈥檚 season, as well as in the various National Premier Leagues competitions across the country."
鈥淭he squad features a blend of players with previous experience within the U-20 age bracket and emerging new talent, reflecting the ongoing positive work of Australia鈥檚 national youth development pathways.
鈥淲hile a number of players were unavailable for this August鈥檚 qualifiers, we are pleased to have named a strong, well-balanced squad capable of performing across what will be a demanding schedule in Tajikistan.
鈥淲e have excellent depth and a group of exciting players who are hungry to begin our qualification campaign for the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Thailand 2026鈩.
鈥淭he squad has benefited from a recent domestic camp in July, which provided valuable time to further refine our playing style, strengthen our team culture, and build cohesion 鈥 all of which puts us in a strong position heading into the tournament.
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited about the group we have selected and look forward to working alongside our staff to help the team of players perform at the highest level,鈥 he concluded.
The AFC U-20 Women鈥檚 Asian Cup Qualifiers will kick off on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, with Australia opening its campaign against host nation Tajikistan, before facing Palestine on 8 August and Chinese Taipei on 10 August.
Follow all the CommBank Young Matildas AFC U20 Women鈥檚 Asian Cup action on 西瓜影视鈥檚 , and social channels.
COMMBANK YOUNG MATILDAS | SQUAD | AFC U-20 WOMEN'S ASIAN CUP
| NAME | POSITION | CLUB / MEMBER FEDERATION | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexia | APOSTOLAKIS | Defender | Melbourne City FC / Football NSW |
| Amelia | BENNETT | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers FC NPL / Football NSW |
| Tegan | BERTOLISSIO | Defender | Macarthur Rams FC / Football NSW |
| Jasmine | BLACK | Goalkeeper | Northern Tigers FC / Football NSW |
| Milly | BOUGHTON | Forward | Unattached / Football NSW |
| India | BREIER | Forward | Macarthur Rams FC / Football NSW |
| Madeleine | CASPERS | Midfielder | Sydney University / Football NSW |
| Amelia | CASSAR | Midfielder | Macarthur Rams FC / Football NSW |
| Sian | DEWEY | Midfielder | Football South Australia NTC / Football SA |
| Sofia | FANTE | Goalkeeper | Sydney University / Football NSW |
| Tiana | FULLER | Forward | Sydney Olympic FC / Football NSW |
| Skye | HALMARICK | Forward | NWS Spirit FC / Football NSW |
| Isabela | HOYOS | Defender | Brisbane Roar FC / Football QLD |
| Zara | KRUGER | Midfielder | Brisbane Roar / Football QLD |
| Grace | KUILAMU | Forward | Brisbane Roar FC | FQ Academy QAS Women / Football QLD |
| Maya | LOBO | Defender | Macarthur Rams FC / Football NSW |
| Ilona | MELEGH | Goalkeeper | Football SA NTC / Football SA |
| Avaani | PRAKASH | Midfielder | Bulls FC Academy / Football NSW |
| Sienna | SAVESKA | Forward | Illawarra Stingrays / Football NSW |
| Rubi | SULLIVAN | Defender | NWS Spirit FC / Football NSW |
| Caley | TALLON-HENNIKER | Forward | Illawarra Stingrays / Football NSW |
| Peta | TRIMS | Forward | Sydney Olympic FC / Football NSW |
| Talia | YOUNIS | Forward | Western Sydney Wanderers FC NPL / Football NSW |
AFC U-20 WOMEN'S ASIAN CUP THAILAND 2026鈩 QUALIFIERS | GROUP C
Australia v Tajikistan
Date: Wednesday, 6 August 2025 / Thursday, 7 August 2025
Time: 10.00pm (local) / 3.00am AEST
Venue: Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Palestine v Australia
Date: Friday, 8 August 2025/ Saturday, 9 August 2025
Time: 7.00pm (local) /12.00am AEST
Venue: Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Australia v Chinese Taipei
Date: Sunday, 10 August 2025/ Monday, 11 August 2025
Time: 7.00pm (local) /12.00am AEST
Venue: Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
