This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Australia men's national under-20 soccer team.
Australia under-20
women
Fifa trigrammeAUS
AssociationFootball Australia
Sub-confederationAFF (South-East Asia)
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
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The Australian women's national under-20 soccer team represents Australia in international women's under-20 soccer. The team is controlled by the governing body for soccer in Australia, Football Australia (FA), which is currently a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the regional ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) since leaving the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) in 2006. The team's official nickname is the Young Matildas.

History

The Australia women's national under-20 soccer team (later nicknamed Young Matildas) were established in the early 1990s.[1] Initially they were organised as an under-19 team,[2]: 16 which played a three-match series against New Zealand U19 in Australia in September 1991.[3] Another U19 squad toured Netherlands in 1998.[4] 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).[2]: 16 That tournament was held in Canada in August–September,[2]: 16 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.[2]: 16

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,[5] and hosts Papua New Guinea 14–1,[6] to proceed to the U-19 Women's World Championship in Thailand in November.[7] The Young Matildas were sent home after losing their quarterfinal 0–2 against United States.[7][8]

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).[9] Alistair Edwards, as coach, took the team to the 2006 AFC U-19 Women's Championship in Malaysia in April,[10] where they finished third by defeating Japan 3–2 in the third place play-off.[11] Due to their performance, the Young Matildas qualified for the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship, held in Russia.[12] At that tournament Australia U20 were eliminated in the group stage.[13]

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.[14] 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.[14] 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.[15]

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.[16][17] 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.[17][18]

Blayney coached the squad, which qualified for the 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup, held in Uzbekistan in March.[19] The Young Matildas reached the finals, finishing third by defeating South Korea, 1–0.[19][20] 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.[21] Young Matildas reached the related tournament, which was held in April 2026 in Thailand.[21]

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

Coaching staff

PositionName
Head coachAlex Epakis[22]

Former managers

Players

Current squad

The following 25 players were called up for friendlies against New Zealand on 20 and 23 May.[33]

Caps and goals are current as of 23 May 2026 after the match against New Zealand.

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.
  • INJ Withdrew due to injury

Competitive record

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

YearResultPldWDLGFGA
2002Quarter-finals411289
2004410368
2006Group stage311143
2008Did not qualify
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2022Group stage310236
2024300306
2026Did not qualify
Total5/121742112132

OFC U-20 Women's qualifying tournament

OFC Women's U-20 Qualifying Tournament record
YearResultPositionPldWDLGFGA
2002Winners1st4400450
2004Winners1st2200271
Total2/22 Titles6600721

AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup

AFC U-20 Women's Asian CupQualification
YearResultPositionPldWDLGFGAPldWDLGFGA
2002Did not enterNo qualification
2004
2006Third place3rd54012962200122
2007Group stage5th310234automatically qualified
20093111634301282
2011Fifth place5th5104712automatically qualified
20135104612automatically qualified
2015Group stage5th3102343300280
2017Fourth place4th52038112200231
201952036226600413
2022Competition cancelled
2024Third place3rd5401965500300
2026Quarter-finals5th42021283300200
Total:10/12Third place3rd431912389882524011828

ASEAN Women's Championship

ASEAN Women's Championship record
YearResultPositionPldWDLGFGA
2004Did not enter
2006
2007
2008See Australia women's national soccer team
2011Did not enter
2012
2013Runners-up2nd6420125
2015Third place3rd5401154
2016Fourth place4th5212264
2018Runners-up2nd6402369
2019Did not enter
2022See Australia women's national under-23 soccer team
2025
Total4/120 titles2214358922

ASEAN U-19 Women's Championship

ASEAN U-19 Women's Championship record
YearResultPositionPldWDLGFGA
2022See Australia women's national under-17 soccer team
2023Did not enter
2025
Total0/00000000

Honours

OFC Women's U-20 Qualifying Tournament

AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup

ASEAN Women's Championship

PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament

See also

References

  1. ^ "Womens U20s". Football Federation Australia. Archived 30 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  2. ^ Stell, Marion (2004). Soccer. Girls in Sport. ABC Books. ISBN 0-7333-1426-0.
  3. ^ Cooke, Graham (8 September 1991). "Rogic forces way back into Metro's". The Canberra Times. Vol. 66, no. 20,602. p. 20. Retrieved 15 July 2025. – via National Library of Australia
  4. ^ Cohen, Brandon (25 June 2004). "Sport Karp selected for Olympics". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. 110, no. 39. p. 24. Retrieved 13 July 2025. – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Young Matildas outclass Solomon Islands - 2004 OFC U19 Women's Qualifier - PNG". SportingPulse. 22 April 2004. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  6. ^ "Australia books ticket to Thailand - 2004 OFC U19 Women's Qualifier - PNG". SportingPulse. 24 April 2004. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  7. ^ Associated Press (AP) (22 November 2004). "Matildas out of U19 world champs". news.ninemsn.com.au. Australian Associated Press (AAP). Archived 23 November 2004 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 November 2025. – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship Thailand 2004 - USA 2:0 (0:0) Australia - Overview". FIFA.com. 21 November 2004. Archived 15 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Timeline of Australian Football". migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  10. ^ "Asian Women U-19 Championship 2006". rsssf.org. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Schedule & Results". the-afc.com. 2006. Archived 24 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  12. ^ "Young Matildas". Football Australia. August 2006. Archived 23 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 November 2025. – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Results". Football Australia. 2011. Archived 8 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  14. ^ Roman, Todd & King, Ian (17 April 2014). "Asian Women U-19 Championship 2007". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  15. ^ "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup™". fifa.com. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  16. ^ "The invited team for the regional competition clinched the AFF title after a beating Australia 5-3 on penalties". goal.com. 23 September 2013. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  17. ^ "ASEAN Football Federation Knock-out Stage Match Summary M24: THA (W) vs AUS U20 (W)". aseanfootball.org. 13 July 2018. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  18. ^ TWG staff (18 July 2018). "Teenager Mary Fowler comes into Matildas squad". The Women's Game (TWG). Archived 25 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 30 July 2025. – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Watch CommBank Young Matildas vs Korea Republic at AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup 2024". Mirage News. 16 March 2024. Archived 30 March 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 November 2025. – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Young Matildas Clinch U20 Asian Cup Bronze, Beat Korea 1-0". Mirage News. 16 March 2024. Archived 30 March 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 November 2025. – via National Library of Australia.
  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. Archived 21 September 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 November 2025. – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "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". www.footballaustralia.com.au. 2025-03-10. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  23. ^ "Young Matildas and NSWIS Opening Day Victors". Matildas. 5 August 2001. Archived 13 November 2003 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 November 2025. – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "Alistair Edwards scores FFA role". Football West. 23 September 2009. Archived 31 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 November 2025. – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ Cockerill, Michael (5 August 2009). "Young Matildas pelted". The Age. Archived 25 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 November 2025. – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "Official Home of Asian Football". the-afc.com. 6 October 2011. Archived 2013-01-05 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  27. ^ TWG Staff (16 October 2013). "Young Matildas downed 2-1 by China". The Women's Game. Archived 25 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 November 2025. – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ Staff writer (19 November 2014). "Ante Juric confident for Young Matildas' qualification campaign". Westfield Young Matildas U20s. Archived 1 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 November 2025. – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ Staff writer (21 October 2016). "Young Matildas squad announced for AFC U-19 Qualifiers". Westfield Young Matildas U20s. Archived 19 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 November 2025. – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Young Socceroos & Westfield Young Matildas squad updates". Western Sydney Wanderers FC. 19 October 2018. Archived 17 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 November 2025. – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "Football Australia thanks Leah Blayney". Football Australia. 5 January 2025. Archived 27 January 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  32. ^ "CommBank Young Matildas open PacificAus Four Nations Tournament with a victory". Football Australia. 19 February 2025. Archived 19 February 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  33. ^ Woods, Julia (8 May 2026). "CommBank Young Matildas Squad confirmed for a two-match series against New Zealand at the AIS, Canberra". Matildas. Football Australia