CommBank Junior Matildas Head Coach Michael Cooper has named the 21-player squad that will make history at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026™, where Australia is set to compete at the tournament for the first time.
Australia secured its historic qualification at the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026™ with a 2-0 quarter-final victory over Vietnam, before the team went on to finish fourth at the tournament.
The squad retains the core group from its successful AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup campaign, reflecting the continuity and progress of a team that has developed together throughout the cycle. Sienna Calvanese and Rubi Sullivan come into the playing group, adding further depth ahead of the tournament.
Willa Pearson, Maeve Nicholas, Annabelle Croll and Rubi Sullivan have been named as the team’s leadership group for the tournament. Pearson captained the CommBank Junior Matildas during the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup, and all four players have made important contributions throughout the team’s journey.
The tournament will provide Australia’s most promising young players with the opportunity to test themselves against some of the strongest youth programs in world football and gain valuable experience on the global stage.
