Australia’s Junior Matildas will make their first appearance at the under-17 Women’s World Cup after securing qualification through a semifinal run at the Asian Cup. The tournament is scheduled to be held in Morocco from October 17 to November 7, giving the players an opportunity to test themselves against teams from beyond Asia.
Coach Mike Cooper told ABC Sport that the team was approaching the achievement with perspective rather than treating it as an endpoint. He said pursuing elite sport involved a “price of entry”, including time, effort, setbacks and the support required from families. Cooper said the players should express themselves, be brave and make themselves proud before focusing on outside expectations.
The squad includes 15-year-old Willa Pearson, who has already made history in the A-League Women. The Sydney FC defender became the competition’s youngest player when she debuted at 14 last season and then surpassed Sam Kerr’s record as its youngest goalscorer. Pearson, who captained the Junior Matildas at the Asian Cup, told ABC Sport she was trying to take those milestones step by step while preparing to face players from around the world.
Pearson said the World Cup would allow her to measure herself against European opponents and, if Australia progressed from the group stage, potentially against the United States. Maeve Nicholas, a 17-year-old Adelaide United player who was also involved in the Asian Cup campaign, said the team wanted to enjoy the opportunity while demonstrating what Australian football could achieve against other nations.
Cooper is using team-building activities, including Spanish-language learning linked to football, to strengthen connections within the group. The final World Cup squad has not yet been selected. Nicholas said her approach was based on consistent effort and improving by one per cent each day, using both setbacks and achievements as lessons for the next stage of the team’s journey.