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Australian Matildas squad selection for FIFA Series in Kenya with key absences and World Cup preparations

1 hours ago2 articles from 2 sources

Consensus Summary

The Australian Matildas have selected a 22-player squad for their maiden FIFA Series in Kenya, featuring captain Sam Kerr and several key stars like Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley. The team will face Malawi on April 11 and either Kenya or India on April 15, marking their first matches since losing the 2024 Women’s Asian Cup final to Japan. Notable absences include Mary Fowler, Ellie Carpenter, Kyra Cooney-Cross, and Katrina Gorry, with Clare Hunt also missing due to knee surgery. The squad includes debutant Leticia McKenna and returning players Jessika Nash and Isabel Gomez, as coach Joe Montemurro prepares the team for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Both sources agree on the core squad and key absences, but ABC provides additional context on Fowler’s recovery and Hunt’s injury, while the Guardian highlights criticism of the fixture selection and emphasizes the squad’s near-full strength. The Matildas aim to build consistency ahead of the World Cup, with the Kenya series offering a test against diverse opposition.

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

Key details reported by multiple sources:

  • Sam Kerr is named captain of the 22-player Matildas squad for the FIFA Series in Kenya
  • The Matildas will play Malawi (ranked 153) on April 11 in Nairobi, followed by either Kenya (ranked 134) or India (ranked 67) on April 15
  • Mary Fowler, Ellie Carpenter, Kyra Cooney-Cross, and Katrina Gorry are notable absences from the squad
  • The squad includes stars like Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley, Mackenzie Arnold, Hayley Raso, Alanna Kennedy, and Clare Wheeler
  • Leticia McKenna makes her Matildas squad debut, while Jessika Nash and Isabel Gomez return to international duty
  • The Matildas lost the 2024 Women’s Asian Cup final 1-0 to Japan on March 21 in Sydney
  • Joe Montemurro’s statement emphasizes building consistency for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil
  • Clare Hunt will miss the tournament due to surgery on her right knee after an Asian Cup injury
  • The squad features 22 players: Morgan Aquino, Mackenzie Arnold, Steph Catley, Alex Chidiac, Caitlin Foord, Isabel Gomez, Winonah Heatley, Alanna Kennedy, Sam Kerr, Chloe Lincoln, Leticia McKenna, Holly McNamara, Jessika Nash, Courtney Nevin, Jamilla Rankin, Hayley Raso, Charlize Rule, Amy Sayer, Remy Siemsen, Kaitlyn Torpey, Emily van Egmond, Clare Wheeler

Points of Difference

Details reported by only one source:

ABC News
  • Defender Clare Hunt’s absence is attributed to surgery on her right knee following an injury during the Asian Cup, with no mention of personal reasons for Kyra Cooney-Cross
  • Mary Fowler made it through the Asian Cup unscathed after recovering from an ACL tear
  • The squad list includes Emily van Egmond and Remy Siemsen as part of the 22-player squad (both confirmed in ABC but not explicitly highlighted in Guardian)
  • The Guardian’s headline mentions criticism of the choice of fixtures for not playing top-ranked teams, but ABC does not mention this criticism
The Guardian
  • Kyra Cooney-Cross is unavailable due to personal reasons, which is not explicitly stated in ABC
  • The Guardian explicitly notes that the squad is a near full-strength team, emphasizing consistency for the 2027 World Cup
  • The Guardian mentions the Matildas are chasing their first major silverware since the 2010 Asian Cup, which is not explicitly stated in ABC

Contradictions

Conflicting information between sources:

  • ABC states Clare Hunt missed due to surgery on her right knee after an Asian Cup injury, while the Guardian does not mention this specific reason
  • ABC mentions Mary Fowler’s ACL recovery and Asian Cup performance in detail, but the Guardian does not highlight this context
  • The Guardian notes criticism of the choice of fixtures for not playing top-ranked teams, but ABC does not mention this criticism

Source Articles

ABC

Kerr in, but several Matildas stars not part of squad for FIFA Series

Sam Kerr has been named, but the Matildas will be missing a number of their other big guns when they travel to Kenya for the team's maiden FIFA Series in April....

2 April 2026
GUARDIAN

Matildas stars return to squad for friendlies as Joe Montemurro builds to 2027 World Cup

Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord named as Mary Fowler rests after Asian Cup Australia to play 153rd-ranked Malawi followed by India or Kenya Matildas coach Joe Montemurro has opted for consistency in buildi...

2 April 2026