The Matildas will host one of the world’s biggest sporting events this month as the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand. With over one million tickets sold with stadiums selling out around the country, this tournament is set to be the most-attended Women’s World Cup in history.

The Australian national team is expected to perform well in this year’s tournament, with many predicting they will go all the way to lift the coveted trophy on home soil. Having been handed a relatively easy group to reach the knockout stages, the Matildas kick off their campaign against an Ireland side who currently sit 22nd in the women’s world rankings. Also in Group B are Nigeria and Canada.

But how well do you know the Matildas who will be representing Australia in this year’s Women’s World Cup?

In this Matildas article:

Meet the Players:

Meet the Players:

Sam Kerr

Heading into this historic football tournament, Australian fans will be looking to one player to deliver on the world’s biggest stage. Such is the star quality that Sam Kerr brings to this Australian side that the Matildas’ captain has become synonymous with the elite playing standard of this upcoming tournament.

Steph Catley

Australia’s vice-captain Steph Catley is a name known by Australian football fans all over the world; the ever-present defender has been a stalwart in the modern Matildas era, having made her debut over 10 years ago in 2012.

Now playing her football in the Women’s Super League for Arsenal, Catley operates up and down the left side of a pitch, she’s defensively sound and finds space further up the pitch to aid the attack. This will be Catley’s third World Cup for Australia.

Caitlin Foord

Caitlin Foord announced herself on the international scene during the 2011 Women’s World Cup, winning the tournament’s Best Young Player, aged just 16.

Now, as Foord prepares to play her fourth World Cup, the Arsenal attacker will be hoping to continue her link-up with teammate Sam Kerr. Together, these two could hold the keys to unlocking opposition attacks to devastating effect. Foord heads into this tournament off the back of consecutive braces against Denmark and Sweden.

Alanna Kennedy

Another centurion of the Matildas side, Alanna Kennedy has amassed 108 international caps since making her first team debut in 2012.

A free-kick specialist for Manchester City, Kennedy comes into this tournament having just won the 2022 Women’s League Cup for her first trophy with the Manchester side. Kennedy started in defence in this year’s final keeping out a prolific Chelsea side that features Sam Kerr in the final.

Ellie Carpenter

One of the most decorated players on the roster, Ellie Carpenter has won the UEFA Women’s Champions League two times with Olympique Lyonnais in France.

After recovering from an ACL injury that kept her out for over eight months, Carpenter has returned to club and international football this year, looking to recover some of her best form that saw her lighting up the biggest stadiums in Europe. This will be Carpenter’s second FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Mackenzie Arnold

Australia’s first-choice goalkeeper, Mackenzie Arnold is making waves for her club side West Ham in the Women’s Super League in England. This will be Arnold’s third Women’s World Cup although she has not yet featured for the Matildas in this prestigious tournament.

This year however, Arnold is enjoying an incredible season winning individual accolades at both club and international level, being named Player of the Tournament as Australia lifted this year’s Cup of Nations.