Tony Gustavsson announced his 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia/ New Zealand 2023™ on Monday at the Home of the Matildas in Melbourne.
Over the next few days, we will take a closer look at the players selected in each position.
Next up, it is time to meet our midfielders/forwards.
READ MORE: Meet the FIFA Women's World Cup Squad: The Goalkeepers
READ MORE: Meet the FIFA Women's World Cup Squad: The Defenders
Alex Chidiac
Debut: 12/2/2015 v New Zealand
Matildas Cap Number: 195
Matildas Caps (Goals): 27 (2)
Major Tournaments: AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2018
Current Club: Racing Louisville, USA
Junior Club: Croydon Kings (SA)
Alex Chidiac has been named in her first FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, after just missing selection for the 2019 edition of the tournament, Chidiac will be looking to make her debut in the major tournament on home soil.
Chidiac’s youth football started with Croydon Kings, where she played on an all boys team before joining Football South Australia’s National Training Centre program and starring in the state’s Premier League competition.
Time spent with Adelaide United and Melbourne City at a young age impressed overseas scouts, with the midfielder making the move to Spanish side Atletico Madrid, becoming the first Australian to play in Liga F.
A stellar season with Melbourne Victory in the A-League saw Chidiac receive her first call-up to the national team since 2020, playing in Australia’s two-game series against New Zealand and describing the moment as almost a second debut.
Chidiac now calls Louisville home, signing with Racing in the NWSL after completing a loan back to Melbourne Victory, with her impressive 6 goals in 13 appearances securing the League’s highest honour, the prestigious Julie Dolan Medal for her memorable season.
Kyra Cooney-Cross
Debut: 10/6/2021 v Denmark
Matildas Cap Number: 210
Matildas Caps (Goals): 27 (0)
Major Tournaments: AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022, Olympic Games 2020.
Current Club: Hammarby Fotboll, Sweden
Junior Club: Bli Bli United FC (QLD)
Kyra Cooney-Cross has been named in her first FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, looking to make her debut in the tournament after being part of Australia’s 2019 squad as a train-on player.
Since making her debut for Australia back in 2021, the midfielder has played against some of the top countries in the world, holding her own against the likes of Sweden, the USA and England, earning praise for her composure on the ball and ability to grow into the game.
After making her debut in the A-League Women’s with Melbourne Victory when she was only 15 years old, the midfielder went on to win back-to-back Championships after returning to the club following a brief stint at Western Sydney Wanderers.
The young midfielder then made the dream move to Sweden, signing with Hammarby and quickly becoming a fan favourite at the Stockholm-based side, helping them claim the Swedish Cup last month, the club’s first trophy in 28 years.
Caitlin Foord
Debut: 12/5/2011 v New Zealand
Matildas Cap Number: 175
Matildas Caps (Goals): 108 (29)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011, 2015 & 2019, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2014, 2018 & 2022, Olympic Games 2016 & 2020.
Current Club: Arsenal, England
Junior Club: Warilla Wanderers (NSW)
Caitlin Foord has been named in her fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, looking to add to her appearances at the major tournament.
This will be the forward’s fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup, after bursting onto the scene at the 2011 edition of the tournament and picking up the Best Young Player of the Tournament award. Foord scored her first goal at a FIFA Women’s World Cup at the 2019 edition of the tournament, inspiring Australia’s comeback in their 3-2 win over Brazil.
Since that game in France, Foord has gone on to star in the Women’s Super League with Arsenal, most recently helping the Gunners claim the Continental Cup. Her fine club form has translated into her international performance, scoring back-to-back braces against Denmark and Sweden.
Foord will be looking towards Australia’s opening game of the tournament against the Republic of Ireland, coming up against Arsenal teammate Katie McCabe and aiming to play in front of a capacity crowd in her hometown.
Mary Fowler
Debut: 26/7/2018 v Brazil
Matildas Cap Number: 202
Matildas Caps (Goals): 36 (9)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022, Olympic Games 2020.
Current Club: Manchester City, England
Junior Club: Leichhardt FC (QLD)
Mary Fowler has been named in her second FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, looking to make her debut at the tournament after not appearing in the 2019 edition in France.
Fowler was the youngest member of the 2019 squad, named in the squad at just 16 after shining for the youth national team.
The Cairns-born forward will be playing in her fourth major tournament, finding the back of the net in the last two tournaments she played in, during the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup and scoring a goal against Great Britain at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Fowler’s club career saw her sign her first overseas contract with Montpellier HSC, spending two seasons in France before inking a four-year contract with Manchester City in the Women’s Super League.
Australia’s opening game of the tournament will see them face the Republic of Ireland, with Fowler scoring her first-ever senior brace in Australia’s last meeting with the side.
Katrina Gorry
Debut: 11/7/2012 v Japan
Matildas Cap Number: 183
Matildas Caps (Goals): 93 (17)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 & 2019, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2014 & 2018, Olympic Games 2016 & 2020.
Current Club: Vittsjö GIK, Sweden
Junior Club: Mount Gravatt Hawks FC (QLD)
Katrina Gorry has been named in her third FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, making 7 appearances for Australia over their last two World Cup campaigns.
Gorry, or Mini as she is known to teammates and fans, returned to the Matildas in 2022 after giving birth to her daughter Harper, picking up right where she left off against New Zealand, named Player of the Match in Australia’s come-from-behind victory against their Trans-Tasman rivals.
Her club career has seen her spend most of her time with her hometown club Brisbane Roar, with stints in the USA with Utah Royals and with Avaldsnes in Norway in between. Gorry has now signed with Vittsjö GIK in Sweden, setting up a home away from home in Sweden.
Gorry has formed a formidable partnership with Cooney-Cross in the Matildas’ midfield, with both playing alongside one another in all five of Australia’s matches in 2023.
Sam Kerr
Debut: 7/2/2009 v Italy
Matildas Cap Number: 168
Matildas Caps (Goals): 120 (63)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011, 2015 & 2019, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2010, 2014, 2018 & 2022, Olympic Games 2016 & 2020.
Current Club: Chelsea, England
Junior Club: Western Knights SC (WA)
Sam Kerr has been named in her fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, captaining the side on home soil in her fourth appearance at the tournament.
The striker scored her first FIFA Women’s World Cup goal in the 2019 edition of the tournament, opening the scoring against Italy from the spot. Kerr then entered the history books in Australia’s final group stage game, scoring four goals against Jamaica and becoming the first Australian player to score a hat trick at a World Cup, men’s or women’s.
Since the last World Cup, Kerr has continued to shine on the international stage, making a blockbuster move to Chelsea in the Women’s Super League that has seen her pick up two Golden Boots, four league titles, three Women’s FA Cup trophies and two Conti Cup titles.
Hayley Raso
Debut: 24/6/2012 v New Zealand
Matildas Cap Number: 179
Matildas Caps (Goals): 70 (12)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 & 2019, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2018 & 2022, Olympic Games 2020.
Current Club: Unattached
Junior Club: Banora Point SC (QLD)
Hayley Raso has been named in her third FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, looking to build on her four appearances at the 2019 edition of the tournament.
Hailing from the Gold Coast, Hayley started her senior career with Canberra United in 2011 and won the premiership and championship that same season.
The winger made the move abroad to the NWSL signing with Washington Spirit for one season and then spending three seasons with Portland Thorns. A back injury sustained while playing for Thorns almost saw the forward miss out on selection for France 2019, returning just in time to make her debut, and starting against Italy.
The speedy winger, with her signature bow, will be looking to find the back of the net for the first time in the tournament, coming into the game in firing form after scoring a brace in Australia’s first game of the year against Czechia.
Kyah Simon
Debut: 4/8/2007 v Hong Kong
Matildas Cap Number: 157
Matildas Caps (Goals): 111 (29)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 & 2015, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2008, 2010, 2018 & 2022, Olympic Games 2016 & 2020.
Current Club: Unattached
Junior Club: Quakers Hill, Hills Brumbies (NSW)
Kyah Simon has been named in her third FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, after missing out on the 2019 edition through injury, the forward was determined to be named in the final 23-player squad.
An ACL injury in October looked to bring the dream of a home World Cup to a grinding holt, but as she has throughout her career, she used the injury to inspire her comeback and was rewarded with a spot in the final squad.
Simon has scored some of Australia’s most memorable goals at a FIFA Women’s World Cup, scoring the only goal in the Matildas’ 1-0 win over Brazil at the 2015 edition that saw them record their first-ever knockout stage win.
The forward will be all too familiar with one of our group-stage opponents, scoring a brace against Nigeria when Australia faced them at the 2015 Women’s World Cup, sealing the 2-0 win.
Emily van Egmond
Debut: 6/3/2010 v Korea DPR
Matildas Cap Number: 172
Matildas Caps (Goals): 127 (30)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011, 2015 & 2019, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2014, 2018 & 2022, Olympic Games 2016 & 2020.
Current Club: San Diego Wave FC, USA
Junior Club: Dudley Redhead United FC (NSW)
Emily van Egmond has been named in her fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, with the midfielder featuring in all four of Australia’s games at the 2019 edition of the tournament.
She debuted for the Matildas at just 16 in 2010 and attended the FIFA Women’s World Cup the following year in Germany, scoring her first-ever goal in green and gold in the tournament, a 3-2 victory over Equatorial Guinea.
The midfielder is a familiar face to fans, having made 127 senior appearances since making her debut back in 2010, becoming the eighth player to reach the milestone for the Matildas.
Cortnee Vine
Debut: 24/1/2022 v Philippines
Matildas Cap Number: 220
Matildas Caps (Goals): 16 (3)
Major Tournaments: AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022.
Current Club: Sydney FC, Australia
Junior Club: Peninsula Power FC (QLD)
Cortnee Vine has been named in her first FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, looking to make her first appearance in the tournament on home soil.
After making her senior debut for Australia back at the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, Vine has been a regular face in camp, making 16 appearances for Australia and showcasing her talent that A-League Women’s fans had been enjoying in the competition since she made her debut in 2015 for Brisbane Roar at just 15 years old.
Vine has three goals to her name, a brace against South Africa and a memorable strike at CommBank Stadium to open the scoring against Spain in the 2023 Cup of Nations.
This will be the forward's second major tournament in as many years, looking to bring more ‘Vine Time’ to the game.
Clare Wheeler
Debut: 21/9/2021 v Republic of Ireland
Matildas Cap Number: 213
Matildas Caps (Goals): 14 (0)
Major Tournaments: AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022
Current Club: Everton F.C., England
Junior Club: Adamstown Rosebud (NSW)
Clare Wheeler has been named in her first FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, looking to make her first appearance in the tournament in front of fans on home soil.
Since making her debut for Australia back in 2021 against the Republic of Ireland, the midfielder has gone on to feature at the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, making her starting debut during the tournament.
Wheeler has made the move abroad, first signing her an inaugural overseas contract with Fortuna Hjørring in Denmark, before being loaned to, and then signing a permanent deal, with Everton in the Women’s Super League.
Tameka Yallop
Debut: 4/8/2007 v Hong Kong
Matildas Cap Number: 148
Matildas Caps (Goals): 112 (12)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011, 2015 & 2019, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2008, 2010, 2014, 2018 & 2022, Olympic Games 2016 & 2020.
Current Club: SK Brann, Norway
Junior Club: Mudgeeraba SC (QLD)
Tameka Yallop has been named in her fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, with Yallop bringing a wealth of experience to the midfield ranks.
An ankle injury sustained in October saw the midfielder undergo surgery, making her return for Australia in the 2023 Cup of Nations. Yallop then went on to feature in both of Australia’s games during the April window, against Scotland and England.
Yallop’s ability to play all over the field makes her an asset to the squad, often found in midfield but no stranger to having to play on the wing or slotting in defence when needed.
FIFA Women's World Cup Australia/ New Zealand 2023™ - Australia's Group B Matches
Australia v Republic of Ireland
Date: Thursday, 20 July 2023
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Kick-Off: 8:00 pm (AEST)
Australia v Nigeria
Date: Thursday, 27 July 2023
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-Off: 8:00 pm (AEST)
Canada v Australia
Date: Monday, 31 July 2023
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-Off: 8:00 pm (AEST)
