Brisbane Roar midfielder Alicia Woods has been selected in the CommBank Young Matildas 21-player squad ahead of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024™.
The squad will be captained by Jessika Nash and supported by Alexia Apostolakis, and Naomi Chinnama in the 24-team global showpiece running from 31 August – 22 September 2024.
For the second consecutive tournament, Australia will begin their U-20 WWC campaign against the host nation, facing Colombia at the Estadio El Campín in Bogotá on Saturday, 31 August (local).
Their Group A schedule – all played at the Estadio El Campín – will see the CommBank Young Matildas tackle their second opponents, Mexico, on Tuesday, 3 September (local) before ending the group phase against Cameroon on Friday, 6 September (local).
The top two nations from each group, and the two best third-place finishers following the completion of group play will progress to the knockout phase. The knockout phase starts with the Round of 16 (11 and 12 September), followed by the semi-finals (Wednesday, 18 September) and the final on Sunday, 22 September 2024.
The team will begin assembling in Sydney next week ahead of their departure for an acclimatisation pre-camp in the altitude of Bogotá ahead of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup campaign commencing.
CommBank Young Matildas Head Coach Leah Blayney commented on the challenging selection process that resulted in a talented final squad that will take on the world’s best youth players.
“This cycle has taken the team to the Kyrgyz Republic, Vietnam, China, Uzbekistan, New Zealand and now we will complete this two-year journey in Colombia where the players have a golden chance to display their abilities and represent Australia with pride on the world stage,” Blayney said.
“Ultimately our team will strive to maintain our attacking playing style with a focus exciting and entertaining football which we hope will capture the Australian public and gain their support. The test that this group craves, is now to pull it all together under tournament conditions.”
MATCH SCHEDULE | FIFA U-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP COLOMBIA 2024™
Colombia v Australia
Date: Saturday, 31 August 2024 / Thursday, 1 September 2024 (AUS)
Time: 6.00pm (local) / 9.00am (AEST)
Venue: Estadio El Campín, Bogotá, Colombia
Mexico v Australia
Date: Tuesday, 3 September 2024 / Wednesday, 4 September 2024 (AUS)
Time: 5.00pm (local) / 8.00am (AEST)
Venue: Estadio El Campín, Bogotá, Colombia
Australia v Cameroon
Date: Friday, 6 September 2024 / Saturday, 7 September 2024 (AUS)
Time: 8.00pm (local) / 11.00am (AEST)
Venue: Estadio El Campín, Bogotá, Colombia
