Brisbane Roar’s 18-year-old Quinn MacNicol will relish the opportunity to wear the green and gold for the U20 national team late this month.
The Brisbane-born youngster has made 12 appearances in the 2025/26 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign, regularly adding spark late in games.
He was key in Friday night’s 2–2 draw with Western Sydney Wanderers. Introduced in the 66th minute, MacNicol helped swing the momentum, setting up fellow teenager Niall Thom, on his A-League debut, for a dramatic late equaliser.
“The game was 2-1 when I came on. I wanted to bring a bit of energy and try to change the game,” MacNicol said.
“The coaches said to try your best and get a goal and an assist. Luckily I could assist Niall and pick him up on debut this year.”
A Roar Academy product, MacNicol joined the club at 11 and rose through the ranks before debuting at just 15 against Newcastle Jets in the Australia Cup, becoming the club’s youngest-ever player. He scored in the following round against Sydney United 58.
“It’s been pretty surreal to come through the ranks. I remember being a Roar fan and coming a lot with my dad.”
At national level, MacNicol captained the Australian U17 side at the 2025 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia and values every opportunity to represent his country.
“Words can’t describe it. You’re playing for the name on the back of your shirt to make your family proud, but it’s even more important to play for Australia, the name on the front.”
“Captain of country is something I’ve always dreamt of doing since I was little. My role was to encourage the boys, try to get the most out of them and be that branch from the coaches to the players.”
Building on that national experience, the Roar youngster will now step up to the Australian U20 squad for the DFAT series, a two-match series in China, on 28 March and 31 March.
