Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Samantha Lewis

Matildas golden generation given last shot at silverware but next wave are key to Asian Cup hopes

Australia’s Caitlin Foord, Emily van Egmond and Steph Catley are among the Matildas veterans named in the 26-player squad for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup
Australia’s Caitlin Foord, Emily van Egmond and Steph Catley are among the Matildas veterans named in the 26-player squad for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

When Joe Montemurro called Remy Siemsen to tell her she had been named in the Matildas squad for the Women’s Asian Cup, she was so relieved she almost fell off her chair. Mary Fowler, racing against time to return to fitness after an ACL tear, cried at the news.

Amy Sayer, one of Australia’s breakout stars of the past year, was in disbelief, checking and double-checking that it was really happening. Alex Chidiac, whose national team career has started and stopped under multiple coaches, cried too.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.