Key events
Matildas XI
Australia: Mackenzie Arnold (gk), Ellie Carpenter (capt), Steph Catley, Winonah Heatley, Kaitlyn Torpey, Emily Van Egmond, Alanna Kennedy, Amy Sayer, Caitlin Foord, Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler.
Ellie Carpenter leads the side while becoming the 18th Australian woman to reach 100 international caps. Mary Fowler also returns after claiming Women’s Super League glory with Manchester City, as coach Joe Montemurro calls on the dynamic duo who missed the Fifa Series friendlies against Malawi and Kenya.
Sam Kerr will lead the line after playing her final game for Chelsea, while Steph Catley has recovered from a calf injury and her Arsenal teammate Caitlin Foord edges closer to the 150-cap mark that she can now reach when playing against Mexico in Sydney on Tuesday.
Midfielders Kyra Cooney-Cross and Katrina Gorry, defenders Clare Hunt and Charli Grant, and veterans Tameka Yallop and Michelle Heyman are among the notable absentees from the squad.
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Matildas head coach Joe Montemurro said on Friday that he wants to use the two friendlies against Mexico as a key step in preparing to face different sorts of opponents at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
It was very important that we found all different types of styles that we would possibly come up against in a World Cup scenario. They’re a talented team that has done very well, both in the rankings, but more importantly, in their nation. Their league is growing, and there’s a lot of investment, so they’re a top team. Their ranking doesn’t mimic where they are – they’re definitely a top 20 team, Mexico.
Their style is one we really need to play against – a Latin American sort of team that is very good in possession, but also very good from a physical perspective. For us, it is a strategic buildup into the World Cup, and all our windows now are strategic in regard to the styles of teams. It’s very important for us to continue to play our way, but more importantly to adapt to different things.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the first women’s football friendly between Australia and Mexico at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle. This is the first of two matches in the series as the Matildas and El Tri Femenil set out to build momentum for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The Matildas return to Australia for a first game on home soil since their run to the Asian Cup final in March. The continental runners-up had little time to put their heartbreaking defeat to Japan behind them with a pair of Fifa Series games in Kenya – both convincing victories – just a few weeks later as attention quickly turned to the global showpiece in Brazil next year.
The world No 28-ranked Mexico are a significant step up in the Matildas’ preparations for the upcoming tournament and El Tri Femenil arrive in Newcastle in red-hot form. Australia might be ranked 13 places higher than Mexico at No 15 but their opponents are on the rise and unbeaten in their past nine matches across an imposing streak that includes a 1-0 victory over 2027 World Cup hosts Brazil in March.
Australia hold a dominant 10-1 win-loss record over Mexico, most recently tightening their stranglehold on the matchup with a 2-0 triumph in a friendly two years ago, but a tighter tussle seems to be on the cards tonight at a sold out McDonald Jones Stadium.
Kick-off is at 7.15pm AEST. I’ll be back shortly with the line-ups and team news. In the meantime, get in touch with any questions, thoughts and predictions. You can shoot me an email, or find me on X @martinpegan and Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social. Let’s get into it!
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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2026/jun/06/australia-vs-mexico-live-updates-matildas-aus-v-mex-womens-international-football-friendly
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