Matildas decline friendly matches against US and Canada

The Matildas have declined an opportunity to play friendly matches against the United States and Canada scheduled for next April. The proposed matches would have served as a competitive benchmark for the Australian team under coach Joe Montemurro ahead of next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Football Australia (FA) was unable to finalize the fixtures due to the new Olympic qualification format for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, which begins in April. FA deputy chief executive and director of football Heather Garriock stated that the team has developed a specific plan to face various playing styles from different confederations, but the April window would not have accommodated those requirements.

Despite missing this specific window, FA emphasized its ongoing commitment to sports diplomacy and its partnership with the United States, noting that these relationships remain vital for the next five years. The US is currently ranked No. 2 in the world, while Canada is ranked ninth.