Four rising stars from the Newcastle Jets are set to pull on the green and gold jersey in the CommBank Young Matildas squad for the upcoming AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Thailand 2026. 

Alexis Collins, Emma Dundas, Georgia Ritchie and India Breier will represent Australia in the tournament, which also serves as the qualification pathway for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Poland 2026. 

The national team tackles Chinese Taipei, India and Japan in group matches. 

The fixtures are scheduled as follows:

• Australia v Chinese Taipei: Thursday 2 April, 4pm (Local)/ 8pm (AEDT), Pathum Thani Stadium, Pathum Thani, Thailand
• India v Australia: Sunday 5 April, 4pm (Local)/ 7pm (AEST), Pathum Thani Stadium, Pathum Thani, Thailand
• Japan v Australia: Wednesday 8 April, 4pm (Local)/ 7pm (AEST), Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok

The selection of all four A-League Women’s (ALW) players from Newcastle highlights the strength of the Jets’ development pathway and the depth of emerging female talent in the Hunter. 

It is an exciting opportunity for the local youngsters to showcase their skills on an international stage, too.

Young Matildas head coach Alex Epakis says the squad reflected both the current performance and long-term potential. 

“The AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup is something we have been building towards with real intent,” he said. 

“We know that big moments such as this require our full focus.

“So, we’ve selected a squad with the depth, versatility and ambition to meet those demands. 

“Across the group, there is a strong base of players with meaningful A-League Women’s matches and training exposure. 

“This supports our focus on building on our team identity, where players can perform and compete at the required level.

“Supported by the development of the players across the cycle and previous activities, the group is match-ready and equipped for the demands of tournament football.

“Thirteen players in this squad remain age-eligible, which is a positive for both this tournament and ongoing development within the Matildas’ ecosystem.

“It allows them to test themselves early, showcase their strengths, and gain valuable experience against a range of teams and playing styles.

“What really stands out about this group and excites me is the variety of attacking strengths, their ability to execute a fluid style of play, strong competitive mindset, and a clear commitment to a team-first environment.

“We have belief in what this squad can deliver, and we are focused on leaving a mark on the tournament through our style, intent and collective belief.”

Meanwhile, the quartet’s Newcastle teammates are looking to secure another crucial win as they take on Adelaide United on Saturday 28 March at ServiceFM Stadium from 2.45pm.

For more sports stories:

• Full steam ahead for much-loved Watagan equestrian event
• Best confident Knights will muzzle Bulldogs
• Doors open to $3.1m amenities block at Max McMahon Oval

Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.