The Matildas are set for their first matches of 2025, embarking on a whirlwind three-match tournament in the space of six days.
Australia will play in the invitational SheBelieves Cup in the United States, the 10th edition of the tournament which began in 2016.
After a chaotic 2024 when the Matildas bowed out of the group stage at the Paris Olympics, sacked Tony Gustavsson as coach and slid to 15th in the world rankings, the Aussie women will be hoping to start 2025 on a positive note.
With one eye on the Women’s Asian Cup in 2026, here is everything you need to know about the SheBelieves Cup.
What is the SheBelieves Cup?
The US Women’s National Team (USWNT) launched the SheBelieves movement in the lead-up to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup “to encourage young women and girls to reach their dreams, athletic or otherwise”.
It was a success with the USWNT fans and ultimately led to an invitational tournament, named the SheBelieves Cup to be held in 2016.
The first three editions of the tournament were contested by the US, France, Germany and England.
From 2019, different nations have been invited to participate in the four-team tournament. The US has played in all SheBelieves Cups.
Who are the four nations playing in the tournament?
For the 2025 edition of the SheBelieves Cup, the United States has invited Australia, Colombia and Japan.
The US are the number one ranked team in the world, Japan eighth, the Matildas 15th and Colombia 21st.
This is the first time the Matildas and Colombia have been invited to play in the SheBelieves Cup.
This year’s edition will be Japan’s fifth appearance, with a best result of second in 2023, behind the US.
When will the matches be played and how is the champion crowned?
The teams will face each other once. Three points will be awarded for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss.
The team with the most points is the champion. If points are level, goal difference will decide the winner. If goal difference is the same, the winner will be decided by these tie-breakers: most goals scored, head-to-head result, least number of red and yellow cards.
SheBelieves Cup matches
All times are in AEDT
- February 21, 9am: Matildas vs Japan
- February 21, 12pm: United States vs Colombia
- February 24, 6am: Colombia vs Japan
- February 24 9am: Matildas vs United States
- February 27 11:30am: Matildas vs Colombia
- February 27 2:30pm: United States vs Japan
How can I watch the Matildas play?
All three Matildas match in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup will be broadcast on the streaming platform Paramount+.
ABC Sport will be live blogging all three matches.
Who is in the Matildas squad?
The Matildas were forced to change to the original 23-player group selected for the tournament.
A thigh injury to midfielder Clare Wheeler has paved the way for Melbourne Victory’s 19-year-old Alana Murphy to join the squad.
The SheBelieves Cup is expected to be the stage for Mary Fowler’s return to the Matildas.
The Manchester City star did not play in Australia’s round of friendlies at the end of last year.
Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Arnold, Chloe Lincoln, Teagan Micah
Defenders: Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Charlotte Grant, Winonah Heatley, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Natasha Prior
Midfielders: Kyra Cooney-Cross, Daniela Galic, Katrina Gorry, Emily van Egmond, Tameka Yallop, Alana Murphy
Attackers: Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Laini Freier, Michelle Heyman, Holly McNamara, Hayley Raso, Kaitlyn Torpey