CommBank Matildas goalkeeper and Canberra United youth product Chloe Lincoln expressed her excitement after the announcement that the team will take on Colombia at GIO Stadium in November.
It’s been a huge year for the 21-year-old, who appeared in the first two games at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™, and to cap it off with an appearance for the national team in front of family and friends would be a “dream come true.”
“I'm so excited… I really would love to be a part of that squad,” she told media in Canberra on Thursday.
“I was here when they played Argentina [in June 2025]. I was just up there [at GIO Stadium], and it was an amazing atmosphere and such a special day. So yeah, playing would be a dream come true for sure.”
Lincoln played for Canberra United in the A-League Women between 2021 and 2024.
“The most exciting part about it all is that I might be able to play in front of friends and family,” she said.
“A lot of my really close circle are from here. I have a lot of fond memories playing here with Canberra United and in the local NPL as well, so it would be very special.”
The last time these two sides played was in February 2025 at the SheBelieves Cup in the United States. Colombia were victorious 2-1 on that occasion. Hayley Raso scored for Australia in the second half after Wendy Bonilla’s early goal, before a deflection saw Catalina Usme’s strike loop into the back of the net and win the game for Colombia.
“It’s a massive opportunity for us to play them, and they’re such a quality side,” she said.
“Playing them at the SheBelieves Cup, we got a sense of their style, and it’s an amazing opportunity to face that kind of opposition. They offer something that's very different to the way we play, but definitely an opportunity to regroup and get back together and camp before the World Cup.
“It’s also so much opportunity for the girls to put themselves forward. I'm sure that many of them will be very excited to be back in camp, especially for the upcoming window in October, and then onto Canberra in November. It’s very exciting.”
The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ looms in the distance. With only five windows between now and the tournament, each match provides an opportunity for someone to stake their claim for a place in the squad.
“Now that the A-League is kicking off again, there's more opportunity there for the local players and some of the younger girls playing in that competition to really put their hand up and put their name forward, especially in these sorts of friendly matches,” she explained.
“Every match really counts. Whether that's building cohesiveness as a group and working on how we want to perform in the World Cup – or, from an individual standpoint, having that opportunity to show yourself, and for Joe to see what you can do on an international level – it is so important.
“Many of the girls will find great motivation in that, and I'm sure we'll see some pretty amazing performances from many players leading up to this World Cup in Matildas camps and in the A-Leagues, which will be good.”
She is expecting a big crowd for the match.
“There'll be a massive support from the local Canberra community, and that's something that we're really hoping for,” she said.
“We love coming out here and playing in front of Canberra. I think Canberra is very unique - it's small enough to have that country town, community, tight-knit feel, but also offers what a city does in the same sense.
“So I think it's really cool to come together and really showcase why women's football should be supported, especially here in the nation’s capital.”
CommBank Matildas v Colombia
Date: Saturday 28 November 2026
Kick-off: 7:35pm AEDT
Venue: GIO Stadium Canberra
Broadcast: Network 10 and Paramount+
Tickets: Pre-sale from 12pm AEST on Monday 31 August. General Public on-sale from 4pm AEST on Thursday 3 September. Tickets from Ticketek.