CommBank Matildas forward Holly McNamara was one of five goalscorers as Australia defeated Malawi 5-0 in the opening match of the FIFA Series 2026™ on Saturday.
As the team prepares to take on Kenya on Wednesday, she said that she was delighted to score her second goal for Australia and is looking forward to the second match.
“There was a lot of takeaways from the first game against Malawi,” she said.
“They’re a tough opponent, and it was tough conditions that we played in. Very happy to get the get the win and get a clean sheet as well.
“Definitely very happy to get on the score sheet. The girls made it quite easy out there. The goal was pretty easy in the end, and I was pretty lucky to get on the end of that.”
She said that playing different opposition in Kenya was important preparation ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™.
“It's something a bit different that maybe we haven't experienced before, with the conditions and with the opponents as well,” she explained.
“It’s all good preparation. Anything that can happen at a World Cup, at these kinds of major tournaments. It’s good to face different opposition.”
There was a special moment on the pitch when debutant Leticia McKenna scored late in the match. Club teammate McNamara was first on the scene to congratulate her in the moment.
“It was amazing - looking over at T, she was so happy,” she said.
“I don't think she knew what to think in the moment or what to say, but she was so happy, and I’m so happy for her. She definitely deserves it.
“The national team environment and camp environments are a bit different to everyday life. So it’s always nice to have somebody that you know, and we have a few former teammates here that have made everything quite a lot easier.”
Off the pitch, the team has been enjoying everything that Kenya has to offer, including experiencing a safari during the week.
“The safari was unreal,” she said.
“It’s an experience that not many of us have ever had, or probably ever will have again. Getting out there, seeing all the animals that we've never seen before, was great fun. There was a lot of team bonding as well.
“I saw so many animals – hippos, giraffes, lions.”
She said that the team was looking forward to taking on Kenya in the final match of the series.
“It'll be a different challenge,” she said.
“As the host nation, they'll have a lot of fans behind them, a lot of noise, and we know that. We’re looking forward to it, and we'll prepare well.”
WOMEN’S FIFA SERIES 2026- KENYA
Match Three:
Malwi v India
Date: Wednesday 15 April 2026
Kick-off: 2.00pm local/9.00pm AEST
Venue: Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi
Match Four:
Kenya vs Australia
Date: Wednesday 15 April 2026/Thursday 16 April 2026 AEST
Kick-off: 5.30pm local/12.30am AEST
Venue: Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi
TV Broadcast: All CommBank Matildas matches will be broadcast exclusively on Paramount+