As the CommBank Matildas prepare to kick off their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ campaign on home soil this week, get to know the squad representing Australia.
Over the next few days, we will take a closer look at the players selected in each position. Last up, our forwards.
#8 Kaitlyn Torpey
Debut: 24-Feb-2024 v Uzbekistan (in Tashkent) AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 3 (W3-0) age 23
Matildas Cap Number: 227
Jersey Number: 8
Appearances (goals): 21 (2)
Major Tournaments: Olympic Games 2024 & AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026.
Current Club: Newcastle United
Junior Club: Olympic FC (Football QLD)
Torpey is named in her first AFC Women's Asian Cup squad, and her second major tournament roster has made her Olympic debut at the 2024 edition of the tournament.
The speedster provides electric pace on the wing, whether she's deployed in the fullbacks or in the forward line. After making her debut in 2024 for Australia against Uzbekistan, she has gone on to make the move overseas.
Starting her career abroad with San Diego Wave in the NWSL, before moving to Portland Thorns after one season, now plying her trade with Newcastle United in the WSL 2 as they push for promotion.
Torpey will be hoping to make her AFC Women's Asian Cup debut in the tournament.
#9 Caitlin Foord
Debut: 12-May-2011 v New Zealand (in Gosford) International Friendly (W3-0) age 16
Matildas Cap Number: 175
Jersey Number: 9
Appearances (goals): 140 (39)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women's World Cup 2011, 2015, 2019 & 2023, AFC Women's Asian Cup 2014, 2022 & 2026, Olympic Games 2016, 2020 & 2024.
Current Club: Arsenal
Junior Club: Warilla Wanderers FC (Football NSW)
Foord comes into the tournament as one of Australia's most experienced players, having represented her country at 10 major tournaments since making her debut in 2011.
The forward burst onto the scene at the 2011 edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup, picking up the Best Young Player of the Tournament award. Since making her AFC Women's Asian Cup debut in the 2014 edition of the tournament, Foord will be looking to feature in her third edition, however, this time on home soil.
Foord is known for being a threat with the ball at her feet and is most dangerous when run at defenders in the box, looking to whip in a dangerous cross.
The forward's last visit to the venue for Australia's opening game, Perth Stadium, saw her score a hat-trick against the Philippines, the team's opponents for the opening game.
#11 Mary Fowler
Debut: 26-July-2018 v Brazil (in Kansas) Tournament of Nations (W3-1) age 15
Matildas Cap Number: 202
Jersey Number: 11
Appearances (goals): 63 (16)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 & 2023, AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022 & 2026, Olympic Games 2020 & 2024.
Current Club: Manchester City
Junior Club: Leichhardt FC (Football QLD)
Fowler's inclusion in the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 squad was met with excitement from Aussie fans. After Fowler looked to be in the form of her career with Manchester City, becoming the first player to record two or more goal involvements in four consecutive appearances, an ACL injury in April 2025 looked like the forward might miss the tournament on home soil.
However, hours of rehab and time spent working to be back to her best, Fowler made her return for Manchester at the start of February 2026, and was subsequently named in Joe Montemurro's squad.
Fowler brings a creative flair to the side and can be deployed anywhere in the forward line, as well as in midfield. The forward is able to break the lines of defence with her wonderful through balls, something we saw on display during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.
Off the pitch, Fowler made history during her ACL rehab, becoming the first-ever female footballer to walk at Paris Fashion Week.
#15 Kahli Johnson
Debut: 30-May-2025 v Argentina (in Melbourne) International Friendly (W2-0) age 21
Matildas Cap Number: 237
Jersey Number: 15
Appearances (goals): 3 (1)
Major Tournaments: AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026.
Current Club: Calgary Wild FC
Junior Club: Manly United (Football NSW)
Johnson has been named in her first major tournament squad for the upcoming AFC Women's Asian Cup tournament. This marks a whirlwind year for the forward, after receiving her first call-up for a senior squad in the May/June 2025 FIFA International Window for Australia's two-match series against Argentina. Johnson made her debut in the first game of the window and went on to score on her starting debut to cap off a brilliant first outing for her country
Her next appearance came for Australia days later, starting again and picking up an assist on an Amy Sayer goal. The winger kicked off her football career with Sydney FC, before moving to Western United, where she made a name for herself, and then made the move abroad to the newly formed Canadian Northern Super League with Calgary Wild FC.
Johnson will be hoping to gain some invaluable experience on the international stage during the tournament and soak up any knowledge she can get.
#16 Hayley Raso
Debut: 24-Jun-2012 v New Zealand (in Wollongong) International Friendly (D1-1) age 17
Matildas Cap Number: 179
Jersey Number: 16
Appearances (goals): 103 (24)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women's World Cup 2015, 2019 & 2023, AFC Women's Asian Cup 2018, 2022 & 2026, Olympic Games 2020 & 2024.
Current Club: Eintracht Frankfurt
Junior Club: Palm Beach SC (Football QLD)
Raso comes into the tournament after scoring in Australia's last two friendlies, finding the back of the net in back-to-back games against New Zealand at the end of 2025.
This tournament will mark Raso's 8th, and third AFC Women's Asian Cup. Raso made a name for herself during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 on home soil, scoring a brace against Canada in Australia's final group stage game to ensure their spot in the knockouts. Then scoring again against Denmark to book Australia's spot in the quarter-finals.
Raso's 2023 season saw her nominated for the Ballon d'Or for the first time in her career, finishing in 17th place on the final rankings.
The winger gives her all when stepping out on the field in the green & gold, and this tournament will be no different. Raso will get the opportunity to play in front of her hometown when Australia takes on IR Iran on the Gold Coast in their second group stage game.
#20 Sam Kerr
Debut: 07-Feb-2009 v Italy (in Canberra) International Friendly (L1-5) age 15
Matildas Cap Number: 168
Jersey Number: 20
Appearances (goals): 131 (69)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women's World Cup 2011, 2015, 2019 & 2023, AFC Women's Asian Cup 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 & 2026, Olympic Games 2016 & 2020.
Current Club: Chelsea FC
Junior Club: Western Knights SC (Football West)
This tournament sees the return of Australia's captain, Sam Kerr, after missing Australia's last major tournament, the Olympic Games 2024, due to an ACL injury sustained at the start of 2024.
Kerr is a natural-born leader and proven goal-scorer, becoming Australia's all-time leading goalscorer at the 2022 edition of the tournament, surpassing Tim Cahill's record.
The striker led Australia's scoring at the last AFC Women's Asian Cup, notching seven goals and finishing the tournament with the Golden Boot.
Since her return from injury for Australia in October 2025, the striker has been back to scoring again in England for Chelsea, finding the back of the net in the Blues' last game before she departed for international duty.
Kerr will have the opportunity to play in front of her friends and family when Australia hosts the Philippines in Perth for the opening game of the tournament.
#22 Michelle Heyman
Debut: 03-Mar-2010 v Korea DPR (in Brisbane) International Friendly (D2-2) age 21
Matildas Cap Number: 170
Jersey Number: 22
Appearances (goals): 85 (33)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women's World Cup 2015, AFC Women's Asian Cup 2014, 2018 & 2026, Olympic Games 2016 & 2024.
Current Club: Canberra United
Junior Club: Illawarra Stingrays FC (Football NSW)
Heyman has been named in her sixth major tournament for Australia, and her second since returning from international retirement at the start of 2024.
The striker has a knack for scoring goals and is always in the right place at the right time to put Australia on the scoresheet. She was the side's top goalscorer for 2025, scoring five goals across 11 appearances for her country.
Her form on the international stage has translated to her domestic season, with the forward scoring five times for Canberra United, and leading the league with chances created at 28.
#25 Holly McNamara
Debut: 21-Jan-2022 v Indonesia (in Mumbai) Asian Cup (W18-0) age 18
Matildas Cap Number: 219
Jersey Number: 25
Appearances (goals): 16 (1)
Major Tournaments: AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022 & 2026.
Current Club: Melbourne City
Junior Club: Ermington United Sports and Recreation Club (Football NSW)
McNamara comes into the tournament off a blistering start to her A-League Women's season, leading the league in goals with 12 to her name.
The forward made her debut for Australia at the 2022 edition of the tournament; however, shortly after returning home, would sustain an ACL injury that saw her sidelined for the rest of the 2021/22 season.
Heartbreakingly, after recovering from the injury and receiving her first call-up for Australia in over a year, she suffered yet another ACL injury in November 2023 that saw her sidelined once again.
Despite a number of setbacks in her young career, McNamara made her return for Australia during the 2025 SheBelieves Cup game against Japan, marking 1,119 days between appearances in green & gold.
The forward scored her first goal for Australia in 2025, finding the back of the net against Slovenia during a match at HBF Park in Perth. McNamara will be hoping to bring her scintillating form in the domestic league to the tournament.
#26 Remy Siemsen
Debut: 23-Oct-2021 v Brazil (in Sydney) Friendly (W3-1) age 21
Matildas Cap Number: 216
Jersey Number: 26
Appearances (goals): 14 (0)
Major Tournaments: AFC Women's Asian Cup 2022 & 2026.
Current Club: FC Rosengård
Junior Club: Manly United FC (Football NSW)
Siemsen has been named in her second AFC Women's Asian Cup squad, after making her debut in the 2022 edition of the tournament. The forward comes into the tournament off the back of some good pre-season minutes for her new club, FC Rosengård, scoring a brace in their pre-season friendly against FC København.
Since making her debut back in 2021, the forward has been unlucky to miss some major tournament squads. Having been named on the 29-player provisional squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, but not making the final squad, the forward has been striving to get to experience a home major tournament.
Siemsen describes the moment she was called up to this squad as "pure anxiety,” as she awaited the call from head coach Joe Montemurro to tell her the news that she would be in the final 26-player squad
AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™
CommBank Matildas v Philippines
Date: Sunday, 1 March 2026
Venue: Perth Stadium, Perth
Time: 5:00pm AWST/8:00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+
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IR Iran v CommBank Matildas
Date: Thursday, 5 March 2026
Venue: Gold Coast Stadium, Gold Coast
Time: 7:00pm AEST/8:00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+
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CommBank Matildas v Korea Republic
Date: Sunday, 8 March 2026
Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney
Time: 8:00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+
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