As the Matildas prepare to kick off their Paris 2024™ Women’s Football Tournament next week against Germany, get to know the squad representing Australia in France.
Over the next few days, we will take a closer look at the players selected in each position. First up, the goalkeepers.
READ MORE: Meet the Paris 2024™ Squad: The Defenders
Meet the Paris 2024™ Squad: The Midfielders/Forwards
Mackenzie Arnold
Debut: 20/11/2012 v Chinese Taipei
Matildas Cap Number: 185
Jersey Number: 1
Appearances (goals): 49 (0)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015, 2019 & 2023, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2018 & 2022, Olympic Games 2016, 2021 & 2024.
Current Club: Portland Thorns, USA
Junior Club: Burleigh Heads SC (Football QLD)
With over a decade with the Matildas, Mackenzie Arnold is looking towards her third Olympic Football Tournament at Paris 2024™.
Arnold made her A-League Women ’s debut for Perth Glory as a teenager and has gone on to represent Canberra United, Western Sydney Wanderers, and hometown club Brisbane Roar. She has also achieved the accolade of A-League Women ’s Goalkeeper of the Year on three occasions: 2012–13, 2014, and 2017-18.
Arnold made her debut for Australia in 2012 at the age of 18. Between her performances domestically and internationally, Arnold has continued to elevate her game by playing in Norway for Arna-Bjørna r, in the National Women ’s Soccer League (NWSL) for the Chicago Red Stars, and more recently in England’s Women ’s Super League (WSL) for West Ham United, where she was named captain at the start of the 2023/24 season. A finalist for the 2023 FIFA The Best Goalkeeper, Arnold is one of the top goalkeepers in the world and recently announced her move back to the NWSL signing with the Portland Thorns.
Arnold has had an 18-month period to remember in Australian colours. After being named Player of the Tournament at the Cup of Nations in February 2023, she became the starting goalkeeper for the FIFA Women ’s World Cup 2023™ helping the team to their first semi-final at a World Cup. Famously, she made three penalty saves in Australia’s quarter-final shootout victory against France to earn her place in Australian sporting folklore.
Dominant in the penalty area, with strong shot-stopping ability and distribution with her feet, Mackenzie Arnold arrives in Paris on the back of another strong season of club form - voted 2023/24 Women ’s Hammer of the Year by fans.
Teagan Micah
Debut: 15/6/2021 v Sweden
Matildas Cap Number: 212
Jersey Number: 18
Appearances (goals): 17 (0)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 & 2023, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022, Olympic Games 2021 & 2024.
Current Club: Liverpool WFC, England
Junior Club: Brisbane Blue, Brisbane Central (Football QLD)
Matildas goalkeeper Teagan Micah is looking ahead to her fifth major tournament having taken the road less travelled in her career so far.
After short stints with Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers as a teenager, Micah forged a successful college career with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA Bruins).
Micah was called up for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019™ on the back of her college form but did not make an appearance. The custodian earned her first regular club minutes in the Norwegian topflight in 2020 with Arna-Bjørnar. Her performances led to a long-awaited Matildas debut in 2021, and a rapid ascent to first-choice ‘keeper ahead of Tokyo 2020™.
Micah started five of the team’s six matches in Tokyo. She exploded into public consciousness after a Player of the Match performance in Australia’s quarter-final win against Great Britain, which included an inspirational penalty save in extra time.
Following the Olympics, the Queenslander signed with FC Rosengård where over two seasons she assisted the Swedish side in claiming the League title, and a Swedish Cup and featured in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
A long-term injury provided setbacks for Micah leading into the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ but she recovered in time to take her place in the squad for the tournament. The goalkeeper earned a dream move to Liverpool WFC in the WSL prior to the World Cup as just a reward for her resilience and talent. A vocal and commanding presence in the nets, Micah now has 17 Matildas caps to her name and the 26-year-old will look to play her part in a second Olympic Games campaign.
Lydia Williams (Travelling Alternate)
Debut: 28/7/2005 v Korea Republic
Matildas Cap Number: 138
Jersey Number: 22
Appearances (goals): 103 (0)
Major Tournaments: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 & 2023, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 & 2022, Olympic Games 2016 & 2021.
Current Club: Melbourne Victory, Australia
Junior Club: Tuggeranong, Woden Valley (ACT)
Having been a key part of the Matildas’ rapid rise into becoming the nation’s most beloved team, Lydia Williams has represented her country over an incredible 19 years. Williams’ natural goalkeeping abilities were identified at an early with the teenager transitioned directly from the Australian Institute of Sport into the senior national team at age 15.
Williams went on to make her first senior appearance for her country before debuting for the junior national teams when in 2005 she lined up against Korea Republic. The move to first-team club football was just as seamless. Hometown club Canberra United was the first to acquire the services of the then 20-year-old, and she repaid them by assisting the side to their first A-League Women’s Premiership and Championship in 2011/12.
Williams spent seven seasons juggling playing in the United States with Western New York Flash, Houston Dash and Seattle Reign while featuring in the A-League Women (Canberra United and Melbourne City).
Eventually, Williams switched full-time to overseas club football by joining the rapidly expanding WSL with Arsenal WFC. A move to French giants Paris Saint-Germain followed before half a season with Brighton & Hove Albion in 2023 rounded out her adventures abroad.
She returned to the A-League Women to play with Melbourne Victory in October 2023. The goalkeeper was a part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ squad that changed football in Australia forever becoming one of just two Australians selected for five FIFA World Cup tournaments. The daughter of a proud Noongar man from south-west WA, Williams has been a stalwart of international football and will provide invaluable experience as an alternate.
AUSTRALIA | MATCH SCHEDULE | PARIS 2024™ OLYMPIC GAMES
Germany v Australia
Date: Thursday 25 July 2024 (local) / Friday 26 July 2024 (AEST)
Kick-off: 7.00pm (local) / 3.00am AEST
Venue: Stade de Marseille, Marseille, France
Broadcast: Channel 9, 9Now & Stan Sport (Australia)
Australia v Zambia
Date: Sunday 28 July 2024 (local) / Monday 29 July 2024 (AEST)
Kick-off: 7.00pm (local) / 3.00am AEST
Venue: Stade de Nice, Nice, France
Broadcast: Channel 9, 9Now & Stan Sport (Australia)
Australia v United States
Date: Wednesday 31 July 2024 (local) / Thursday 1 August 2024 (AEST)
Kick-off: 7.00pm (local) / 3.00am AEST
Venue: Stade de Marseille, Marseille, France
Broadcast: Channel 9, 9Now & Stan Sport (Australia)