Sofia Sakalis confirmed in Australia’s U-23 squad for ASEAN Women’s Championship

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Australia will return to the international arena in August, as the Australia U-23 Representative Team prepare to compete in the 13th edition of the ASEAN Women’s Championship MSIG Serenity Cup™ 2025, to be held in Vietnam from 6–19 August.

The tournament, formerly known as the AFF Women’s Championship, will take place at Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho and Lach Tray Stadium in Haiphong, featuring eight participating nations from across Southeast Asia.

Australia earned qualification for the tournament directly by winning the AFF Women’s Championship 2022 in the Philippines.

The talented side have been drawn into Group B, where they will face Myanmar, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the final to be played on Tuesday, 19 August.

Head Coach Joe Palatsides has named a strong squad for the tournament, including recent CommBank Matildas debutants Bryleeh Henry, Isabel Gomez, and Chloe Lincoln.

“This tournament is a really important opportunity for our players to experience international football in a meaningful way,” Palatsides said.

“It gives them a real taste of what it takes to compete at this international level while coming up against quality opposition in unfamiliar conditions and doing it within a structure that mirrors the expectations of the CommBank Matildas.

“Some of these players have already had a taste of senior football while others are knocking on the door, but no matter where they are on their journey, this kind of experience is incredibly valuable.

“Development is a big part of what we’re doing but we’re also going to Vietnam to win. We want our players to embrace the challenge, rise to the occasion, and understand what it means to wear the Australian jersey.”

Palatsides’ side opens its campaign against Myanmar on Thursday, 7 August (4.30pm local), before taking on the Philippines on Sunday, 10 August (7.30pm local), and rounding out the group stage against Timor-Leste on Wednesday, 13 August (7.30pm local). All Group B matches will be played at Viet Tri Stadium. View the match schedule HERE.

Participation in the ASEAN Women’s Championship MSIG Serenity Cup™ 2025 supports Football Australia’s long-term goals around regional collaboration, performance benchmarking, and creating development opportunities through competition.

AUSTRALIA | SQUAD | ASEAN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MSIG SERENITY CUP™ 2025

NamePositionCurrent Club/Member Federation
Georgia CASSIDYMidfielderPerth SC / Football West
Alana CERNEDefenderEssendon Royals SC / Football VIC
Amy CHESSARIMidfielderWestern Sydney Wanderers FC (NPL) / Football NSW
Naomi THOMAS-CHINNAMADefenderUnattached
Claudia CICCODefenderAPIA Leichhardt FC / Football NSW
Tahlia FRANCOGoalkeeperMacarthur Rams FC / Football NSW
Holly FURPHYMidfielderUnattached
Isabel GOMEZMidfielderNorthern Tigers FC / Football NSW
Sasha GROVEDefenderUnattached
Bryleeh HENRYMidfielderUnattached
Sally JAMESGoalkeeperAPIA Leichhardt FC / Football NSW
Alana JANCEVSKIMidfielderUnattached
Grace JOHNSTONDefenderPreston Lions FC / Football VIC
Aideen KEANEMidfielderSydney Olympic FC / Football NSW
Chloe LINCOLNGoalkeeperUnattached
Leticia MCKENNAMidfielderUnattached
Emilia MURRAYAttackerCoogee United FC / Football NSW
Annalise RASMUSSENAttackerUNSW FC / Football NSW
Sofia SAKALISMidfielderBox Hill United Pythagoras FC / Football VIC
Hayley TAYLOR-YOUNGDefenderUnattached
Ella TONKINDefenderNorthern Tigers FC / Football NSW
Tori TUMETHDefenderUnattached
Alicia WOODSMidfielderBrisbane Roar FC (NPL) / Football QLD

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