- Matildas officially put Mexico into play in April in the US.
- They will also play against Uzbekistan on February 24 (away) and February 28 (home).
- Double-leg games: the winner qualifies for the Paris Olympics
The Matildas will play in Mexico in April, and the match will be played on neutral territory in San Antonio.
If Tony Gustavsson’s team beat Uzbekistan later this month in a two-leg playoff for a place in this year’s Olympics, the match against the Latin Americans in the United States will be crucial ahead of the Paris Games on 26 July.
Gustavsson said he was excited to face the 35th-ranked team in the world.
“When I started with the Matildas we identified the need to continue to challenge ourselves against different types of styles, opponents and experience high quality matches that allow us to strive to be better one day,” he said.
‘Every match we schedule is deliberate and is key to our bigger picture of preparing the team for global tournaments and facing the best teams in the world.
The Matildas are stuck in Mexico in April, with the clash taking place in San Antonio (pictured right, key figure Mary Fowler)
Unless injured, Katrina Gorry will be a lock in the Matildas squad to face Mexico in April.
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson believes that Mexico will be a rival that “will offer strong competition”
“With quality players all over the park, where many play for their clubs with top teams, Mexico is certainly an opponent that will offer strong competition, and the knowledge we will gain from the questions they ask will boost our team.”
Australia and Mexico have played on nine previous occasions, with the Matildas winning eight and losing only once since their first meeting in 2003.
Meanwhile, Matildas trio Caitlin Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Steph Catley are out of the Women’s FA Cup after Arsenal lost 1-0 in the fifth round to Manchester City on Monday.
The Gunners were repeatedly denied by City goalkeeper Khiara Keating, 19, who made a series of impressive late saves.
Arsenal were also furious when they believed the City goalkeeper had failed to save a last-ditch effort from a scramble before crossing the line, but match-day officials disagreed.
Mary Fowler came off the Citizens bench and replaced injured forward Bunny Shaw in the 67th minute.
Alanna Kennedy came on in injury time to close out the match and her team sealed progression to the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, Matildas midfielder Clare Wheeler played 60 minutes as Everton thrashed Nottingham Forest 7-1 and defender Charli Grant played a full game as Tottenham beat Charlton 1-0.
