Road to IFCPF Women's World Cup begins at CommBank ParaMatildas Training Camp

The CommBank ParaMatildas will assemble for their first training camp of the year, marking the beginning of their journey towards the 2024 IFCPF Women’s World Cup in Spain this November.

To be held at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Canberra, the three-day training camp will run from 9 – 11 February featuring a 14-player squad.

The last time the CommBank ParaMatildas assembled was at the 2023 IFCPF Asia-Oceania Women’s Championships (Para Asian Cup) in Melbourne where in just their second-ever final, and their second year of existence, were crowned champions of Asian and the Oceania.

A total of nine players from the successful Para Asian Cup team will travel to Canberra for the camp, as well as the added experience of Lainee Harrison (Northern NSW Football) and Charlize Tran (Football NSW), who competed at the 2022 IFCPF Women’s World Cup Spain, where the CommBank ParaMatildas progressed to the final and finished second.

Sixteen-year-old Trinity McPhie (Football QLD) is the only new face to the squad, after impressing selectors at the 2023 National Para Football Championships in Perth. McPhie also made history at the 2023 National Para Football Championships, becoming the first female player to be selected in the open Queensland state side and will travel to Canberra as the youngest squad member.

Currently ranked world number one for CP Women’s Football, the CommBank ParaMatildas and Head Coach Kelly Stirton will continue to foster camaraderie and strengthen bonds established over the past 24 months in preparation for another big year for the CommBank ParaMatildas.

Speaking about the upcoming camp and player selections, Stirton said: “Holding a camp early in the year is an important part of our development and growth heading into an important 2024. To be successful at the World Cup in Spain, the preparation needs to start now.

“Last year was hugely successful year for the CommBank ParaMatildas program, winning the Para Asian Cup and becoming the number one ranked team in the world. The coaching staff and players are now focused on writing the next chapter in our relatively short history and moving to even greater heights.

“I am looking forward to seeing how the players return to the national team environment, whilst welcoming some fresh and established faces to the squad. We have a strong combination of experience and youth travelling to Canberra for the camp as we focus on building team chemistry and cohesion ahead of the World Cup in Spain later this year.” 

COMMBANK PARAMATILDAS SQUAD | TRAINING CAMP | 9 – 11 FEBRUARY 2024