By Alice de Koster-Kitto 2/2/2026
Above: Clare Wheeler. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus
With the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup just around the corner, pressure is rising for the Matildas for their second home tournament in just three years.
Australia and Everton midfielder Clare Wheeler spoke to the media about just what it would mean to lift a trophy for her country at home.
“We’re extremely lucky to be able to have two home tournaments,” Wheeler told the media.
“Especially in our playing career to have two is extraordinary
“I feel very thankful, and the prospect of having family and friends being able to watch me potentially play in the AFC. I think the thing going into it is, we’re excited because we really want to do well.
“You know, we want to win in front of our family and friends. So there’s definitely that excitement there.”
The tournament will mark Wheeler’s second Asian Cup with the Matildas, and this time she feels not only more prepared, but more determined than ever to bring her all to the pitch.
“I think coming into this tournament, we’re better prepared in terms of exposure, playing Asian teams. And I think that will help us be able to, you know, get results when we need them.”
“I was most excited by a group looking at those teams and being like, we’ve played all of these teams before. And, you know, being able to get, you know, results and, you know, that’s confidence building.”
Since the 2023 World Cup, the Matildas have had ample opportunity to play their prospective Asian Cup opponents, having played both friendlies and qualifiers against China, Chinese Taipei, Iran, and South Korea, over the past 3 years, which Wheeler says can only help them in their preparations.
“Leading into this tournament, we’ve been having the opportunity to play basically, everyone in our group over the last couple of years, you know, Iran, the Philippines, and South Korea, and I think leading into that tournament in 2022, we didn’t really have that opportunity to have that kind of lead in. So I think that’s better placed us in terms of our confidence, our understanding of the style of play that we’re going to come up against. Previously, we didn’t really have that.”
“I think for me as a person, I don’t really like to change who I am depending on what role I’m doing. I just try to bring that into the role.”
Recently, Wheeler has undergone immense professional growth, wearing the captain’s armband at Everton for the first time in April 2025. While she’s looking to take her experience into this upcoming camp, she’s not letting it change her outlook on her game.
“We have a really good leadership group, and we all bring different things here at Everton, and the attributes I bring at Everton, I definitely try to bring those in the Matildas.”
“It’s just about curving that excitement until we get to that point, and also, you know, obviously, in the back of your mind, it’s obviously about staying fit, staying ready. Because obviously you’re best able to be available and prepared to play a tournament, that’s no easy thing on the body.”
At the forefront of the Asian Cup conversation is the tournament being the first under the still somewhat newly appointed head coach Joe Montemurro. While Montemurro is still in his early days of leading the team, undergoing his first camp in June 2025, his new and exciting playing style has had proven results, with a thrashing of New Zealand during the last international window, instilling a sense of confidence among the squad.
“In terms of Joe’s football philosophy and how, as the Matildas, we show that, I think that’s gonna evolve the longer that he’s in this environment.”
“It’s something that he demands us to improve and be better, but he’s also brought in a lot of fluidity in how we move to keep the ball. And I think you definitely saw that against, you know, the New Zealand game. I think you definitely saw the fluidity in how people moved around the park.”
The Matildas will be looking for redemption after a disappointing 4th place finish following a 3-1 semi-final loss against England, which saw the end of their World Cup journey in 2023. The weight of a home crowd and the determination to make amends are what are driving Wheeler and her teammates to success.
“With the last tournament, you know, it didn’t fall our way, and we didn’t get the job done there. But I think it’s kind of poetic in a way to hopefully see them in the group stage and make amends.”
“Support during the World Cup was, you know, incredible in Or. It was something I’ve never actually experienced at that scale. So, we’re hoping, obviously, to have that support for this tournament.”
While the Matildas’ last home tournament may not have ended the way they had hoped results-wise, it brought in an unprecedented amount of support across the country, and the momentum has continued to build over the past 3 years. Wheeler is confident that the energy and support across the country will help carry the Matildas to success this time around.
“Just the feeling that atmosphere helps so much and, you know, we really hope that we, you know, garner that support for this AFC (Asian Cup) and, we can make everyone proud that comes out there and supports us.”
Australia last won the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2010. The previous victory in the tournament has given the current Matilda’s squad the belief in themselves as a national side, to bring it home once again, and this time, lift the trophy on home soil.
“We haven’t won this tournament in a really long time. So I think for us, we’ve experienced, obviously, going deep into a tournament, a place we haven’t been before, and we’ve experienced falling short. So we’ve both reached the end of the scale.”
It is now just under a month to go until the Matildas head to Perth to take on the Philippines in the opening match of the Asian Cup, and international success feels closer than ever. A crowd ready to welcome their national team home, a wealth of experience, and a determination to do it for their country, family, and themselves, the Matildas could have everything it takes to lift the trophy on home soil, for the first time in history.
“It’s something that we will be able to treasure forever.”
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