Above: Joe Montemurro talks to the media. Image: Football Australia.
By Genevieve Henry (2/5/2026).
Australia will host Mexico in a two game series in June, Football Australia announced Friday. The Matildas will kick off the series at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on June 6 before travelling to Sydney for game two at CommBank Stadium on June 9. Head coach Joe Montemurro spoke to the media regarding the international window.
“The lead-up to the World Cup has been really strategic and Mexico is an important opponent for us,” Montemurro said. “They’re going to be tough and that’s what we need going into the World Cup. We’re looking forward to a great spectacle.”
Monetmurro and the Matildas are counting on the support from fans to carry through from Australia’s deep run in the Asian Cup. Montemurro said packed stadiums have become “crucial” for his team.
“We’re used to it now and we expect it,” Montemurro said. “We know that they’re the twelfth player. We love our fans, our fans are just amazing. Our players are more than willing to do the best they can for the fans.”
Montemurro said fans should expect the Mexican side to be good in possession and quick on transitional plays, and comfortable technically. He said their coach Pedro López is “very, very good” and that his side will be tough to face with a squad full of match-winners.
The last time Australia faced Mexico in 2024, the Matildas got a 2-0 result. Montemurro said the team has changed a lot since then, focusing on the growth of the Mexican team in the past few years that will give the Matildas challenges, due to a “very strong” league that is producing lots of young talent.
“Those sorts of Northern Central American teams are very, very tricky to play against because they’re emotional teams, they play a lot for their country and you know, they love playing for their country,” Montemurro said. “These are challenges we’re going to face in the World Cup so again, (it’s) a strategic move to get a country like Mexico to play against us.”
Montemurro said the standard the Matildas set in the final of the Asian Cup was what they expected, but that the challenge will be to maintain that level of competition against other top opponents. To ensure this kind of performance, he is focusing on a proactive and attack-minded style of play.
Montemurro said he wants fans to feel a “sense of theatre” and a “sense of inspiration” as they watch the Matildas.
“From my perspective, you know, the Matildas are a great brand,” Montemurro said. “I’ve been not surprised but you know, expecting big crowds to come. Obviously it’s an opportunity for us to be in Australia and play against quality opposition. Great occasions and situations, I think, are always going to attract big crowds so you know, we are expecting a big crowd.”
“We love playing in front of our fans, especially at home,” Montemurro said. “(The Matildas) know the importance of what they mean to the nation in regards to role models and the next generation of players. I think the supporter base that we’ve created, the emotion that we’ve created over the years…the fans are so important.”
Montemurro said a key player in the series will be Newcastle’s own Emily Van Egmond, who recently became the most capped Matilda.
“It’s an absolute honour to coach a player of the stature of EVE,” Montemurro said. “I’ve always admired her, her style of football, her football knowledge, even just as a person — she’s fantastic around the group and what she’s given to the national team is something really, really special. I also want to make note of the Van Egmond family — I know they’re very close to this region and I know Gary and the family — they’ve given a lot to the game in Australia and they should be applauded for what they’ve done. It’s been an honour to work with them and I hope I can continue to work with them.”
Another local player at the top of her game is Clare Wheeler.
“Clare’s shown that she’s a top national team player and we believe that she’s going to really, really shine over the next few years leading into the World Cup and into the LA Games,” Montemurro said. “She’s proven it on the big stage, she’s proven it in big games in the Asian Cup. It’s the classic case of someone that’s a true professional overseas, doing what she does, working at Everton at a high level and she deserves all the rewards that she gets.”
CommBank Matildas v Mexico
Date: Saturday, 6 June 2026
Kick-off: 7.15pm AEST
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Broadcast: Network 10, Paramount+
CommBank Matildas v Mexico
Date: Tuesday, 9 June 2026
Kick-off: 7.00pm AEST
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Broadcast: Paramount+ exclusive
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