Australia’s Matildas head coach Joe Montemurro has underlined the importance of the upcoming FIFA Series 2026 in Kenya, describing the tournament as a crucial step in building a strong and competitive squad ahead of major international assignments, including the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Montemurro spoke after announcing his 22-player squad for the April FIFA window, which will see Australia travel to Nairobi for the Women’s FIFA Series 2026 set to be staged at Nyayo National Stadium.
The tournament will feature hosts Kenya, India, Malawi and Australia, offering teams a valuable opportunity to test combinations and build continuity in a competitive environment.
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According to Montemurro, the FIFA Series is not just about winning matches but about laying a solid foundation for the next phase of the team’s development.
“The evolution going forward is going to be very important in regard to having the players that are prepared for a big tournament like the World Cup,” Montemurro explained.
The Australian tactician noted that the tournament will help the technical bench implement structural ideas while also strengthening player combinations and patterns of play.
“Some of what we are working on is going to be structural in terms of starting to work on some ideas that I think are going to be very important.Combinations and patterns are going to be big in how we solidify the squad. But also, players that are going to be in good shape going forward, we have to make sure that they’re playing at the highest level and still being able to perform at that level,” he said.
The coach emphasized that the first few camps and international windows will be key in defining the direction of the Matildas as they build towards the FIFA Women’s World Cup
“In the first three camps, and then leading into the new year, we want to say: ‘Okay, well, we’re starting to solidify where we’re heading for the next one.’ So there will be some adjustments, but that has to happen organically to make sure that we’re focusing on who we are and what we want to do.”
Montemurro has largely maintained continuity in his squad, with 19 players who featured in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 included in the traveling team to Kenya. He believes consistency in selection is vital as the team prepares for different styles of opposition, particularly African teams known for their unpredictability and physicality.
“Continuity is the most important thing. We are able to continue doing what we’re doing against different oppositions. We know the African nations have a lot of talent, a little bit more unpredictable at times. We need that. We need that tough sort of scenario,” he noted.
The coach added that bringing back the bulk of the Asian Cup squad was a strategic decision aimed at maintaining the benchmark already set within the team.
“It’s really important that we’ve set the base for continuity going forward and for me to make the relative adjustments and see the combinations that I’m looking for as we prepare for the World Cup.”
Three new players Leticia McKenna, Izzy Gomez, and Jess Nash have been included in the squad, with Montemurro particularly keen on strengthening the midfield with modern, dynamic players capable of breaking lines and maintaining high-tempo play.
“The midfield area is one where we are looking at players who are explosive, technically good with the ball and very good in positioning, but also can break lines and make runs,” he explained.
Looking ahead to the FIFA Series matches in Kenya, Montemurro expects challenging and competitive encounters that will test his team’s adaptability.
“We expect tough games. It’s really important that we have some opposition that we don’t know much about. There is a bit of unpredictability for us to benchmark what we’re doing,” he said.
The Women’s FIFA Series 2026 in Kenya will kick off with Kenya facing India at Nyayo National Stadium, while Australia will take on Malawi in the other fixture, with winners progressing to the final as the losers fight for the third place finish.
