2023 FIFA Women's World Cup squad: Australia national women's football head coach Tony Gustavsson on Monday named a provisional squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Gustavsson announced a 29-player squad who will participate in the Matildas' final preparations for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand before the squad is cut down to 23 in July.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The training camp will give some injured players an opportunity to prove their fitness before the final squad is named, a Xinhua report said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Star players Sam Kerr, Steph Catley, Ellie Carpenter and Caitlin Foord are all in the squad following long club seasons in Europe.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"From the first day of our first training session in 2021, we said it would take 23 in 23 for the FIFA Women's World Cup and everyone would have a role to play in that journey," Gustavsson said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"What we have seen is that it has actually taken more than 23 players to bring us to this moment, and for that reason I am thrilled to work with the players named in this provisional squad during the final phase of our preparation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I have been impressed by their full commitment at every step, and now we have the chance to fine tune and solidify our game plan ahead of a phenomenally exciting couple of weeks."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Matildas will open their World Cup campaign against Ireland in Sydney on July 20, before facing Nigeria on July 27 in Brisbane and Canada on July 31 in Melbourne.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Only the top two teams from eight groups will enter the round of 16, as this is the first time that women's football's biggest tournament will expand to a 32-team format.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
China, having clinched the Asian Cup last year, are placed in Group D with England, Denmark and Haiti for the tournament, which will be held between July 20 to August 20.<\/p>\r\n\r\n