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Matilda's abroad

https://www.thefa.com/news/2026/jan/19/adobe-womens-fa-cup-fifth-round-proper-draw-made-20261901

The Women's FA Cup fifth round draw has been completed, with all fixtures taking place on February 22nd local time. Clare Wheeler and Everton face Liverpool in a Merseyside derby, whilst Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter's Chelsea play Manchester United. Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross play Bristol City at home with Arsenal, and Mary Fowler's Manchester City host Sheffield United. There are two games pitting Matildas players against each other, namely Katrina Gorry and West Ham against Charlize Rule and Brighton, in addition to Alanna Kennedy and London City Lionesses against Clare Hunt and Charli Grant's Spurs.
 
rebelliousfeminist974 said:
https://www.thefa.com/news/2026/jan/19/adobe-womens-fa-cup-fifth-round-proper-draw-made-20261901

The Women's FA Cup fifth round draw has been completed, with all fixtures taking place on February 22nd local time. Clare Wheeler and Everton face Liverpool in a Merseyside derby, whilst Sam Kerr and Ellie Carpenter's Chelsea play Manchester United. Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross play Bristol City at home with Arsenal, and Mary Fowler's Manchester City host Sheffield United. There are two games pitting Matildas players against each other, namely Katrina Gorry and West Ham against Charlize Rule and Brighton, in addition to Alanna Kennedy and London City Lionesses against Clare Hunt and Charli Grant's Spurs.
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Arsenal and City getting the easiest draws of course. Good to see Chelsea getting a hard one for once.
 
HonestSpursFan said:
Good to see Chelsea getting a hard one for once.
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Chelsea have a repeat of season 2022-23 and last season's Women's FA Cup final in the fifth round this season, and have only lost one of their past three meetings with Manchester United in the competition, which was the semi-final in season 2023-24.
 
Caitlin Foord starts for Arsenal in their Women's League Cup semi-final against Manchester United. Steph Catley on the bench. Kyra Cooney-Cross not in the matchday squad altogether for Arsenal.
 
rebelliousfeminist974 said:
Caitlin Foord starts for Arsenal in their Women's League Cup semi-final against Manchester United. Steph Catley on the bench. Kyra Cooney-Cross not in the matchday squad altogether for Arsenal.
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It looks like Caitlin Foord's slowly being moved out of the starting 11. With her contract expiring in June she may well leave Arsenal.
 
Ellie Carpenter played the entirety of Chelsea's 1-0 Women's League Cup semi-final win over Manchester City. Sam Kerr started and played 61 minutes for Chelsea before being subbed off.
 
Caitlin Foord played the entirety of 10-player Arsenal's 1-0 Women's League Cup loss to Manchester United. No game time for Steph Catley, who was an unused substitute for Arsenal.
 
rebelliousfeminist974 said:
Ellie Carpenter played the entirety of Chelsea's 1-0 Women's League Cup semi-final win over Manchester City. Sam Kerr started and played 61 minutes for Chelsea before being subbed off.
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rebelliousfeminist974 said:
Caitlin Foord played the entirety of 10-player Arsenal's 1-0 Women's League Cup loss to Manchester United. No game time for Steph Catley, who was an unused substitute for Arsenal.
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Rematch of the last season's FA Cup final in this season's League Cup final.
 
HonestSpursFan said:
I really hope Wini's still in the thoughts of the staff at Roma. She'll need a starting spot at Roma if she wants a starting spot at the Asian Cup especially with so much competition for the two centre back positions.

Good to see Jacynta and Jess starting for Sassuolo. Jess has started most games (every game?) so hopefully that can help her make the Asian Cup squad.
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It’s getting more problematic for those players on the fringe of the established group of Matildas as clubs in Europe and the USA now have many more options to choose from.
A fully professional league here will help as will more international ‘friendlies’ to expose up and coming Matildas to a higher standard.
 
libelous said:
It’s getting more problematic for those players on the fringe of the established group of Matildas as clubs in Europe and the USA now have many more options to choose from.
A fully professional league here will help as will more international ‘friendlies’ to expose up and coming Matildas to a higher standard.
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I see your point but to be honest I think Wini Heatley is definitely an established Matilda nowadays. Tony Gustavsson leaving was the greatest thing ever for her since after that she became Nordsjælland’s captain (helping them win silverware), made her Matildas debut, became a Matildas regular and then moved to Roma where she's likely to win the league.
 
HonestSpursFan said:
I see your point but to be honest I think Wini Heatley is definitely an established Matilda nowadays. Tony Gustavsson leaving was the greatest thing ever for her since after that she became Nordsjælland’s captain (helping them win silverware), made her Matildas debut, became a Matildas regular and then moved to Roma where she's likely to win the league.
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I wasn’t referring to Heatley specifically but I think it’s becoming obvious that once the Matildas players at big clubs retire from International football we won’t have many players at the top level.
 
libelous said:
I wasn’t referring to Heatley specifically but I think it’s becoming obvious that once the Matildas players at big clubs retire from International football we won’t have many players at the top level.
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This isn't true. Only a few of our best 23–26 players are over 30 (I'd say most are under 25 too) and we still create plenty of talent. While it's hard to tell who of those talents will actually end up being good, we'll still have a ton of top players, it's just that instead of players like Sam Kerr being considered senior players it'll be players like Kyra Cooney-Cross.

As for other countries caring more about football, the truth is many countries sadly don't care about women's football at all. In 2026 we literally just heard the news that South Korea's national team may be boycotting the Asian Cup for getting treated like shit by the KFA.
 
HonestSpursFan said:
This isn't true. Only a few of our best 23–26 players are over 30 (I'd say most are under 25 too) and we still create plenty of talent. While it's hard to tell who of those talents will actually end up being good, we'll still have a ton of top players, it's just that instead of players like Sam Kerr being considered senior players it'll be players like Kyra Cooney-Cross.

As for other countries caring more about football, the truth is many countries sadly don't care about women's football at all. In 2026 we literally just heard the news that South Korea's national team may be boycotting the Asian Cup for getting treated like shit by the KFA.
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I agree that Womens football has a long way to go to be accepted as a legitimate part of football in many countries, however this is changing and changing quickly .
Yes we have a number of younger players who are in the Matildas squads but my concern is that places are drying up for players coming through from the A league for the next batch of players needing to be developed at higher levels.
I am concerned that not enough is being done to push our talented players to the next level.
 
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