Captain Sam Kerr could be back from injury to lead the Matildas at the SheBelieves Cup in the US

The next Matildas coach could get an early taste of his team’s capacity to take down the world’s best, including world No.1 the USA, after being invited to play in next year’s four-nations SheBelieves Cup.

It’s the first time the Matildas have earnt an invitation to the event, which will be played in February and also features matches against Japan and Colombia.

Former coach Tony Gustavsson’s permanent replacement is expected to be in place by the first window of 2025, which could potentially also mark Sam Kerr’s international return from injury.

Interim coach Tom Sermanni will remain in charge for upcoming home friendlies against Brazil and Chinese Taipei and has picked a massive 36-player squad, including a host of A-League players that could help blood the next generation of full-time Matildas.

Then in February the new coach could steer the Matildas in games against world No.4 Japan on Thursday, February 20 in Houston, Texas.

Australia will then face world No.1 the US on Sunday, February 23 in Arizona and world No.21 Colombia on Wednesday, February 26 in San Diego.

Captain Kerr could be back from an ACL rupture suffered in January this year to again lead the team.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the Matildas to compete against some of the world’s best teams on an international platform,” Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said in a statement.

“The SheBelieves Cup aligns with our vision to challenge the team in high-stakes environments as we continue to elevate the Matildas and build towards the next FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“The invitation to this respected tournament speaks to the high regard of the Matildas internationally.

“With the line-up of US women’s national team, Japan, and Colombia, the meaningful experience gained from being a part of top-quality competition will be an invaluable set of matches for our AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 preparations.

“The mixture of styles, world-class players, and replication of a tournament-style playing schedule provides an opportunity for the further development and roster evolution on the road to 2026 and the next cycle.”

The matches will also serve as crucial preparation for the 2026 Asian Cup in Australia and 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.