Sam Kerr aims to play at next Women’s World Cup but Matildas face a mass exodus of ageing players that created history in 2023 tournament
Sam Kerr wants to play in the next Women’s World Cup, but Matildas faces a massive exodus of aging players that made history in the 2023 tournament
Sam Kerr plans to be present for the Matildas’ next win at the Women’s World Cup.
But the inspirational captain isn’t sure how many of her teammates would join her in her fifth tournament.
Lydia Williams (35), Clare Polkinghorne (34), Aivi Luik (38), Kyah Simon (32), Tameka Yallop (32) and Katrina Gorry (31) all don’t seem to be there.
Kerr (29), Steph Catley (29), Caitlin Foord (28), Alanna Kennedy (28), Hayley Raso (28) and Emily van Egmond (30) will be at the end of their careers or will retire in four years . years time.
The captain does not intend to be the last.
Sam Kerr had an injury in the 2023 Women’s World Cup and is eager to return in 2027, but she knows some of her teammates won’t be there
‘I hope to be here. I’m only 29. I think most of us will still be here if we get the chance,” Kerr told reporters.
“We have to play at our club. We have to play well and stay injury free. Maybe a few more babies will come. Don’t know. Four years is a long time, but I hope the core group is still together.
“Of course there will be people coming over and taking someone’s position and people who might not want to keep playing, but at the moment I haven’t heard of anyone retiring.
“As long as there are 22 spots, everyone will compete here for another four years.”
Kyah Simon is one of the best of the Matildas but was brutally banned from playing in Australia due to a knee injury. She is one of the players who could retire before the 2027 tournament
Katrina Gorry turns 31 in 2027 and may be fighting for her spot, while veteran defender Clare Polkinghorne turns 34
Incredible debut World Cups of Mary Fowler (20), Kyra Cooney-Cross (21) and Clare Hunt (24) give enough reason to believe.
“Obviously we have a lot of young players on our team like Mary (Fowler) and Ellie (Carpenter) and you think we’re really in a good place here,” said Kerr.
“You look at the other side (of the age spectrum) and you think we could lose a few and that’s sad, but that’s sport.
“There are probably 10 or 12 players that we’ve never heard of will be at the next World Cup and that’s exciting.
“There are a few players at this World Cup who probably won’t be on the Matildas team anymore. They would have retired, but you never know. That’s the amazing thing about sports and why this tournament is so special.
“It only happens once every four years and the teams change forever. Women’s football is changing faster than people could have ever imagined.’
The 2027 World Cup will be hosted by Brazil, a joint bid between the US and Mexico, a joint bid between Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany or South Africa.
But first, Kerr will turn her focus to Saturday night’s third-placed play-off against Sweden.
“We wanted to leave a legacy and have this moment for 10 or 20 years. I think we’ve already done that, but to win a bronze medal and bring a World Cup medal to this country would be great,” she said.
“It really feels like we brought the nation together through football. Some people might have said we were crazy if we said this was going to happen a year ago.”