The last Australian side visited the Pacific was in 2005 were the Socceroos.

The visit is part of a partnership with the Australian Government and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT). The Junior Matildas will visit Tonga, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands and play a match against the under 19 women’s national team in each country.

W-League players Emma Checker and Hannah Brewer alongside International Relations Manager Kieran Lilley, match officials Lara Lee, Sarah Ho and Joanna Charaktis, FFA Girls Youth Development Manager Debbie Fisher and Football Queensland Women & Girls Development Officer Kerry Hammersley will join the Junior Matildas travelling to the Pacific.

While in the region, the group will help conduct a number of coaching and refereeing workshops, as well as skills clinics.

Junior Matildas head coach Rae Dower has split her time between Coffs Harbour and Canberra over the past two weeks as she attended the National Youth Championships and NTC Challenge where she has had the opportunity to see players from across the country prior to selecting a travelling squad of 23.

“This tour will provide the squad with valuable training and match conditions against opponents who play a different style of football, and will expose our players to a variety of environmental and football challenges that they will need to overcome,” Dower said.

“The additional social and cultural benefits for the players and staff on a unique tour opportunity like this will help to build relationships with Australia and the South Pacific region.

"I am confident that they will be fabulous ambassadors for the FFA and for Australia, and that football will once again prove to be the game that brings the whole world together.”

TheJunior Matildas will use their tour of the Pacific as preparation for the 2019 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship, which will be held in Thailand in September.

The squad will go into camp in Sydney on August 2 before departing for Tonga on August 5.

Junior Matildas 23-Player Squad
Emma ILIJOSKI
Mia McGOVERN
Jessika NASH
Darcey MALONE
Bryleeh HENRY
Charlize RULE
Jordan JASNOS
Chloe CARMICHAEL (GK)
Charlotte FARMER
Georgia BEAUMONT
Jamilla RANKIN
Alana MURPHY
Grace TARANTO
Paige ZOIS
Alana JANCEVSKI
Claudia MIHOCIC
Tijan MCKENNA
Taneesha BAKER
Miranda TEMPLEMAN (GK)
Hana LOWRY
Ruby JONES (GK)
Kirsty FENTON
Josie MORLEY

2019 Pacific Step-Up Tour Matches
Tonga U-19 WNT v Junior Matildas
Date: Thursday, 8 August 2019
Kick-Off: 1:00pm (local); 4.00pm (AEST)
Venue: Tonga Football Academy, Nuku’alofa, Tonga

Vanuatu U-19 WNT v Junior Matildas
Date: Monday, 12 August 2019
Kick-Off: Details to be finalised
Venue: Details to be finalised

Solomon Islands U-19 WNT v Junior Matildas
Date: Thursday, 15 August 2019
Kick-Off: 4:00pm (local); 5:00pm (AEST)
Venue: Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands