Coach Rae Dower has named a 23-player squad that will head to Laos next month to face IR Iran, Vietnam and the host nation. 

The team is set to head to a training camp on the Gold Coast in preparation for the second round of qualification. 

Last September the side traveled to Kyrgyz Republic for the first phase of qualifying and won all four of their matches to advance comfortably to round two.

“We’ve seen the players at a hotly contested training camp recently at the AIS in Canberra, and in an internal match at Valentine Sports Park,” Dower said.

“We’ve made a couple of changes since the first phase of qualifying which provides an opportunity to strengthen the depth of this playing cohort, exposing them to international competition. 

“Naturally some players will be disappointed, but it’s important for the players that missed out to continue to work hard back at their clubs and look to improve themselves so that they’re ready to go when the next opportunity arises." 

Australia will need to finish in the top two in their pool to advance to the 2019 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship, which will be held in September this year. 

The tournament serves as the qualification process for the 2020 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Australia has never qualified for a U17 World Cup previously with nations like North Korea, South Korea, Japan and China dominating the tournament. 

Junior Matildas Squad 

Capital football: Emma ILIJOSKI 

FNSW Institute: Charlie RULE, Jessika NASH, Darcey MALONE 

Football NSW: Kahli JOHNSON, Chloe CARMICHAEL (Gk), Anna HUNT, Jordan JASNOS 

Football Queensland: Charlotte FARMER, Georgia BEAUMONT, Jamilla RANKIN, Mia BAILEY (Gk)

Football Victoria: Grace TARANTO, Paige ZOIS, Alana JANCEVSKI, Nia STAMATOPOULOS

Football West: Hana LOWRY, Isabella WALLHEAD, Tijan MCKENNA

Northern NSW Football: Josie MORLEY, Kirsty FENTON, Ruby JONES (Gk), Teagan DOUGLAS

Upcoming Matches
Junior Matildas v IR Iran
Date: Sunday, 3 March
Kick-off: 3.00pm (local); 7.00pm (AEDT)

Vietnam v Junior Matildas
Date: Tuesday, 5 March
Kick-off: 3.00pm (local); 7.00pm (AEDT)

Junior Matildas v Laos
Date: Thursday, 7 March
Kick-off: 6.30pm (local); 10.30pm (AEDT)