Anna 
Football Australia (FA) is confident that a full-time head coach for the Matildas will be appointed by mid-year, despite the ongoing search to find the right candidate. The governing body maintains that they are taking their time to find a world-class coach to lead the team, which is preparing for the 2026 Asian Cup.
FA has emphasized that the delay is necessary to ensure they appoint a coach who meets their high standards. This comes after the Matildas suffered a 2-1 loss to Colombia, their third defeat in a week under interim coach Tom Sermanni. This setback occurred on the same day FA celebrated the one-year countdown to the Asian Cup.
The new coach won’t be in place for the Matildas’ home friendlies against South Korea in April. Sermanni will continue in charge for those matches, which could also mark the return of star forward Sam Kerr. FA CEO James Johnson confirmed that a new manager won’t take over until at least the June window.
Heather Garriock, a key FA board member leading the recruitment process, said they are close to finalizing a deal with their top candidate. Garriock emphasized that FA is in deep negotiations and won’t settle for anything less than the best. “We’re very comfortable and confident with where we’re at,” she said.
Garriock also noted that the lengthy search is due in part to contractual obligations with potential candidates. Many top coaches are already committed to other teams, such as England’s Sarina Wiegman, who is signed until 2027.
Despite the delay, Garriock is confident that the Matildas will be ready for the 2026 Asian Cup in Australia. “Our absolute goal is to lift the trophy here in Australia,” she said. With the right coach in place, Garriock believes the team will be in a good position to perform at a high level.
The Matildas’ recent losses, including a 2-1 defeat to Colombia, have sparked frustration among the players. Central defender Clare Hunt expressed concern about the team’s current form, stating, “It’s a massive wake-up call. We’ve got 12 months.” She added that the players are eager for certainty regarding the new coach.
Garriock acknowledged the players’ frustration and reassured them that they are receiving regular updates from FA. She emphasized that the players remain professional, continuing to train hard despite the uncertainty surrounding the coaching situation.
Wednesday’s loss to Colombia followed previous defeats to the United States and Japan in the SheBelieves Cup. The team struggled defensively, with Wendy Bonilla’s goal in the 15th minute and Catalina Usme’s deflected shot in the 74th minute sealing the win for Colombia. Hayley Raso scored Australia’s only goal with a deflected strike in the 69th minute.
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