Joe Montemurro

Cooney-Cross’ mother, Jess, was diagnosed with Stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) in January, prompting the midfielder to take leave from her club side, Arsenal

Caitlin Foord was in her own personal torture chamber: red-eyed, voice cracking, yet still fronting up to a broadcast interview straight after the full-time whistle on Saturday night

Qualification was sealed in June 2025 with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, marking the Socceroos' sixth consecutive World Cup appearance and seventh overall

More than two years on from co-hosting the 2023 Women's World ​Cup, Australians have again shown their enthusiasm for international soccer, shattering a series of attendance records for the quadrennial showpiece

But while the style was in stark contrast to the defend-to-the-death quarter-final smash-and-grab against North Korea — praised by the coach as “tournament football” — he was less convinced by what he’d seen at Optus Stadium

The Matildas will play in a second semi-final of an international tournament in just three years on Tuesday night

Goals from Alanna Kennedy and Sam Kerr in Perth guided the Australians into the last four while also securing a berth at ​the 2027 finals in Brazil, with World Cup tickets available for ​the top six finishers at the continental championship

A road needing less travel was temporarily within the Matildas’ grasp before they limply let a half-time lead slip and then needed Kennedy’s last-gasp goal just to snatch a 3-3 draw

They also have their hands at their temples, as if they are delivering some kind of army-style salute

The Iran women's football team sang and saluted their national anthem before their Women's Asian Cup match against Australia on Thursday, a marked shift from their silent protest ahead of their opening game

Ahead of Thursday's Women's Asian Cup group game against the Matildas on the Gold Coast, Didar spoke through an interpreter on Wednesday and welled up when she relayed her concern for her nation and her teammates' families

Sara Didar, a striker for the Iranian women’s football team, fought back tears as she shared her teammates' profound concerns for their families and loved ones back home

Their compatriots Bao Mengxiao and Tian Jin will fill the roles of another assistant referee and fourth official

For the second time in three years, Australia is hosting a major women’s football tournament

The Manchester City winger is one of Australia's most important footballers but has played only 15 minutes for her club since coming back from the serious knee problem