Apostolakis: Our Togetherness Makes This Team Special

CommBank Young Matildas Alexia Apostolakis said that the sense of togetherness and camaraderie in the squad will be a key factor in lifting their performance at the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup 2026™.

Apostolakis is competing in her second AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup™ and would be set to participate in her third FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup™ if the team manages to qualify as one of the top four finishers in the competition.

"What makes this team so special is our togetherness on and off the pitch," she told Football Australia this week.

"A trademark of this group - and I've been in quite a few camps now - is our culture. Off the pitch, we're such a tight-knit group, and we can get along with anyone. No matter if you're the first or the 23rd player, everyone's together and has fun, has a laugh off the pitch.

"In situations like this, especially in major tournaments, it's so important that we're together and bonded. We can deal with adverse challenges that way. That's something that's a big characteristic of this group."

The full-back's career started like many others - in the backyard of her family home in Sydney, where she grew up with her second-generation Greek father and Filipino mother.

"My Dad, growing up, loved sports," she recalled.

"My Mum, not so much - she was more on the academic side. I got into football, and so many sports, because of my older brother, so I was kind of just chasing them around in the backyard. It progressed to football, and I loved it. So that's why I kept going.

"I was about 11, playing both athletics and soccer. I had to decide between the two, and I just loved being part of the team and kicking a ball around. It's something that an individual sport can't give you, the feeling of celebrating with your team and hanging out with your mates and things like that. That's why I leaned more into football."

The 19-year-old debuted for the Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League Women's all the way back in 2021, when she was only 15. A key moment in her feeling that she belonged at that level was being taken under her wing by someone who is now an assistant coach at the CommBank Young Matildas level.

"The first time I really felt like I belonged was when I was coached by Cath Cannuli in my first season of A-League [at the Wanderers]," she said.

"Sometimes it's hard when you're a young kid to feel like you fit in, or be part of a group. She honestly just had unwavering support in me, and that's when I felt like I belonged at this level.

"Especially as a kid, being surrounded by so many professional adults who have been doing this for years, it feels a bit like an out of body experience - but when someone has that belief in you and tells you and shows you through their actions that you're an important part of this team, that's when I felt like I really belonged in this environment."

She has since established herself as a key player at Melbourne City over the past few seasons, helping them win two Premierships and reach the final of the AFC Women's Champions League. She also won her first senior CommBank Matildas cap last year when she debuted against Panama.

Apostolakis said that all her experiences mean she is feeling prepared ahead of the upcoming Asian Cup.

"It's been a long time coming, and for months we've prepared for this and analysed opponents - even in club land, we've been progressing individually," she said.

"Having a lot of experience previously, it gives me knowledge. I know what to expect coming into these tournaments and how to deal with these things, because it comes with a lot of pressure, and it comes with a lot of focus. Being a few tournaments in, I know how to best deal with that.

"I hope to share my leadership and take on more of a leadership role coming into this tournament. I hope to share my expertise with the girls who haven't [had the experience], and this is their first major tournament. It just comes with more preparation and knowing how to deal with different situations."

Apostolakis is a player who seems to play beyond her years, both at the club and international level. The mental side of the game has been where she feels she has most developed over the past few seasons.

"As I get older and I continue to play, it's more of a mental thing, that's where I grow the most," she said.

"Obviously, you gain those physical attributes and [get better] on the ball and things like that, but I think the biggest difference from a few years ago to now is how I look at my sports, and I view it on a more mental side of things.

"Being through challenges and experiencing things like World Cups and tournaments and things like that, you just learn to grow as a player and become wiser in handling situations and becoming mentally strong. That's probably the biggest difference between a few years ago and now."

The goal for the tournament is simple: she wants to be lifting a trophy when it is all said and done.

"We'd love to take away a trophy, and I think we're definitely capable of it," she said.

"We talk a lot about leaving our mark, and this group's definitely capable of it. I've never really met a more talented group of people. We work so hard on and off the pitch, and as individuals, I can tell that everyone's so hard-working and driven. So those rewards can come as a result of just putting our heads down and taking this tournament on."

AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup 2026™