Breier: Playing For CommBank Young Matildas Is Dream

Young talent India Breier reflected on what it means to represent the CommBank Young Matildas this week, saying that pulling on the shirt is a "dream."

The 19-year-old is in Thailand representing the CommBank Young Matildas at the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup 2026™.

"It means a lot to me. It's a dream," she said.

"Honestly, ever since I was younger, I've just always wanted to put on the jersey. It means more than just representing your country - you're representing your family, you're representing yourself, you're representing your team. There's so many people you're representing when you get on that field and put it on that jersey.

"Before our first game, we got to hold our jerseys, and it just felt so amazing to have it in my hands. You definitely don't take it for granted, because not everyone gets the privilege and opportunity to put the jersey on and play for their country."

Representing Australia is a long way away from where she started, playing football in her park with her brother and her Dad.

"I have a lot of memories going to the park with my Dad and my brother and just enjoying it," she recalled.

"I definitely got into it because of them. It's me heaps. I always remind myself of those moments on why I started and how much I enjoy it, because it's really important that you enjoy your football.

"When I started playing with the boys, I was really competitive. Beating them and competing with them, it really made me realise how much I really want this. All the experiences I've had since I was younger, playing in different teams - I just realised in those moments that this is something I really wanted to do, especially with how much joy came out of it.

"I can't think of a specific moment where I was like: this is what I want to do. I think it was a gradual thing. I've always just enjoyed it."

She reflected on the team's 5-0 victory over Chinese Taipei to start the tournament, and spoke about her excitement for the challenges ahead.

"It's always such an honour to represent your country, especially in a tournament like this, and it was such a great win the other day against Chinese Taipei, but we're really looking forward to the next match against India," she said.

"We haven't come up against India, so it'll be a new challenge, but definitely a challenge we're ready for. We've prepared so well for this tournament. We're all really excited."

A consistent theme amongst the players throughout the tournament has been positivity about the team environment. Breier was no exception, expressing the closeness in the group.

"Alex [Epakis] has built such a great environment for our skills, and all of us are really, really close," she said.

"I have so much confidence in myself and the girls to go all the way in this tournament. I think we've shown that in the first game.

"We're all here for the same thing. We all want to win. At the end of the day, we all just have so much belief in each other, and I think that's so important in a team. We all believe in each other - if you don't, it's really hard to go on the pitch and trust your teammates. We've built so much trust within the team that's really evident in the games."

She said the team would be taking it one game at a time in search of silverware.

"It's really important just to focus on our brand of football," she said.

"It's really key to qualify for the World Cup, and it'll be really exciting. But at the end of the day, if we just focus on each game at a time, we'll definitely get there - and obviously it'll be great to qualify and win the Asian Cup."

Breier will be hoping to help the team leave their mark on the tournament.

"Alex brings it up all the time about leaving our mark, which is really important for like team," she said.

"Individually, I want to just get as many minutes as I can, help the team as much as I can on and off the pitch, and hopefully, just do my best every time I'm on the pitch.

"Give it 100% every game, and that's all I can do."

AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup 2026™