Football Australia is pleased to announce that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) will participate in both the 2025 CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships and the 2025 CommBank Emerging Socceroos Championships, marking the first time an international team has been included in the newly rebranded youth tournaments.
Following a formal Expression of Interest (EOI) process extended to selected AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Member Associations, Malaysia confirmed its intent to participate in both tournaments - a historic step forward that strengthens Australia's football development framework and enhances international collaboration within the region.
The Malaysian U-15 National Teams will compete in the U-15 age group of each respective competition, taking on Australia's top emerging players at Valentine Sports Park, Sydney and the Home of the Matildas at La Trobe University, Melbourne in July 2025.
This exciting initiative reflects one of the key innovations of the Championships' transformation, aimed at elevating the competitive standard, broadening player development opportunities, and providing invaluable international benchmarking for players, coaches, and officials alike.
Malaysia's involvement was endorsed by Football Australia's National Teams and Technical departments based on FAM's strong proposal, alignment with development objectives, and the opportunity to deepen the relationship between the two nations.
Quotes attributable to Football Australia Interim Chief Executive Officer, Heather Garriock:
"The inclusion of Malaysia in both the CommBank Emerging Matildas and CommBank Emerging Socceroos Championships is a landmark moment for our youth development pathway.
"We are thrilled to welcome the Football Association of Malaysia to the Championships as part of our new strategic direction.
"This partnership will enhance the international experience of our emerging players and strengthen Australia's ties with our regional football neighbours. We look forward to building on this collaboration in the years ahead.
Quotes attributable to FAM President, Datuk Mohd Joehari Mohd Ayub:
"We are honoured to be part of this important initiative alongside Football Australia. The opportunity to compete in the Emerging Matildas and Emerging Socceroos Championships reflects our shared commitment to grassroots development and regional collaboration.
"This tournament provides invaluable exposure for our young talents and allows us to strengthen footballing ties with Australia, a nation that shares our vision for youth development. We believe this partnership will create lasting benefits for the next generation of footballers in both countries.
"At FAM, we are deeply invested in building sustainable pathways that nurture talent from the grassroots through to the elite level. Being part of these Championships allows our players and coaches to experience international football in a competitive and developmental environment.
"We see this as more than just participation in a tournament - it's the beginning of a long-term relationship between our two federations. We are confident this collaboration will open up further opportunities for knowledge exchange, technical development, and stronger regional unity through football."
2025 CommBank Emerging Socceroos Championships
Venue: Home of the Matildas, Bundoora, Melbourne, Victoria
Dates: 6 - 11 July 2025
2025 CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships
Venue: Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood, Sydney, New South Wales
Dates: 15 - 20 July 2025
Fixtures and squads for the 2025 CommBank Emerging Matildas Championship and CommBank Emerging Socceroos Championship will be released in the coming weeks.
