Football Australia is pleased to announce the all-First Nations Charles Perkins XI squads for the upcoming 2026 CommBank Emerging Matildas and CommBank Emerging Socceroos Championships.
This year, across the players and staff, there are more than 40 different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mobs being represented at the Emerging Championships.
The First Nations youth squads are named after Dr Charles Perkins AO, one of Australia's most influential figures in both football and civil rights. An Arrernte and Kalkadoon man, Perkins was an elite midfielder during the 1950s, playing for Adelaide Croatia and Pan Hellenic, and was a regular representative for the South Australian state team. He later served the game off the field as vice‑president of the Australian Soccer Federation and was inducted into the Football Australia Hall of Fame.
Beyond his football achievements, Perkins was a trailblazer for Indigenous rights in Australia. He became the nation's first Aboriginal university graduate and rose to prominence as the leader of the 1965 Freedom Rides, a defining moment in the fight against racial discrimination. His legacy continues to inspire generations through his lifelong commitment to equality, justice and social change.
The CommBank Emerging Matildas and CommBank Emerging Socceroos Championships are a cornerstone of Football Australia's national talent identification and development pathway, providing a critical platform for Australia's most promising young footballers to showcase their ability in front of national team technical staff.
Many of today's household names, including Mackenzie Arnold (Football QLD), Jordan Bos (Football VIC), Kyra Cooney-Cross (Football VIC), Emily van Egmond (Northern NSW Football), Charlotte Grant (Football SA), Josh Nisbet (Football NSW), Hayley Raso (Football QLD) and Kye Rowles (Football QLD) all took their first steps towards international football through this tournament.
Quotes attributable to Gema Simon, Head Coach - Girls XI
"I am honoured to continue to be part of the Charles Perkins XI and to see the program grow. This year, we have more Member Federations represented in our squad. The opportunity and experience for the players involved is priceless.
"The Charles Perkins XI is about more than football, it also provides an environment for the players to embrace their connection to culture and represent their families from all over the country."
Quotes attributable to David Williams, Head Coach - Boys XI
"I'm really excited and grateful to have the opportunity to coach the Charles Perkins XI again. It's always a great experience working with these young boys, giving them a safe and professional environment to enjoy their football and grow.
"What makes it even better is the opportunity for them to be seen by A‑League clubs and national team scouts from across the country. It's all about giving them a platform and helping open doors for their future in the game."
Quotes attributable to Courtney Fewquandie, General Manager - First Nations at Football Australia
"This program is truly one of a kind, and a first in Australian sport. To place an all‑First Nations team, including staff and players, into the Emerging Championships provides a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity for participants to test their talents against the country's best young footballers.
"We have seen enormous growth during the 11 days players spend in camp each year, connecting with each other and with culture. At the centre of a challenging tournament environment, this experience provides everyone with the opportunity to grow and rise to the occasion.
"Some of our players and staff live in very rural or remote areas or face barriers to accessing high‑performance football environments.
"This program acts as a connection opportunity for players to showcase their talents for consideration for future local, state and national team selection. Often, our players find themselves as the only Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander footballer in their team or club, so this is a wonderful opportunity for them to meet and connect with more First Nations people in the game."
Charles Perkins XI U15 Girls Squad | CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships 2026 | 9 - 15 April, Home of the Matildas, Melbourne
NAME |
MOB |
POSITION |
CLUB |
MEMBER FED |
Jamyshia ANDERSON |
Noongar |
Forward |
Balga SC |
Football West |
Cydnee AVERY |
Kamilaroi |
Defender |
Western Sydney Wanderers |
Football NSW |
Bianca‑Ann BROOKER |
Biripi & Gunditjmara |
Defender |
South Melbourne |
Football VIC |
Hannah FARAG |
Wangkumarra |
Midfield |
Western City Rangers |
Football NSW |
Breanna Lee FORD |
Wiradjuri |
Midfield |
Central Coast Mariners |
Northern NSW Football |
Ruby GRANT |
Wiradjuri |
Midfield |
Picton Rangers |
Football NSW |
Mariah HAMMOUD |
Kamilaroi |
Midfield |
Western City Rangers |
Football NSW |
Indee LEWIS |
Widjabul |
Midfield |
Brisbane City FC |
Football QLD |
Kirra MEALE |
Wiradjuri |
Defender |
Central Coast Mariners |
Football NSW |
Leighton PAUZA |
Kalkatungu |
Defender |
Wynnum Wolves FC |
Football QLD |
Payton SHARP |
Dunghutti |
Defender |
Northern Inland Rangers |
Northern NSW Football |
Lillianah SKAINES |
Kamilaroi |
Goalkeeper |
Lake Macquarie City FC |
Northern NSW Football |
Isabella SMYTH |
Wiradjuri |
Forward |
Narromine SC |
Football NSW |
Ella SPROATES |
Wiradjuri & Yuin |
Forward |
Northern Inland Rangers |
Northern NSW Football |
Elizabeth STEPTOE |
Wiradjuri |
Goalkeeper |
Western Sydney Wanderers |
Football NSW |
Isabella TAYLOR |
Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung & Wakka Wakka |
Midfield |
Abbotsleigh |
Northern NSW Football |
Evie VITNELL |
Kamilaroi |
Midfield |
Newcastle Jets |
Northern NSW Football |
Eliana WHITE |
Worimi |
Forward |
FSA |
Football SA |
Charles Perkins XI U16 Boys Squad | CommBank Emerging Socceroos Championships 2026 | 18 - 24 April, Valentine Sports Park, Sydney NAME MOB POSITION CLUB MEMBER FED Trey ANDERSON Awabakal Forward Maitland FC Northern NSW Football Lachlan BLAYDEN Kamilaroi & Awabakal Forward Newcastle Jets Northern NSW Football NJ BRU Wathaurong Midfield APIA Leichhardt Football NSW Cailum CALLAGHAN Worimi & Gringai Goalkeeper Maitland FC Northern NSW Football Blake CHIAUZZI Gudjal Defender Parkside United Football QLD Braelyn COLE Nywaigi Defender Burdekin FC Football QLD Jack CROWE Wiradjuri Forward Murray United Football NSW Corbin DOWELL Wiradjuri & Ngunnawal Defender Playford Patriots Football SA Joshua FARDELL Wiradjuri Defender Edgeworth Eagles Football NSW Alex GARDE Kamilaroi Defender Newcastle Jets Northern NSW Football Rockie GRUBER Koori Midfield Valentine FC Northern NSW Football Jimmi MATTHEWS Ngemba Defender Gold Coast United Football QLD Nash ROBINSON Koori Goalkeeper APIA Leichhardt Football NSW Phoenix ROSS Kuku Yalanji & Maluiligal Midfield Stratford Dolphins Football QLD Kobe SEYMOUR Wiradjuri Midfield CWFC Football NSW Ehtan SHEEN Giabal Midfield Malvern City Football VIC Harry SIMMONS Wiradjuri Midfield Wagga City Wanderers Football NSW Jayavai SURYA‑PEDDELL Ngarabal Midfield Manningham FC Football VIC
For the third consecutive year, in partnership with News Corp Australia, KommunityTV will bring the Emerging Championships to fans around the country, livestreaming every match from both tournaments exclusively. Teams from Football Australia's nine State and Territory Member Federations as well as invitational teams will compete, with all matches available to watch live and on demand.
To view the live stream hub, click here.
