Subway Joeys' Head Coach, Brad Maloney has selected a 23-player squad for the Hohhot U16 Tournament, to be held in China from 26 May - 2 June.
The tournament will also feature U16 outfits from across the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) including China PR, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam and is set to be played in a friendly, round-robin format.
All matches will be played at the National Northern Football Training Base Stadium, Hohhot, with the Subway Joeys to take on Vietnam on Wednesday, 28 May (2.00pm local / 4.00pm AEST), Saudi Arabia on Friday, 30 May (2.00pm local / 4.00pm AEST) before facing China PR on Sunday, 1 June (7.35pm local / 9.35pm AEST).
With the move to an annual FIFA U-17 World Cup™, this camp will provide a new cohort of players with the opportunity to experience international football and put themselves in contention for future Subway Joeys' honours with the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ Qualifiers scheduled for November 2025.
For the vast majority of this Subway Joeys' squad - where all players must be 16 years or younger to be selected - it will be their first national team camp.
Brad Maloney has selected an array of Isuzu UTE A-League Academy talent from across the country, including Luke Becvinovski (Melbourne City FC), Corey Da Cruz (Sydney FC) and Henrique Oliveira (Macarthur FC); while Akol Akon (Western Sydney Wanderers FC), Besian Kutleshi (Western United FC) and Miles Milliner (Manly United FC) all return from the Subway Joeys' most recent AFC U17 Asian Cup™ campaign.
Harrison Bond (Red Bull Salzburg), Lennon Biggs (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC) and Charlie Wilson-Papps (Brighton & Hove Albion FC) represent the European-based contingent of the squad.
Subway Joeys' Head Coach, Brad Maloney said the focus for the tournament will be on establishing connections, embedding a strong team culture, and introducing the players to the program's principles and playing philosophies.
"With the move to an annual World Cup for this age group, we are needing to approach things differently and almost run two programs in parallel to best prepare our emerging talent for the challenges that lay ahead, both within the Subway Joeys and other national team programs," Maloney said.
"The time we spend together during this short window will be extremely important to grow connections across the squad and staff and begin building the foundations that will give us a strong platform to be successful in this cycle.
"The quality of the opposition we will be facing and the tournament format - with games in quick succession - will be a real test for the group in terms of their application to our style of play and their overall resilience. This will be a first national team camp for most of these players, and this experience is an important step in their growth as footballers.
"As a staff we're going to get the chance to have a first look at different players and a variety of combinations and we're all looking forward to helping guide this group on our journey towards AFC U17 Asian Cup qualification and beyond," Maloney concluded.
MATCH DETAILS:
Vietnam U16 v Subway Joeys
Wednesday, 28 May 2025
National Northern Football Training Base Stadium, Hohhot
Kick-off: 2.00pm local / 4.00pm AEST
Subway Joeys v Saudi Arabia U16
Friday, 30 May 2025
National Northern Football Training Base Stadium, Hohhot
Kick-off: 2.00pm local / 4.00pm AEST
China PR U16 v Subway Joeys
Sunday, 1 June 2025
National Northern Football Training Base Stadium, Hohhot
Kick-off: 7.35pm local / 9.35pm AEST
SUBWAY JOEYS SQUAD | HOHHOT U16 TOURNAMENT | 26 MAY - 2 JUNE
| Name | Position | Current Club | Junior Club / Member Federation |
| Akol AKON | Attacker | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | St Marys Convent SC / Football NSW |
| Winston ASHBURNER | Defender | Western United FC, Australia | Yarraville Glory FC / Football VIC |
| Luke BECVINOVSKI | Attacker | Melbourne City FC, Australia | Pascoe Vale FC / Football VIC |
| Lennon BIGGS | Attacker | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, England | Caloundra FC / Football QLD |
| Aaron BLACK | Goalkeeper | Perth Glory FC, Australia | Morley Windmills SC / Football West |
| Harrison BOND | Defender | FC Red Bull Salzburg, Austria | All Saints Hunter Hills FC / Football NSW |
| Corey DA CRUZ | Midfielder | Sydney FC, Australia | Bankstown United FC / Football NSW |
| Georgio HASSARATI | Attacker | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | Putney Rangers FC / Football NSW |
| Chris IRAKOZE | Attacker | Adelaide United FC, Australia | Cumberland United FC / Football SA |
| William KENGNI | Defender | Western United FC, Australia | Whittlesea Ranges FC / Football VIC |
| Kade KERRY | Defender | Brisbane Roar FC, Australia | Magic United FC / Football QLD |
| Besian KUTLESHI | Defender | Western United FC, Australia | North Sunshine Eagles SC / Football VIC |
| Massimo MARRONE | Midfielder | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | AC United FC / Football NSW |
| Miles MILLINER | Defender | Manly United FC, Australia | Collaroy Cromer Strikers FC / Football NSW |
| Sajjad NASIRI | Midfielder | Adelaide United FC, Australia | Ingle Farm SC / Football SA |
| Hugo NG | Goalkeeper | Adelaide United FC, Australia | Metrostars SC / Football SA |
| Oliver O'CARROLL | Midfielder | Melbourne City FC, Australia | Middle Park SC / Football VIC |
| Henrique OLIVEIRA | Midfielder | Macarthur Bulls FC, Australia | Adelaide Port Pirates SC / Football SA |
| Jordan OWUSU | Attacker | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | Blacktown Spartans FC / Football NSW |
| Johnny PAVLOVIC | Midfielder | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | Blacktown City FC / Football NSW |
| Aston REID | Midfielder | Sydney FC, Australia | Lilli Pilli FC / Football NSW |
| Marcus SAVIC | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | Moorebank Sports SC / FNSW |
| Charlie WILSON-PAPPS | Goalkeeper | Brighton & Hove Albion FC, England | Sheen Lions FC / ENG |
