It's almost time for the Commonwealth Bank Matildas AFC Women's Asian Cup campaign to begin!
The 2022 tournament held in India is bigger than ever before and will see 12 teams across Asia battle it out for continental supremacy as well as a place at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Australia, who have already auto qualified for the world cup as co-hosts of the 2023 edition, begin their AFC Women's Asian Cup journey in Group B with a game against Indonesia.
The two nations have never met before and have very different backgrounds heading into this tournament.
The Commonwealth Bank Matildas are a side that regularly makes the final, competing in four of the five finals played since Australia moved to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.
In 2010, the team defeated North Korea on penalties to lift the trophy for the first time. Although the team has made the most recent two finals, it has fallen to Japan on both occasions courtesy of 1-0 defeats.
Indonesia meanwhile is returning to the AFC Women's Asian Cup for the first time since 1989.
Before their 33-year absence, the team finished fourth at two previous editions of the tournament in 1977 and 1986.
Australia and Indonesia are joined in Group B by the Philippines and Thailand. The top two teams will progress through to the quarter finals with two of the best third place teams also progressing.
Squad news
The Commonwealth Bank Matildas have a combination of young and experienced players to choose from heading into this opening game.
READ: How to watch: Australia vs Indonesia
MORE: Ultimate Guide: 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup
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The squad contains six centurions with the likes of Sam Kerr, Alanna Kennedy, and Emily van Egmond all achieving the milestone last year.
A number of players also know exactly what it takes to win an AFC Women's Asian Cup with Kyah Simon, Lydia Williams, Clare Polkinghorne, and Aivi Luik just some of the members of the 2010 team.
Several players will also be in line for their international tournament debuts including Clare Wheeler and Remy Siemsen as well as Holly McNamara and Cortnee Vine who are both aiming to play their first ever Commonwealth Bank Matildas match.
Our Opponent
Indonesia is ranked 94th in the world and is returning to the continental stage after a three-decade absence.
The team qualified for the tournament with a pair of 1-0 wins over Singapore after the other two teams in their qualifying group - Iraq and North Korea - withdrew due to COVID concerns.
The Indonesian squad is made up almost entirely of players who ply their trade in Indonesia except for Shalika Aurelia who plays for Roma in Italy and became the first Indonesian woman to sign abroad.
Commonwealth Bank Matildas Matches | AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™ | Group Stage
Commonwealth Bank Matildas v Indonesia
Date: Friday, 21 January 2022
Venue: Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai
Kick-off: 3.30pm (local), 9pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: Live and Exclusive on Network 10 and 10 Play
Philippines v Commonwealth Bank Matildas
Date: Monday, 24 January 2022
Venue: Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai
Kick-off: 3.30pm (local), 9pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: Live and Exclusive on Network 10 and 10 Play
Commonwealth Bank Matildas v Thailand
Date: Thursday, 27 January 2022 / Friday, 28 January 2022
Venue: Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai
Kick-off: 7.30pm (local), 01:00am (AEDT)
Broadcast: Live and Exclusive on Network 10 and 10 Play
For more information on the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, please visit here.