‘It’s everything’: Matildas midfielder Clare Wheeler dreaming of World Cup debut

E verton midfielder Clare Wheeler takes a moment to contemplate what it would mean to play in the upcoming Women’s World Cup. “It’s definitely what dreams are made of,” she says. “It’s everything you want as a kid, to go to a World Cup and represent your country.”

Even better, for Wheeler, having recently broken into the Australian women’s national team, this year’s tournament offers the opportunity to make her World Cup debut on home turf.

“To add to that it’s going to be on home soil, in front of your family and friends, that’s not something every player gets in their lifetime,” the 25-year-old says. “It’s a real privilege. I’ve watched World Cups at 2am, 3am because they’re being played in Europe – to be able to play and showcase that down under will be amazing for the region. I think it’s going to be huge for coverage of the game.”

Wheeler, a combative, deep-lying midfielder best in the traditional No 6 role, made her Matildas debut in 2021 in a friendly against Ireland. She has since notched up more than a dozen caps, largely deployed off the bench. As a newer arrival into a settled Matildas group, Wheeler’s inclusion in the final squad is likely but not assured.

“I need to put my best foot forward in every training session, I know that,” she says. “I want to make that squad and it is going to be very competitive to make the 23 that get selected. I am happy to play whatever role I need to play.

“At the end of the day, for me, it’s getting selected but it’s also about the badge and doing what is best for the team. Whether I get one minute, or no minutes, the most important thing for me is making that squad and then doing the best to help the team prepare for the World Cup.”

If selected, Wheeler will be part of a