Joe Montemurro: Australian on home Asian Cup, WSL impact and why clubs ‘must fix cultures’

There will be an exodus from the Women’s Super League (WSL) with 13 of Australia’s 26-player squad currently playing in this country, underlining the depth of Australian influence in England’s top flight.

Montemurro understands the tension that creates for clubs.

“The timing is never perfect,” he adds. “I’ve been in that position when you lose players. It’s unfortunate. But one thing clubs sometimes forget is that it’s an honour for these players to represent their country.

“These tournaments don’t come around often. For the Australian players, it’s a home tournament – the opportunity to do well in that is exciting.”

Montemurro accepts there are “pros and cons”, particularly as the WSL season reaches decisive months, but believes most clubs “now plan for such absences”.

Japan have called up 16 players from the WSL for their squad, including Ayaka Yamashita, Aoba Fujino and Yui Hasegawa from WSL leaders Manchester City.

Players will travel around 21 February to prepare for the tournament which runs from 1-21 March.

Should Australia reach the final, English-based players will miss two WSL games and an FA Cup fifth-round match.

Arsenal trio Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross are heading to the tournament, and, should Australia progress to the quarter-finals, Chelsea will be without striker Kerr and defender Ellie Carpenter for their League Cup final against Manchester United, which takes place on 15 March at Ashton Gate in Bristol.

Montemurro has also backed Manchester City forward Mary Fowler to return to fitness for the tournament, despite playing only 15 minutes since rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in April 2025.

The full list of WSL players in Australia’s Asian Cup, external squad: