Rising soccer star has an eye on the Asian Cup

A CHANCE to play on home soil with the Matildas has put Jamilla Rankin on the selection radar for her first major tournament when Australia hosts the Asian Cup next year.

The Lismore product has been in the run-on side, playing several matches with the national women’s football team in a development series against Argentina and Korea Republic.

The 22-year-old defender grew up at Rosebank and played at Eureka Football Club.

Family and friends have been able to watch her play live, with more matches to come in Perth against Panama and Slovenia later this month.

“I didn’t think I’d get the opportunity to play in front of them, so representing my national team and having my family there was just a special moment for me,” Rankin said.

“The Asian Cup is coming up, and every opportunity we get to play against competition that will potentially be in that tournament is a good learning experience.”

It has been a whirlwind few years for Rankin, who made her national debut from the bench in 2022.

She travelled to Ireland on just a few days’ notice the previous year to be part of a European training camp.

It was her first chance to link up with the main squad, and she earned a spot on the bench as a substitute against Ireland and Brazil in Sydney.

Rankin attended Trinity Catholic College in Lismore until Year 9, before moving to Cavendish Road High School in Brisbane as part of the Queensland Academy of Sport program.

She represented the junior Matildas as a 16-year-old and has been honing her craft in the professional leagues in Germany.

Outgoing Matildas coach Tom Sermanni said the current squad is rewarding players for standout performances domestically and overseas.

“It’s important we continue to create a competitive environment while also giving opportunities to those who’ve earned their place,” he said.

“Every window brings us closer to the Asian Cup, and each match is a chance to improve our identity, develop our playing style further, and build the cohesion we’ll need to be successful next year.”

The next match is against Slovenia on Thursday, June 26.