Wangaratta’s own soccer superstar Poppy O’Keefe has taken the next step in her professional playing career, earning a place in the Young Matildas set-up as the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Thailand 2026 looms ahead.

O’Keefe forms part of the 23-strong Young Matildas squad who will run out for a two-match international friendly series against Korea Republic in the lead-up to the under 20s Asian Cup.

Held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, the matches will be played on Friday, 28 November, and Sunday, 30 November.

O’Keefe is no stranger to performing at such a high level, having a wealth of experience in the under 17 Junior Matildas, as well as making her A-League Women's debut earlier this month at just 17 years of age.

Young Matildas head coach Alex Epakis said it is an important window for the squad as they continue preparations for the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup in April 2026.

“These matches against Korea Republic are a key step as we move towards our final preparations,” he said.

“We’ve selected a squad that reflects the depth and versatility we’ve been building over the past year, and these matches will give us a valuable opportunity to test our structures, assess new player combinations, and recreate the intensity of tournament football.

“We have an exciting group and I am looking forward to connecting with the players and working with them across the week in camp.

“It’s also a chance for the players to embrace the challenge of international competition and demonstrate the resilience and adaptability we’ll need in Thailand.

“Being able to train and compete in a focused, high-performance environment is essential, and we’re excited to see how the group responds to this opportunity.”