misho
The Subway Australian U-23 squad has been announced for the upcoming Doha International U-23 Cup, set to take place during the March FIFA Men’s International Window. Head Coach Tony Vidmar has selected a 23-player squad to compete against some of the top U-23 teams from around the world.
This year’s tournament will feature teams from Croatia, Egypt, Qatar, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Australia’s campaign begins with a clash against Croatia on 19 March, followed by matches against UAE on 22 March and Qatar on 25 March.
The squad will assemble in Qatar from 16 March for their first official engagement of 2025 as they prepare for the AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ Qualifiers later in the year.
A-League Stars Lead the Squad
Vidmar has primarily selected players from the Isuzu UTE A-League Men competition, with the exception of Mohamed Toure, who has been making an impact in Denmark’s top division with Randers FC.
Returning to the squad are experienced players Patrick Beach (Melbourne City FC), Adrian Segecic (Sydney FC), and Jordi Valadon (Melbourne Victory FC). Valadon is joined by club teammates Kasey Bos, Josh Rawlins, and Jing Reec, while Western Sydney Wanderers FC also has strong representation with Aydan Hammond, Anthony Pantazopoulos, Oscar Priestman, and Aidan Simmons included.
Other standout selections include Kealey Adamson (Macarthur FC), Ethan Alagich (Adelaide United FC), Rhys Bozinovski (Western United FC), and Clayton Taylor (Newcastle Jets FC), all of whom have impressed at club level.
Coach Vidmar: “An Exciting Opportunity”
Vidmar is eager to see his squad face strong opposition at the start of this new cycle, emphasizing the importance of the tournament in the team’s development.
“This is a great tournament to be involved in and will provide valuable experience as we prepare for our Asian Cup Qualifiers in September,” Vidmar said.
“We’ve selected players who are playing regularly and performing well at club level. The challenges they’ll face in Doha will be an important part of their national team journey.”
Vidmar also highlighted the broader objective of building depth within the squad:
“We want to continue developing these players individually while strengthening our depth across the age group. This tournament is another key step in that process.
“I’m excited about the quality we have in this group and those on our extended radar. This camp will allow us to set the foundation for the year ahead.”
Match Schedule:
- Australia U-23 vs. Croatia U-23
📅 Wednesday, 19 March 2025
⏰ 8.30pm local / 4.30am AEDT (Thursday, 20 March) - UAE U-23 vs. Australia U-23
📅 Saturday, 22 March 2025
⏰ 8.30pm local / 4.30am AEDT (Sunday, 23 March) - Qatar U-23 vs. Australia U-23
📅 Tuesday, 25 March 2025
⏰ 9.15pm local / 5.15am AEDT (Wednesday, 26 March)
With a strong squad assembled, Australia is set to make the most of this tournament as they prepare for bigger challenges ahead.
