Subway Joeys start new World Cup cycle with Italy camp

Subway Joeys’ Head Coach, Brad Maloney has named a 24-player squad to travel to Italy for an intensive two-week camp, featuring some of Australia’s brightest players born in 2008/09, as this age group begins its journey through a new qualification cycle. 

The squad – which includes five European-based players – will train at the Australian Institute of Sport European Training Centre in Varese from April 5-19, playing two friendlies against U-16 Switzerland and U-17 Inter Milan FC. 

Following extensive scouting and monitoring over the past 12-months, this will be the first camp Maloney – also a current Subway Socceroos’ Assistant Coach – has called for this age group, as the Subway Joeys look ahead to the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2025™ scheduled for April and the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™. 

April’s camp represents the first taste of a national team environment for this squad, as they begin their respective journeys through Football Australia’s elite development pathway.  

It’s also the first time Football Australia has assembled a squad for the new cycle, following FIFA’s announcement that the FIFA U-17 World Cup will become an annual event from 2025, where Qatar will host the men’s tournament for the next five years. 

Football Australia’s National Youth Championships 2023 U-15 Player of the Tournament, Alexander Houridis (Football Victoria) will travel to Italy alongside his twin brother James (Football Victoria), reinforcing the importance of the annual talent identification tournament. 

After becoming the third youngest player to debut in the A-League Men and youngest ever goal scorer in the Australia Cup during the 2023 edition, Brisbane Roar FC’s Quinn MacNicol (Football Queensland) has been selected for this camp. 

The Subway Socceroos linage is also on display within the squad with Marcus Neill (Sunderland AFC), son of Lucas Neill #421, and Gianluca Okon (Football NSW), son of Paul Okon #377, featuring in the squad. 

Subway Joeys’ Head Coach, Brad Maloney said he was eager to embark on a new journey to qualify for next year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup with this group of players. 

“We’ve worked extremely hard over the last 12-months, scouting and monitoring players based both in Australian and abroad, ensuring we've identified the best emerging talent for future Australian national teams,” Maloney said. 

“Our focus during this camp is not just on honing individual skills but introducing this group to our playing philosophy and principles, while also laying the foundations for the strong and supportive team culture we want to see within all our national teams.  

“Having this camp in Italy provides this playing group with a taste for what to expect as a professional footballer and to have two matches against strong European opposition will also provide a marker as we prepare for October’s Asian Cup Qualifiers,” concluded Maloney. 

SUBWAY JOEYS SQUAD | AIS INTERNATIONAL CAMP | MATCH SCHEDULE 

Subway Joeys v U-16 Switzerland
Thursday, 11 April 2024 
Kick-off: 1pm local/9pm AEDT
Stadio Communale Ascona, Switzerland 

Subway Joeys v U-17 Inter Milan
Tuesday, 16 April 2024
Kick-off: 3pm local/11pm AEDT
Konami Youth Development Centre, Italy