Matildas star Hayley Raso eyes World Cup Trophy ahead of friendlies against Mexico in Newcastle
Moments after the full-time whistle blew in the 2026 Asian Cup final, Hayley Raso sank into the grass, sat with her hands behind her back, closed her eyes and shook her head in disbelief.
In her 14 years as Matilda, she had competed in three World Cups, two Olympic Games and three Asian Cups, yet this match at CommBank Stadium in March was the closest her team came to winning any silverware. Instead, they failed to reach the final of a second home tournament in three years, losing 1-0 to Japan.
Raso’s future ambitions are further strengthened as he returns to action with the Matildas against Mexico in Newcastle on Saturday, his first match on home soil since the last defeat. When asked what he wants to achieve before retiring, the 31-year-old says “win something.”
“When I first came to the Matildas, I felt like I had a goal to go to a World Cup, an Olympics, and not only did I get to the World Cup, not only did I go to a couple of World Cups, but I also played in Australia,” Raso said.
“These are things people can only dream of, so I feel like I’ve done a lot in my career. But the only thing missing is probably those silverware.”
Raso’s success at club level has never been lacking. She has already won the FA Women’s League Cup with Manchester City in 2022, the NWSL Championship and Shield with the Portland Thorns in the US League in 2016 and 2017, and four trophies during her tenure in the A-League.
But for Raso, who plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, his fourth club in three divisions since 2023, winning club trophies cannot be compared to the possibility of winning a cup for Australia.
“Every time I wear the national team jersey, I feel like I rise to another level,” he said. “This is a place I’m really proud of and I absolutely love playing for the national team… You feel like you’re playing for so much more. You’re playing for your country, but you’re also playing for all the people who support you.”
“I’m enjoying Frankfurt, I’m enjoying the life there, the team and the football. It’s difficult because I work really hard and maybe I’m not getting the reward in this game time, which is always tough as a footballer. I’ve got another season there, so I’m looking forward to that and I’m definitely hoping to get more minutes and be rewarded for the hard work I’ve put in.”
The Matildas’ next target is the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Even though it’s more than a year away, there are limited opportunities for the national team between now and then. With only a few international windows between their busy club schedules, the team is already focused on the tournament. Raso is desperate to win her.
“That’s the kind of player I am and that’s the kind of person I am in general,” he said. “I’m a guy who does his best and I fight very, very hard for this team, it’s something that’s in me and it’s something I will definitely do.”
