Illawarra fields three players for U-20 Women's World Cup - plus a FIFA first

For the first time in FIFA World Cup history two sisters will take to the field together – and they’re from Shellharbour.

Three Illawarra women have been selected for the final squad of 21 players who will represent Australia at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2024 in Colombia.

Eighteen-year-old Jynaya and 16-year-old Indiana Dos Santos have played together since primary school and hope to play for the Matildas one day.

Indiana said at first she thought being selected to play for Australia was a dream.

“I was half asleep and heard my dad tell my sister to check her phone – I thought I was dreaming,” she said.

“When I got up in the morning I checked my phone and burst into tears.

“We were both so happy; I couldn’t believe it.”

The girls began playing when Indiana was about four and Jynaya was about six.

Their two sisters, one now aged 20 and the other 14, also played.

Both girls said they were inspired by the Matildas when their parents took them to watch games, and knew they wanted to compete at the top one day.

Indiana said that when she was a junior one coach helped to foster that ambition.

“I was in a boys team for a long time and my coach told me I would be the best, be a Matilda, so I thought it was something I could do,” she said.

“I love the game so much, and my parents and sisters have sacrificed so much for us to achieve what we have; I really want to make my family proud.”

Jynaya said the experience was hard to put into words.

She said she felt good about the side’s chances going into the World Cup.

“I feel really confident; I’m so much fitter than I ever was before and playing more confident football,” she said.

“I think we have a good chance of some silverware; we’re a good group of girls and we work hard for each other.”

Jynaya said training and playing with her sister had some advantages, even if it wasn’t always easy.

“We’re very competitive, which is good because we push each other but there are a lot of backyard arguments,” she said.

“But we’re always there for each other for emotional support as well.

Rounding out the Illawarra FIFA trio is Stingrays and Western United player, 19-year-old Sasha Grove.

Sasha was staying with a home-stay host while she trained with the Future Matildas when she got the call.

“It was really special,” she said.

“There’s so much work that goes on behind the scenes; my family invested so much into me so it feels even more special to have that to give to them so they can watch and support from at home.

“It feels really good.”

Football is a family affair for Sasha, too. She began training at eight years old because her older siblings played.

“I’ve always loved playing football because it’s really big in our family,” she said.

“My dad played, my mum is from England, so her family are big football supporters.”

Sasha said she was most excited about the side’s first game, against Colombia.

“We’re playing the home nation in front of their home crowd; they have so much to be fighting for so that test is going to be second to none,” she said.

“It’s going to be something special.”