This story is still unfolding.
The upcoming 2026 Women’s Asian Cup holds the potential to become a defining moment, either lighting up her legacy or marking another heartbreaking chapter. It could simply become another tournament where more stories await to be told after the final whistle.
At this moment, the narrative of Sam Kerr and her Matildas is still in progress, but we stand at a captivating juncture.
The next chapter will be written on the shores of Australia within the coming three weeks. In many ways, everything seems perfectly set for a joyful conclusion—if not a triumphant one, at least a moment of euphoric celebration. The crescendo. The pinnacle. The climax.
We return to the tournament where Kerr netted her first international goal. It’s also the only major international tournament that she has won with Australia, and she’s the lone survivor from that championship squad in this year’s 26-player roster.
It would be poetic for the Matildas, after facing early exits, injuries, missed opportunities, and failures, to finally share their long-awaited moment together—a trophy for players who have already transformed the landscape of Australian football, even without the silverware.
As we look ahead, we can also reflect on how we arrived at this point.
It has been 16 years since the Matildas achieved their first and only Asian Cup victory, a moment of redemption after they fell short in 2006 when they hosted the tournament for their inaugural time, not long after joining the Asian Football Confederation.
Reflecting on that 2010 tournament, you quickly realize just how much time has gone by. The quality of video highlights, the recognizable hairstyles, and the names on the roster that now resonate beyond football—as many have moved into coaching, administration, and media roles—underscore this sense of time.
Yet one name looms above the rest: Samantha Kerr. Just 16 years old, she was the second youngest on the team, sporting a youthful face, a headband, and the No. 22 jersey, a contrast to the familiar No. 20 she wears now.
Debuting in February 2009, Kerr played her fifth match with the Matildas as a substitute in a 2-0 win against Vietnam. Having only logged 12 games in the W-League, she was hardly seasoned, but her undeniable talent shone through.
In a documentary chronicling the Matildas’ journey to their 2010 Asian Cup win, Kerr reminisced about her innocence and enthusiasm for football, stating, “I was just so happy to be there.” That tournament marked the beginning of the Kerr we admire today.
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A natural goal-scorer, Kerr felt let down when she came on in that opening match against Vietnam, failing to make a mark. However, she quickly found redemption in the next game, scoring her first goal for the national team in a 3-1 victory over South Korea.
It wasn’t one of her most spectacular goals. Following a corner, the ball flitted around the penalty area until it struck her, making its way into the net. Kerr barely registered the connection, but it didn’t matter—she had scored.
In celebration, she erupted into a backflip, marking the first of many such moments to come.
Though the flip wasn’t technically perfect, it encapsulated her sheer delight, radiating excitement. She laughed at her lackluster landing, recalling: “You can’t replicate that first-goal feeling.”
Still, the pursuit of that feeling continues.
Kerr scored her second goal in the final of the 2010 Asian Cup, getting a start due to injuries among the senior players. She candidly reflected on her nerves before the match and how she masked them with nervous laughter and smiles.
Had the match taken place in the age of social media, her goal would have faced intense scrutiny. With modern technology, it might not have even counted.
Back in 2010, limited resources provided no assistance, except for the watchful eyes of the assistant referee. Kerr latched onto a through ball and scored just inside the far post, successfully placing it beyond the goalkeeper’s reach.
In the documentary, Kerr expressed her uncertainty about being offside but remembered: “you have to play to the whistle.” The game finished 1-1 after extra time, with Kerr subbed out in the 90th minute. At just 16, she lacked the fitness to last the full 120 minutes, but her teammates rose to the occasion, sealing a memorable victory on a muddy, rain-soaked pitch in Chengdu, China—sending the Matildas to their first, and so far only, Asian Cup title.
Three Asian Cups have taken place since 2010, with the Matildas falling short in the finals of 2014 and 2018 against Japan. For the moment, their 2010 victory remains a standout achievement, even more remarkable as it has yet to be matched.
The Matildas believe they can change that, with Kerr poised to play a key role once again.
Interestingly, Kerr’s journey could have taken a very different direction—it could have centered on a different type of football altogether.
Her love of Australian Rules football is well-documented, and like many sports-enthusiastic kids in Western Australia, Kerr grew up playing it.
Her affinity with the sport runs deeper; her brother, Daniel, played AFL for the West Coast Eagles from 2001 to 2013.
In her book, “My Journey to the World Cup,” Kerr describes Aussie Rules as her first love—a passion that runs deep.
She recalls sitting among the cheers at West Coast games, shedding tears for three days straight after they lost the Grand Final in 2005. With no professional women’s football league in Australia during her formative years, Kerr transitioned to soccer—initially, she disliked it intensely. She wanted to continue playing Aussie Rules, longing to use her hands.
Though she deemed herself “totally crap” at the start, Kerr’s dedication to learning transformed her. Gradually, her appreciation for soccer grew immensely. Her commitment is evident in the relentless travel and sacrifices she made to pursue her love for the sport and represent her country.
Her football journey began at 15 when she debuted in the W-League with Perth Glory.
Bobby Despotovski, the Glory’s coach from 2015 to 2020, noted her standout qualities even in her early training sessions, remarking on her explosive speed and talent.
Almost immediately, Kerr began breaking records in the league, first becoming the youngest debutant in W-League history and then securing the title of youngest goal-scorer, both achieved within three months of her 15th birthday. These records remained untouched for nearly two decades until Sydney FC‘s Willa Pearson broke them this year.
However, the W-League seasons were short, and player pay was minimal.
To make ends meet, Kerr followed the path of many women footballers in the 2010s. She would play in the W-League during the Australian summer and then join the NWSL in the Australian winter, effectively pursuing a full-time football career by alternating between hemispheres and teams, all while balancing Matildas camps and matches globally.
This demanding schedule was tough, but Kerr slowly transformed into the star player everyone envisioned she would become.
Her rise is marked by an impressive streak of seven Golden Boots across eight seasons and three countries.
In the NWSL in 2017, she led the league in goals with Sky Blue FC, marking a breakout season despite the challenging conditions players faced at the club. She returned home to top the W-League scoring charts for the 2017-18 season with Perth.
Next, she moved back to Chicago for the 2018 NWSL season, claiming another Golden Boot before returning to Perth for the 2018-19 season and repeating the feat.
In 2019, Kerr led the NWSL in scoring for the third consecutive year before making waves with her high-profile transfer to Chelsea following the Women’s World Cup. Though she signed in November 2019, she formally joined during the midseason window in January 2020, grappling with adjustments and COVID-related disruptions.
However, in her first full season with Chelsea, she quickly returned to form, earning consecutive Women’s Super League Golden Boots in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
Her contributions were significant in international play as well.
Kerr scored her inaugural World Cup goal in 2019 and became the first Australian to net a hat trick at a World Cup, finishing with four goals in a standout performance against Jamaica in Grenoble.
Her signing with Chelsea not only brought pride to Australian football but also spurred an exodus of Matildas from the W-League-NWSL cycle, proving that Australian players could compete at the highest levels and solidifying her reputation as one of the best in the world.
In 2022, Kerr became Australia’s all-time leading goal-scorer in women’s football, surpassing her male counterpart, Tim Cahill. She also made history as the first woman on the global cover of the FIFA videogame, sharing the spotlight with Kylian Mbappé for FIFA 23.
The world, alongside Australia, embraced Kerr, and with each accomplishment and record shattered, the anticipation grew that it was all leading to something monumental: the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
The Women’s World Cup in 2023 was destined to be special for the Matildas, representing a once-in-a-lifetime home World Cup. It felt like it was meant to be Kerr’s tournament—the emblematic leader at the zenith of her career, gearing up to propel her country deep into the competition.
The question, “Where were you when…” was bound to arise many times during the tournament, but the most shocking instance occurred just before Australia’s opening match against the Republic of Ireland.
“Where were you when you found out Sam Kerr wasn’t playing?“
Some fans were already in the stadium; others filled the concourse, while more gathered at pubs and en route to Stadium Australia.
In the media center, discussions arose following Kerr’s press conference the day before. She seemed perfectly fine. Neither she nor Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson indicated anything was wrong.
Whether it was a glimpse of Kerr’s Instagram post revealing the Matildas’ starting lineup or a friend delivering the news, it hit hard. Even those unfamiliar with soccer recognized its significance; it was a gut-wrenching surprise. How could she be sidelined for Australia’s first World Cup match on home soil?
While the Matildas still triumphed 1-0, courtesy of a Steph Catley penalty, Kerr’s injury quickly dominated discussions throughout the group stage. Every media briefing started with requests for updates on the captain’s condition, as outlets inexperienced in women’s football sought experts to assess her injury from afar, catering to the nation’s thirst for information.
When Kerr eventually spoke about her injury at a media availability, she showcased her characteristic humor.
“It’s funny because I have the biggest calves in the world, so I’m not sure why they decided to play up just before the World Cup,” she remarked. “That’s football for you. I’ll be ready. We planned for me to miss the first two games and reassess, which is what we’re doing now.”
She missed the Matildas’ third group-stage match against Canada but was on the bench for Australia’s round-of-16 clash against Denmark.
The silver lining in her absence was that the rest of the team garnered attention, elevating their status to household names. The remaining 22 squad members stepped up to prove the Matildas were more than just Sam Kerr, handling the spotlight effectively throughout the tournament.
Yet lingering “what if” questions remained. Would the Matildas’ run to the semifinals have played out differently had Kerr been fit? Would they have faltered early on, or risen to the occasion to go all the way?
While Kerr might not have had the tournament she deserved, she still created memorable moments.
Her penalty in the 7-6 quarterfinal shootout win over France offered a chance for personal redemption after her miss four years earlier against Norway.
Then came her goal against England in the semifinal—another quintessential “where were you?” moment.
The run, the strike, the celebrations—it was a brief, electric experience that ignited endless possibilities. Yet, just as quickly, it came to an end when Australia lost 3-1 to the Lionesses, dashing hopes of a fairytale ending.
But faith still lingers that the 2024 Olympics will provide a fresh start, a time when everything will align perfectly.
The Paris Olympics ultimately brought disappointment to the Matildas—a solitary win and two losses culminating in an early exit from the group stage. Kerr, battling an ACL injury sustained in a training session with Chelsea in January 2024, did not participate.
Injuries have been a recurring theme for Kerr, who also faced a prior ACL tear and a Lisfranc injury. Yet, the past year proved particularly challenging as her character came under scrutiny when she was charged with racially aggravated harassment against a police officer in London.
Kerr was acquitted of the charges, but the emotional toll of the trial and subsequent online judgment took its toll.
“I can finally put this hard time behind me,” she said following the verdict. “While I apologize for expressing myself poorly during what was a traumatic evening, I always maintained I didn’t intend to insult or harm anyone, and I’m thankful the jury reached a unanimous decision in my favor.”
Kerr continued to make headlines after the trial’s resolution, with anticipation surrounding her potential participation in friendly matches against South Korea in April 2024, which didn’t materialize. She also missed a series against Argentina in May and June.
Despite the ups and downs, Kerr found happiness as she and her partner, Kristie Mewis, welcomed their son, Jagger, in May. Hopes remained high for Kerr’s return in a four-game series in her home state in mid-2025.
However, while Kerr remained in the headlines, it had been some time since her performances on the pitch had sparked the media’s attention. For over two years—ever since that fateful day before the Women’s World Cup opener—Kerr’s football journey felt overshadowed by her injuries, off-field dramas, and personal updates.
Since the 2023 World Cup began in July, Kerr has participated in just six matches for her country amid a total of 28 games played by Australia. In the league with Chelsea, she logged only one full 90-minute appearance, primarily coming off the bench for brief outings.
Yet, the story arc is gradually shifting back to the game itself. The focus returns to the pitch, drawing attention to the upcoming tournament over the next three weeks in Australia. While this narrative remains open-ended, it undeniably bears a sense of closure for both Kerr and her generation of Matildas. After all that transpired—world cups, Olympic challenges, numerous Golden Boots, heartbreaking losses, and off-field challenges—this chapter is set to commence earnestly in Perth on March 1.
Australia’s greatest footballer stands ready to lead her nation in a significant tournament on home soil one final time.