{
  "id": 8521018,
  "title": "Junior Matildas know the price they're willing to pay to make it",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/junior-matildas-know-the-price-theyre-willing-to-pay-to-make-it",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-19T19:24:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News",
    "slug": "abc-news",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-20/junior-matildas-under-17-womens-world-cup/107169002"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Australian U-17 Women's national team, known as the Junior Matildas, have secured qualification for the U-17 Women's World Cup for the very first time. This achievement comes after the team reached the semifinals of the Asian Cup. The tournament will take place in Morocco from October 17 to November 7.\n\nCoaching the team, Mike Cooper, emphasizes that the road to the top of elite sport inevitably involves sacrifices, whether that's the time and effort invested by parents or the ups and downs of performance. He points out that the hurdles faced at any level of sport are similar, and learning from these experiences can be humbling.\n\nCoach Cooper, who has two teenage daughters of his own, understands the pressures placed on the team, especially this pioneering group, which is the first Australian side to qualify for the U-17 Women's World Cup. He encourages the girls to perform with confidence, be brave and bold, and to return home and learn from each experience, regardless of the outcome.\n\nFor young players like Willa Pearson, who made history as the youngest-ever A-League player at 14 and broke Sam Kerr's record as the league's youngest-ever goalscorer, this is an opportunity of a lifetime. Pearson, who captained the Junior Matildas at the Asian Cup, is eager to test her skills against the best players in Asia and compete on the global stage, hoping to make a mark against top European teams.\n\nTeammate Maeve Nicholas, a 17-year-old from Adelaide United, echoes the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of hard work and maintaining a positive attitude in the face of challenges. She believes that dedication and effort are key to achieving success, and she aims to be a better version of herself each day.",
  "summary": "The current crop of Junior Matildas is the first Australian team to qualify for a U-17 Women's World Cup, but the players are approaching the milestone with a healthy dose of maturity and perspective.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Junior Matildas know the price they're willing to pay to make it",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/junior-matildas-know-the-price-theyre-willing-to-pay-to-make-it-8522281",
        "published": "2026-09-19T19:24:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}