LIVE: Kerr drops 'exciting' hints on Matildas' future

Matildas prima Sam Kerr has indicated she intends to beryllium astatine the adjacent FIFA Women's World Cup successful 2027.

Speaking astatine the Matildas' last pre-match media league up of their third-place playoff crippled against Sweden successful Brisbane, Kerr said the Matildas were successful a bully spot with young stars including Mary Fowler and Kyra Cooney-Cross maturing successful this World Cup.

At the adjacent World Cup – the hosts of which volition beryllium announced successful May – Kerr volition beryllium 33. The oldest subordinate successful this tourney was Nigerian defender Onome Ebi, a 40-year-old seasoned of six World Cups.

"You look astatine the young ones … and you think, 'Oh God, we're successful a truly bully spot here', and past you look astatine the different extremity and you think, 'Oh, we could suffer a few', and it's sad," she said.

"But I deliberation that's anything, that's sport."

Kerr said portion she didn't cognize of anyone who was actively readying an imminent retirement, she expected "a couple" of Matildas players would discontinue earlier the adjacent World Cup.

"But there's astir apt 10 oregon 12 players retired determination that we've ne'er heard of that volition beryllium astatine the adjacent World Cup and that's truly exciting," she said.

"I deliberation that's the astonishing happening astir athletics (and) wherefore this tourney is truthful special. It lone happens each 4 years and the teams are everlastingly changing and women's shot is changing quicker than radical could person ever imagined.

"I mean, I anticipation to inactive beryllium present … I'm not truly sure, but I'm lone 29. I deliberation astir of america volition inactive beryllium present if we person the accidental to be."

Coach Tony Gustavsson said accrued concern successful women's shot would let women to widen their careers beyond what is presently seen.

"I deliberation it's important that we're excited astir that young generation, but I besides deliberation it's important that we're excited astir the players that privation to widen their careers and marque it longer truthful we tin person a higher mean property of retirement," helium said.

"You look astatine this squad with Aivi Luik, Clare Polkinghorne, Mini (Katrina Gorry) coming backmost from giving birth, players that privation to widen their vocation and play longer. 

"We request to beryllium excited astir that arsenic good truthful that we tin support the players longer astatine the elite level due to the fact that they can.

"They're truthful professional, they can. 

"Be excited astir the young players coming in, (but) if we tin person that mix, person a bully mix."