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Subway Joeys’ Head Coach Brad Maloney has named an extended 28-player squad ahead of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023™ to be staged in Bangkok and Chonburi from June 15 – July 2, 2023.

The extended squad includes Adelaide United FC forward Nestory Irankunda, recent Isuzu UTE A-League Men debutant for the Central Coast Mariners, midfielder Miguel Di Pizio, and goalkeeper Anthony Pavlesic, who has also been called into the Mariners’ senior squad in the later stages of the regular season and for the Finals.

Upon announcing the extended squad, which will be reduced to 23-players ahead of the tournament, Maloney said: “Over the past year, we have been monitoring close to 120 players based in Australia and abroad, as we look to assemble the strongest available squad for these challenging World Cup qualifiers.

“We have deliberately selected a squad which provides both depth and versatility in addition to individual excellence to reflect the opposition we will face during the group stage and the demands of the tournament format.

Talking about the opportunity that lie ahead for the Australian U-17 men’s national team in Thailand, where all 28-players in the extended squad are Australian-based, Maloney explained: “The under-17s Asian Cup will be the first major test for of our country’s brightest young talent and presents a platform for each to sh›owcase themselves against the finest in Asia.

“However, as a collective we head to Thailand with one goal in mind and that’s to reach at least the semi-finals to secure qualification for this year’s FIFA under-17s World Cup.

“The quality and strength across Asian nations, particularly at the youth level, continues to increase exponentially and we know we will have to be at our best to achieve our ambitions,” concluded Maloney.

Having finished top of their qualifying group hosted in Shepparton (Victoria) during October 2022, the Australians have been drawn in Group C and will face Saudi Arabia (16 June) and China PR (19 June) at Chonburi Stadium before completing the round robin group stage format against Tajikistan (22 June) at Bangkok’s Rajamangala ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Stadium.

The 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup™ features the 10 group winners and five best runners-up from the Qualifiers, along with hosts Thailand.

Australia will need to reach the semi-finals to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2023™, currently scheduled to run 10 November – 2 December 2023, with the host country to be confirmed by FIFA following Peru’s withdrawal as tournament host.

The Subway Joeys’ coaching unit and support staff for the upcoming AFC U-17 Asian Cup includes Brad Maloney (Head Coach), Assistant Coach Michael Cooper, Goalkeeper Coach Davide del Giovine, Sports Scientist Josh Gould, Doctor Andriy Boyko, Physiotherapist Luis Resa, Equipment Manager Guido Chayan and Analyst Huw Cox.

Catch all the Subway Joeys’ AFC U-17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023 matches live and free on 10 Play.

AFC U-17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023™ Group Stage Draw

Group A: Thailand, Yemen, Malaysia, Laos

Group B: Korea Republic, IR Iran, Afghanistan, Qatar

Group C: Tajikistan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China PR

Group D: Japan, India, Vietnam, Uzbekistan

Australia – AFC U-17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023™ Group Stage Match Schedule

Friday 16 June – Australia vs Saudi Arabia at 5.00pm local / 8.00pm AEST, Chonburi Stadium

Monday 19 June – Australia vs China PR at 5.00pm local / 8.00pm AEST, Chonburi Stadium

Thursday 22 June – Australia vs Tajikistan at 5.00pm local / 8.00pm AEST, Rajamangala ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Stadium (Bangkok)

for the full AFC U-17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023™ Match Schedule.

SUBWAY JOEYS EXTENDED SQUAD l AFC U-17 ASIAN CUP THAILAND 2023 l 15 JUNE – 2 JULY