Football Australia has vowed to schedule Matildas fixtures against elite countries ahead of next year's World Cup, after agreeing on their participation in a friendly tournament in April featuring two sides ranked outside FIFA's top 100.
FIFA announced on Tuesday that Australia would play in a friendly series in Nairobi in their first matches since last Saturday's heartbreaking 1-0 Asian Cup final loss to Japan.
Australia, ranked 15th in the world, will face No.153 Malawi, before taking on the winner of the other game between 67th-ranked India and hosts Kenya, who are ranked 134th.
With a little more than 15 months to go until next year’s World Cup, coach Joe Montemurro stressed in the aftermath of Saturday’s loss to Japan the need for his side to play higher quality opponents in the lead-in to Brazil.
But the schedule released on Tuesday for the April series appears to fly in the face of the coach’s own demands.
Malawi has never qualified for a Women’s World Cup and India were humiliated in an 11-0 loss to Japan at this month’s Asian Cup.
Host federation Kenya, meanwhile, is currently facing threats of boycotts from players in its domestic league over financial concerns and a lack of investment in women’s football.
FA's executive director of football and deputy chief executive Heather Garriock said the Matildas' choice of opponent was limited for the April window and suggested Malawi would still provide Montemurro's side with a worthwhile challenge.
"As we prepare for the Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year, Football Australia’s focus is on playing global opponents outside of Asia," Garriock said in a statement provided to AAP.
"With the UEFA, CONMEBOL, OFC and CAF all looking to qualify for the Women’s World Cup and Concacaf in Women’s Championship fixtures, there were limited options in the April window.
"Playing two African opponents is a good opportunity to test the team against a very different style of opponent as well as a chance to test the depth of the squad.
"Malawi also has two top international strikers, sisters Tabitha Chawinga (Olympique Lyonnais) and Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City).
"Football Australia are also focused on having the Matildas play in different international environments, which will test the team, and we have obligations to play a mix of games, in preparation for the Women’s World Cup, both home and away, in different locations against varied global opponents.
"Football Australia’s focus is on Top 15 opponents with different styles of football leading into the Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year."
Montemurro has flagged he will look to blood players on the fringe of the senior set-up in April, likely meaning stars such as Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Mary Fowler are unlikely to feature.
FIFA WORLD SERIES - MATILDAS' FIXTURES
Australia v Malawi, Saturday 11 April, Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi
Australia v India/Kenya, Wednesday 15 April, Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi
