Mary Fowler withdrawn from Matildas friendlies; personal reasons undisclosed

Matildas star Mary Fowler has been withdrawn from Australia's upcoming friendly matches against Germany and Haiti due to undisclosed personal circumstances. Football Australia confirmed the withdrawal on Tuesday morning, 6 October 2026, following discussions between Fowler, her club Manchester City, and national team staff. Charlton Athletic midfielder Leah Davidson, who has four international caps, was called up as her replacement.

Fowler's absence represents a significant setback for coach Joe Montemurro ahead of two critical World Cup preparation matches. The 23-year-old has been in strong form for Manchester City, earning 71 caps for Australia and serving as the team's primary creative attacking player. She played 90 minutes for City on Monday, 5 October, in a 4–2 Women's Super League win over Arsenal—her 100th appearance for the club—and showed no signs of injury. The Matildas are already without midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross, who is taking an extended break following family circumstances.

Sources told Australian media that senior Football Australia officials were surprised by the withdrawal, learning of it only when the public statement was released at 6:30 am on Tuesday. Teammates including Hayley Raso stated they had not been informed beforehand. Fowler's management did not provide additional context beyond Football Australia's statement. This withdrawal contrasts with her previous squad absence in November 2024, when she cited accumulated mental and physical fatigue and provided a personal statement explaining her decision.

The matches serve as final preparation for next year's FIFA Women's World Cup. Australia will face world No. 3–ranked Germany in Karlsruhe on Saturday, 7 October (Australian time), and world No. 47–ranked Haiti in Chambly, France on Wednesday, 11 October. Both matches are considered valuable for testing tactics and combinations. Media reports noted that Fowler's partner, NRL player Nathan Cleary, is recovering in Sydney from serious leg injuries sustained during Penrith's preliminary final loss, though no official link to her withdrawal has been established.