Four Wanderers Academy players have been named in Brad Maloney’s 23-player squad for the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025™ to be held between 3 – 20 April.
The squad will assemble for a pre-camp from Friday, 21 March to commence their preparations for the tournament, prior to their opening fixture against Vietnam.
Australia has been drawn into Group B and will face Vietnam (4 April – local time), United Arab Emirates (7 April – local time) and Japan (10 April – local time).
The U17 continental tournament – which serves as qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™ – will see the top eight teams earn their place at the age group’s showpiece event to be held in November 2025.
This means that should the Subway Joeys secure passage out of their Group, they will punch their ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time since 2019.
Brad Maloney’s squad will arrive in Saudi Arabia in a rich vein of form, having been most recently crowned Hattrick U17 International Tournament Champions, in a cycle which has also included a successful ASEAN U16 Boys Championship campaign, and strong results in tours of both Europe and the Pacific.
Anthony Didulica (Western United FC), Quinn MacNicol (Brisbane Roar FC) and Amlani Tatu (Adelaide United FC) have been rewarded for their significant goal contributions throughout the cycle. While squad regulars Logan Sambrook (Central Coast Mariners FC) and Rhys Williams (Brisbane Roar FC) will make the trip to Saudi Arabia.
Haine Eames (Central Coast Mariners FC) will arrive in camp with ample senior minutes under his belt from both the Isuzu UTE A-League Men and the AFC Champions League Elite.
Western Sydney Wanderers FC teammates, Kade Baccus and Thomas Cutuk retain their place following selection in the Subway Joeys most recent assembly in the United Arab Emirates.
Max Anastasio (Venezia FC) and Alexander Garbowski (BK Häcken) make up the European-based contingent of the squad and will be joined by Isuzu UTE A-League Men Academy talent in Jai Ajanovic (Central Coast Mariners FC), Nickolas Alfaro (Sydney FC) and Alex Bolton (Perth Glory FC).
Subway Joeys’ Head Coach, Brad Maloney said he was looking forward to commencing final preparations for the tournament.
“We’ve been progressively building towards this Asian Cup, and I feel we’re in a great position heading into our pre-camp,” Maloney said.
“I’ve been really impressed with all the players that have been involved in our program. I can’t fault their application and effort in implementing both our playing style and off-field standards, they’ve helped shape a strong culture that’s become integral to our success.
“We’ve had some positive results throughout this cycle, which has been a great reward for the hard work from both the players and staff.
“This is a very important step in our journey, and we’re fully focused on achieving the goals we set as a group during our first assembly in Europe in early-2024,” Maloney concluded.
For more information on the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025™ please click here.
All Subway Joeys matches at the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025™ will be broadcast live and exclusive on 10 Play.
MATCH DETAILS:
Subway Joeys v Vietnam U17
Friday, 4 April 2025
Okaz Stadium, Taif
Kick-off: 6.00pm local / 2.00am AEDT (Saturday, 5 April)
Broadcast: 10 Play
United Arab Emirates U17 v Subway Joeys
Monday, 7 April 2025
King Fahd Sports City Stadium, Taif
Kick-off: 8.15pm local / 3.15am AEST (Tuesday, 8 April)
Broadcast: 10 Play
Japan U17 v Subway Joeys
Thursday, 10 April 2025
Okaz Stadium, Taif
Kick-off: 6.00pm local / 1.00am AEST (Friday, 11 April)
Broadcast: 10 Play
SUBWAY JOEYS SQUAD | AFC U17 ASIAN CUP SAUDI ARABIA 2025™ | 3-20 APRIL
| Name | Position | Current Club | Junior Club / Member Federation |
| Jai AJANOVIC | Goalkeeper | Central Coast Mariners FC, Australia | Gymea United FC / Football NSW |
| Akol AKON | Attacker | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | St Marys Convent SC / Football NSW |
| Nickolas ALFARO | Midfielder | Sydney FC, Australia | Nepean FC / Football NSW |
| Max ANASTASIO | Attacker | Venezia FC, Italy | Marconi Stallions FC / Football NSW |
| Kade BACCUS | Midfielder | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | Parklea FC / Football NSW |
| Jonty BENFIELD | Goalkeeper | Melbourne City FC, Australia | Taringa Rovers SC / Football QLD |
| Alex BOLTON | Midfielder | Perth Glory FC, Australia | Bayswater City FC / Football West |
| Isiah BOSTON | Defender | Melbourne City FC, Australia | East Kew Panthers / Football VIC |
| Thomas CUTUK | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | Hills Spirit FC / Football NSW |
| Anthony DIDULICA | Attacker | Western United FC, Australia | St Albans Saints SC / Football VIC |
| Haine EAMES | Midfielder | Central Coast Mariners FC, Australia | Camden Haven Redbacks FC / NNSW Football |
| Alexander GARBOWSKI | Defender | BK Häcken, Sweden | Subiaco AFC / Football West |
| Besian KUTLESHI | Defender | Western United FC, Australia | North Sunshine Eagles SC / Football VIC |
| Quinn MACNICOL | Midfielder | Brisbane Roar FC, Australia | Rochedale Rovers / Football QLD |
| Jay MALTZ | Midfielder | Sydney FC, Australia | Mongo FC / Football NSW |
| Miles MILLINER | Defender | Manly United FC, Australia | Collaroy Cromer Strikers FC / Football NSW |
| Charlie PARKIN | Defender | Brisbane Roar FC, Australia | Grange Thistle FC / Football QLD |
| Christian PULLELLA | Defender | Perth Glory FC, Australia | Perth SC / Football West |
| Logan SAMBROOK | Attacker | Central Coast Mariners FC, Australia | Northern Storm FC / NNSW Football |
| Zane STEVENSON | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | Balgownie Rangers / Football NSW |
| Amlani TATU | Attacker | Adelaide United FC, Australia | Croydon Kings FC / Football SA |
| Rhys WILLIAMS | Attacker | Brisbane Roar FC, Australia | Kawana FC / Football QLD |
| Jared WILLIAMS | Goalkeeper | Central Coast Mariners FC, Australia | Kanwal Warnervale Rovers FC / Football NSW |
