The youngsters – who represent Australia’s younger Joeys age group and not the older group going to this year’s U17 World Cup in Brazil – are in Group H qualifying in Vietnam and will face the host nation, Timor-Leste, Mongolia, and Macau.

Australia will need to top their qualification group or finish as one of the four best second-placed teams across the 11 groups to advance to the 2020 AFC U16 Championship.

The 2020 AFC U16 Championship serves as the qualification tournament for the 2021 U17 World Cup, with four nations set to advance from that tournament as Asia’s representatives.

“Many of the players involved in our squad for the upcoming fixtures in Hanoi recently played their first international matches at the 2019 AFF U15 Championship in Thailand,” Morgan said.

“We could see the growth of many of the players as they secured three wins and a draw from their five games in Chonburi, and during this qualification tournament we are expecting to see further development individually and collectively with the sizeable prize in the form of qualification for the 2020 AFC U16 Championship on the line.

“We will also welcome some new players into the group for the trip to Vietnam, and I am excited to see how they adapt to the challenge and opportunity of representing our nation at youth level."

Morgan is currently in the United Kingdom with the older Joeys age group as they prepare for friendly internationals against England, Brazil, and Korea Republic over the coming week.

Assistant Michael Cooper will guide the younger Joeys age group throughout their pre-departure camp at the Australian Institute of Sport next week.

Cooper will be assisted by Airton Andrioli from Football Federation South Australia and Pat Hedges from Football Queensland.

The Joeys will play all of their four fixtures in Hanoi at the National Youth Football Training Centre in Hanoi, with their first fixture against Mongolia on Monday, September 16.

Joeys 23-Player Squad 

Name

Club, State

Joseph CALUSIC

Sydney FC, New South Wales

Ethan COX (Gk)

FFSA NTC, South Australia

Massimo D’ARGENIO

Moreland Zebras, Victoria

Alex DENMEAD

Western Sydney Wanderers FC, New South Wales

Jake GIRDWOOD-REICH

Sydney FC, New South Wales

Daniel HELWEH

Marconi Stallions, New South Wales

Alessandro LOPANE

Western Sydney Wanderers FC, New South Wales

Thomas LOPEZ

Marconi Stallions, New South Wales

Lachlan MACDONALD

Sutherland Sharks FC, New South Wales

Alexander MENELAOU

Melbourne City FC, Victoria

Aiden MOSTOFI

Sydney FC, New South Wales

Nathan NGUYEN

Brisbane Roar FC, Queensland

James NIEUWENHUIZEN (Gk)

Goulburn Valley Suns FC, Victoria

Bernardo OLIVEIRA

FFSA NTC, South Australia

Nicholas PANUCCIO

Western Sydney Wanderers FC, New South Wales

Joshua RAWLINS

Perth Glory FC, Western Australia

Matthew SCARCELLA

Western Sydney Wanderers FC, New South Wales

Adrian SEGECIC

Sydney FC, New South Wales

Luka SMYTH

Sydney FC, New South Wales

Thomas STOBIERSKI

Western Sydney Wanderers FC, New South Wales

Mohamed TOURE

FFSA NTC, South Australia

Aiki TSUKAMOTO

Perth Glory FC, Western Australia

Jack WARSHAWSKY (Gk)

Brisbane Roar FC, Queensland

Match Schedule 

Mongolia v Australia
Date: Monday, 16 September 2019
Venue: National Youth Football Training Centre, Hanoi, Vietnam
Kick-off: 7.00pm (local); 10.00pm (AEST)

Australia v Macau
Date: Wednesday, 18 September 2019
Venue: National Youth Football Training Centre, Hanoi, Vietnam
Kick-off: 7.00pm (local); 10.00pm (AEST)

Timor-Leste v Australia
Date: Friday, 20 September 2019
Venue: National Youth Football Training Centre, Hanoi, Vietnam
Kick-off: 4.00pm (local); 7.00pm (AEST)

Australia v Vietnam
Sunday, 22 September 2019
Venue: National Youth Football Training Centre, Hanoi, Vietnam
Kick-off: 7.00pm (local); 10.00pm (AEST)