Christian Montegan 
Kyra Cooney-Cross battling for the ball with Japan's Hinata Miyazawa during the SheBelieves Cup. Photo: Trask Smith/Football Australia
The news goes from bad to worse for the Matildas, who suffered their worst FIFA ranking position in 20 years.
According to the latest FIFA world rankings update, Australia is in unfamiliar territory at No.16, having dropped one place in the standings to equal their lowest ranking since 2005.
It comes after Tom Sermanni’s side suffered three defeats at the SheBelieves Cup, losing to Japan (4-0), the USA (2-1), and Colombia (2-1).
Australia has won three of its past 12 outings, with the departure of former manager Tony Gustavsson raising questions as Football Australia continue their scouting efforts to replace Sermanni, who is filling in as an interim coach.
The 2023 Women’s World Cup semi-finalists reached as high as No.4 in the rankings eight years ago.
They are the third-best-ranked nation from the Asian Confederation behind Japan (No.5), who climbed three places after winning the SheBelieves Cup, and North Korea (No.9).
With Australia set to host the Asian Cup for the first time in March next year, the Matildas will hope to replicate their maiden triumph in 2010.