‘Wouldn’t change anything for the world’: Why two Matildas chose to play for World Cup rivals

Indiah-Paige Riley and Angie Beard represented Australia in this World Cup cycle then switched allegiances to rival nations. The young guns share their stories with ADAM PEACOCK.

Indiah-Paige Riley and Angie Beard have chosen to represent teams other than the Matildas.

As the strange variables of fate would have it, there aren’t just 23 Matildas playing at this World Cup.

The number is actually 25.

Indiah-Paige Riley and Angie Beard, both in the prime of their careers, debuted for Australia in 2021. They have since taken notably different paths to a home World Cup.

Later this week, Riley, a 21-year-old attacking threat, will belt out God Defend New Zealand.

Beard, a defender who leads by example, will take a deep breath as Lupang Hinirang, the Philippines anthem which translates to ‘Chosen Land’, is played.

Chosen, indeed. Their Matildas careers are in the past. Where they both are now has filled their hearts.

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Angie Beard made her Matildas debut in late 2021, featuring against powerhouses Brazil and USA in friendlies. It provided hope she’d be involved in the 2022 Asian Cup.

It didn’t quite pan out that way. Beard missed selection.

“At the time it felt like the worst thing in the world that I wasn’t going to the Asian Cup,” Beard tells CODE Sports.

But as the Matildas crashed out at the quarter-final stage, Beard noticed a plucky little team performing a miracle. The Philippines, her mother’s birthplace, made the semi-finals, which meant World Cup qualification.

Alen Stajcic, the former Matildas boss turned Philippines manager, built depth in the Filipino national team by tapping into the 12 million-strong diaspora scattered across the globe. He went on another talent search with the World Cup looming, and got in touch with Beard.

Because Beard hadn’t played at a major tournament for the Matildas, she was eligible to switch.

“I didn’t even know that was an option!” Beard says.

The change wasn’t immediate. Beard featured in two Matildas squads in mid-2022. But when she missed out on selection to play Canada in September 2022, it was clear. To go to a World Cup, she’d have to switch to the Philippines.

Angela Beard for the Matildas against Ireland in 2021. Picture: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

Stajcic was pleased. Angie’s mum Marilou and dad Ray were over the moon.

“Super excited, super happy for me. They just want me to be happy and fulfilled.”

Beard’s mum Marilou was born and raised in Cebu City, right in the middle of the Philippines’ 7641 islands.

Marilou and Ray met through friends, lived in separate countries, and became pen pals. Slowly, they fell in love and moved to Brisbane.

The Philippines was always close to Angie’s heart, but it’s gone up a notch in the past year.

“Growing up we didn’t have that much money, so didn’t have that opportunity (to go back), but the last six months I’ve been able to explore, connect and understand the place,” Beard says, before adding she hasn’t been to Marilou’s birthplace, Cebu City.

That trip is on hold until they can visit together.

Emotional outpourings of another kind are likely on Friday, when the Filipino anthem plays before the team’s World Cup opener against Switzerland in Dunedin.

“I’m trying to prepare myself, but mum and I might be having a bit of waterworks there!” Beard admits.

“And my dad, they’re very proud of me.”

Beard is playing for Western United. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Beard will pay close attention to her former side at the World Cup.

“As they say, once a Matilda, always a Matilda,” Beard says.

“In my case it might be a bit different, always going to be appreciative of playing in that team, with some of the best footballers in the world.

“My form when selected for the Matildas was up there with my best, so it was pretty disheartening. But we’ve now come to realise it was a bit of a blessing in disguise.”

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Some 24 hours before Beard’s Philippines start their World Cup, Indiah-Paige Riley will walk out onto Eden Park, Auckland, in front of a packed house, swelled by her sizeable contingent of supporters.

Riley’s first seven years on earth were spent in New Zealand’s biggest city, but football wasn’t on her radar.

“I grew up in Auckland, my dad played rugby league but I was more of a rugby union girl,” Riley tells CODE, explaining an early coach was All Black great Keven Mealamu.

Indiah-Paige Riley will play for the Ferns. Picture: Kerry Marshall/Getty Images

Riley, aged seven, moved to Brisbane with her mum and four siblings, but even then she was forced to stick with union.

“I begged my mum (to play football), but she was a single mum with five kids, so we could only play one sport,” Riley says.

“My brothers wanted to play rugby so I got pulled along.

“But once they all got older I was the only one left, so I got my wish.”

Her desire to play the round ball game was well-founded. Within five years, Riley, a quick, decisive attacking player, was representing Australia at under-17 level.

Not long after, New Zealand got in touch with a ‘wanna play for us’ offer.

For two years, Riley was torn. Matters were confused by her Matildas debut in Tony Gustavsson’s first game in charge, a 5-2 loss to Germany in April 2021.

New Zealand weren’t playing at the time due to Covid restrictions. Once the world opened up again, Football Ferns coach Jitka Klimkova had another crack.

Riley remained in the Matildas selection frame until 2022. Picture: Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

“It was daunting, the whole process,” Riley says, who canvassed opinion with every member of her family, especially mum Nicola, who herself represented New Zealand in roller-skating, back when roller-skating was a thing.

“She wasn’t much help!” Riley laughs.

“Mum never gave me a straight answer. But I knew whatever decision I made, she’d back me 100 per cent.”

By mid-2022, as she remained on the edge of Matildas selection, Riley made the definitive call. New Zealand.

Fate has pulled Riley, still just 21, back to her old hometown of Auckland for the World Cup opener, which kicks off a few hours before the Matildas open their campaign against Ireland.

Riley will have countless family and friends at Eden Park for the clash between New Zealand and Norway. Nicola will make the journey from Brisbane. Brothers, sisters, stepdad, uncles, aunties, and her father, who stayed in New Zealand all those years ago.

“I wouldn't change anything for the world,” Riley says, on what has happened, and what will be.

Originally published as ‘Wouldn’t change anything for the world’: Why two Matildas chose to play for World Cup rivals