Kahli Johnson is preparing to head to her second FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup next month, but the emotions and pride are just as strong as they were two years ago.
After her experience in Costa Rica in 2022, Johnson has kicked off her professional career at Western United, playing 30 times and scoring five goals over the last two seasons.
That form has ensured the 20-year-old has remained an ever-present in the Young Matildas side, leading her to a second World Cup opportunity alongside new Western United teammates Chloe Lincoln and Sasha Grove.
But Johnson has not lost sight of what it means to represent her country each and every time she gets to do so, no matter the regularity with which those opportunities come.
“It’s a massive honour and a privilege. Getting to go to any tournament to represent your country is amazing but going to a World Cup – and this being my second – is an incredible feeling. It’s great to have that opportunity with this team,” she said.
“(Playing for Australia is) everything to me. As a kid, learning that that’s a reality, that first time when you’re selected for a junior national team and pulling on that jersey.
“It’s an unmatched feeling and I’ll never forget the first time I was privileged enough to do that. Every single time I see my name on the back of that jersey, I put it on and step onto the field and it’s an amazing feeling. It’s something I don’t take for granted and I’m really grateful for.”
There is a sense of déjà vu for the Young Matildas with their first game coming up against host nation Colombia, just as was the case with Costa Rica two years ago.
Johnson still recalls the experience of playing in front of the raucous home crowd and is itching to have that feeling again.
“Playing Costa Rica in front of 20,000 or so people was amazing, it was something I’ll never forget. The sound of that stadium when we walked out, it was a goosebumps moment,” she said.
“Being able to play in front of thousands and thousands of fans in Colombia, and knowing what Colombian fans are like and how they were at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, it’s amazing and I can’t wait to have that kind of environment around us when we play our first game.”
The last two years have been significant ones in Johnson’s young career with World Cup and Asian Cup experience with the Young Matildas, debut call-ups with the Australian Under-23 women’s national team and an ever-growing reputation in the Liberty A-League Women with Western United.
Johnson said that each new opportunity offers her the knowledge that she is on the right path, adding extra motivation to strive for the next target.
“Any international experience is really valuable – playing against different countries and playing against big players, players that are going to go and be incredible in major tournaments for their full national teams,” she said.
“So knowing that you’re in and around that kind of company is a big boost for your own confidence, but also just to show you that you are where you need to be and you have a shot at being able to play for big teams or go over to Europe and really shine.”
Johnson will join her teammates in camp from next week before that tournament opener against Colombia at 9am on Sunday 1 September AEST.
