Can you spot the detail in these photos that reveals a stunning fact about Mary Fowler as the Matildas star jets out of Australia?
- Fowler was in Australia for two Matildas games against South Korea
- Has had to jet to the UK to play for Manchester City in the FA Cup
Mary Fowler is England bound after leaving Australia following the Matildas’ two recent matches against South Korea – and it can now be revealed she is travelling with an Irish passport.
Fowler, 22, was born in Cairns, but qualifies as her father Kevin is from Dublin.
Daily Mail Australia understands Fowler uses an Irish passport as they are ranked stronger than the Aussie version globally.
According to The Henley Passport Index, Ireland sits in third spot, with Australia sixth, as the former document offers visa-free entry to 119 countries.
The attacking ace made her Matildas debut in 2018 – and revealed she could have played for Ireland following an approach from their Football Association.
‘I think when you have the option to play for multiple nations, you do think about it because it’s a decision that will live with you for the rest of your career,’ she told FIFA in a 2023 interview.
Mary Fowler is England bound after leaving Australia following the Matildas’ two recent matches against South Korea – and she is travelling with an Irish passport (pictured)
Fowler, 22, was born in Cairns, but can use an Irish passport as her father Kevin is from Dublin
‘I felt very strongly connected to Australia because it’s where I was born, I have my friends there, I grew up there. ‘So Australia ended up being the obvious choice.’
Fowler also has Papua New Guinean heritage with her mother Nido from a village in Port Moresby.
The Manchester City x-factor began her football journey at Trinity Beach in Cairns, and soon caught the eye of representative scouts in Queensland, representing the Sunshine State in an under-12s tournament aged 10.
Next was a family move to Europe, where Fowler represented BVV Barendrecht in the Netherlands until she was 14.
The Young Matildas followed, before then Matildas coach Alen Stajcic handed Fowler a senior cap when she was just 15.
A move to French side Montpellier in 2020 was next, with Manchester City securing her services two years later.
Fast forward to 2025 and Fowler is an integral player for the Citizens and the Matildas.
Her high-profile romance with NRL superstar Nathan Cleary also ensures Fowler generates constant headlines off the pitch.
The couple recently caught up in Sydney and Newcastle, with their social media followers loving seeing the relationship blossom.
Fowler’s relationship with NRL superstar Nathan Cleary is a constant talking point with Aussie sports fans
Fowler has left for the UK but her teammate Sam Kerr (pictured) was still in Sydney on Wednesday, training at the Sydney Swans’ gym
The superstar striker posted a message to the fans who greeted her in Australia, writing, ‘Thank you to everyone for all the love, support and warm welcome home’
The pair had also briefly caught up in America in February, with the 22-year-old taking part in the SheBelieves Cup.
Cleary was in the US with his Penrith teammates as the NRL launched the 2025 season in Las Vegas.
While Fowler had to fly out to be back in the UK in time to be front and centre for Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United on April 14, her Matildas teammate Sam Kerr has stayed on a bit longer.
The Chelsea striker – who trained with the national side but did not play in the friendlies against South Korea – showed her Instagram followers that she’s working out in the Sydney Swans’ gym in a post she made on Wednesday.
Prior to that, she had some kind words for the fans who greeted her in Australia, writing, ‘Thank you to everyone for all the love, support and warm welcome home’.
