#StrongerAsUS - How the Joeys came up with their own hashtag for FIFA U-17 World Cup™

Joeys players have declared they are #StrongerAsUS as the team revealed its hashtag for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019™.

Head Coach Trevor Morgan named his 21-player roster that will represent Australia at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, which takes place from 26 October to 17 November, on Wednesday.

Those players joined forces to come up with their own mantra to live by when they travel out to South America for a pre-tournament camp in Chile, and beyond. 

And team unity was the theme of the decision process, which led to the hashtag #StrongerAsUS, as the group prepare for clashes against Nigeria, Hungary and Ecuador in the next month.

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“The hashtag is basically who we are,” explained Ali Auglah of Western Sydney Wanderers.

“It’s a short way of putting your team into one word. We are all putting in the hard work. We are all staying connected as a team and making sure preparations are as best as possible for the World Cup. 

“It sums up who we are as a team.”

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Sydney United’s Michael Ruhs revealed more of the logic behind the hashtag, with the upper case ‘A’ ‘U’ and ’S’ a call to the pride they feel while representing their country.

“#StrongerAsUS represents how everything we do is together,” said Ruhs.

“It’s 110 times better when we work as a team than when we do as individuals. 

“We capitalise the A and US to stand out for Australia. We want to show Australia is stronger as a team than as individuals.”

Ryan Teague will lead the team out as captain in Brazil and the Sydney FC prospect hopes that the hashtag sets the tone for the coming tournament.

“The whole ‘US’ mindset is that it can’t be an individual effort on the field, it has got to be us - collectively as one - going out and doing all the hard work and putting in the effort,” said Teague.

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Trevor Morgan and Joeys


Morgan doubled down on the philosophy, adding that his squad want to show the world how strong their collective can be.

“I think the key thing is the word ‘us’ is what defines all of our standards,” said the head coach.

“Is it us? Is it not us? The way someone speaks, the way someone behaves, the way someone plays. 

“That’s been a strong focus and the boys have chosen to incorporate that word into the hashtag. 

“It’s sending the message that by working together we are better.”

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Australia U-17 Men’s National Football Team (‘Joeys’) | Match Schedule | FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019

Ecuador v Australia
Date: Saturday, 26 October 2019
Venue: Estadio Olimpico, Goiania, Brazil
Kick-off: 8.00pm (local) – 10.00am (AEDT) Sunday, 27 October 2019
Broadcast: Live in Australia via SBS and theworldgame.sbs.com.au

Australia v Hungary
Date: Tuesday, 29 October 2019
Venue: Estadio Olimpico, Goiania, Brazil
Kick-off: 8.00pm (local) – 10.00am (AEDT) Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Broadcast: Live in Australia via SBS and theworldgame.sbs.com.au

Australia v Nigeria
Date: Friday, 1 November 2019
Venue: Estadio Bezerrao, Brasilia (Gama), Brazil
Kick-off: 5.00pm (local) – 7.00am (AEDT) Saturday, 2 November 2019
Broadcast: Live in Australia via SBS and theworldgame.sbs.com.au

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