2025 Australia national soccer team season

2025 Australia national soccer team season
Season2025
ManagerTony Popovic
CaptainMathew Ryan
Top goalscorerJackson Irvine (3)
Players40
Goalscorers11
Debutants9
Biggest home winAustralia 5–1 Indonesia
(20 March)
Biggest away winChina 0–2 Australia
(25 March)
Highest scoringAustralia 5–1 Indonesia
(20 March)
Longest winning run7 (20 March–10 October)
Longest unbeaten run7 (20 March–10 October)
Longest winless run3 (14 October–18 November)
Longest losing run3 (14 October–18 November)
Highest attendance57,226
Australia 1–0 Japan
(5 June)
Lowest attendance19,115
Australia 1–0 New Zealand
(5 September)
Average attendance37,194
Home colours
Away colours
2024

This page summarises the Australia men's national soccer team fixtures and results in 2025.

Summary

Australia opened the year sitting second place in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers group, with four games remaining.[1] They won their first match against Indonesia at home 5–1, with Jackson Irvine scoring a brace and Martin Boyle, Nishan Velupillay, and Lewis Miller scoring a goal each. Indonesia pulled one back through Dutch-born Ole Romeny.[2] The second match away against China ended with an Australian victory, with Irvine and Velupillay each scoring to ensure a 2–0 scoreline, while midfielder Ryan Teague made his senior international debut.[3] In their third match of the year, Australia hosted Japan in Perth, beating them 1–0 with Aziz Behich scoring his first goal in 13 years during stoppage time.[4] Optus Stadium was sold out for the game, with a record 57,226 fans marking the largest crowd since 2017.[5] The result placed Australia in second place in the group poised to qualify directly for the World Cup, with a loss by five or more goals to Saudi Arabia being the only possible scenario for them to miss out.[6] In the last match, Australia secured their place at the 2026 World Cup with a 2–1 come-from-behind win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. After Abdulrahman Al-Aboud opened the scoring for the hosts, Connor Metcalfe equalised with his first international goal and Mitch Duke scored the winner.[7] This marked the first time they qualified directly since the 2014 edition and their sixth consecutive qualification.[8]

Following their qualification for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2010, New Zealand proposed reigniting the Soccer Ashes series against Australia as part of their tournament preparation.[9] The 2025 edition of the series was confirmed in June, with two matches scheduled for September in Canberra at GIO Stadium and in Auckland at Go Media Stadium.[10] Australia won the home leg in Canberra 1–0, with Max Balard scoring on debut and Paul Izzo and Nicolas Milanovic making their international debuts too.[11] The return leg, away in Auckland, was also won by Australia with a 3–1 scoreline, with Australia retaining the Soccer Ashes with a 4–1 aggregate victory. Leading the way for Australia were former Adelaide United South Australian duo Mohamed Toure and Nestory Irankunda who scored a brace and a single goal. New Zealand only managed to pull one back with Chris Wood's goal.[12]

In July 2025, Football Australia announced that the team would travel to North America in October to play friendlies against Canada in Montreal[13] and against the United States in Colorado.[14] Australia won the friendly against Canada 1–0 with Irankunda scoring the goal and Jacob Italiano making his international debut.[15] Against the United States, Australia recorded their first loss since Tony Popovic took over as coach. Despite Jordan Bos scoring the first goal, American striker Haji Wright scored a brace to give the United States a 2–1 victory. The loss also prevented Australia from climbing up the FIFA rankings which would potentially gift them an easier draw at the 2026 World Cup group stage.[16][17]

Continue their preparation for the 2026 World Cup, the Australian team returned to the United States in November 2025 to play friendlies against Venezuela and Colombia.[18] They lost the first match to Venezuela 1–0 with Jesús Ramírez scoring the only goal. Australia started the match with Patrick Beach, Kai Trewin, and Paul Okon-Engstler making their debuts, while Al Hassan Toure came on in the second half to make his debut too.[19] Before the second match, a virus hit the playing group, reducing training time and match fitness, and Australia lost to Colombia 3–0 with James Rodríguez, Luis Díaz, and Jefferson Lerma scoring.[20]

Record

As of match played 18 November 2025
Type GP W D L GF GA
Friendly 6 3 0 3 6 7
World Cup qualifiers 4 4 0 0 10 2
Total 10 7 0 3 16 9

Match results

Friendlies

5 September Soccer Ashes Australia  1–0  New Zealand Canberra, Australia
19:45 UTC+10
  • Balard 87'
Report Stadium: GIO Stadium
Attendance: 19,115
Referee: Donald Robertson (Scotland)
9 September Soccer Ashes New Zealand  1–3  Australia Auckland, New Zealand
19:00 UTC+12
Report
Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 18,213
Referee: Donald Robertson (Scotland)
10 October Canada  0–1  Australia Montreal, Canada
19:30 UTC−6 Report Stadium: Saputo Stadium
Attendance: 23,112
Referee: Steven Madrigal (Costa Rica)
14 October United States  2–1  Australia Commerce City, United States
19:00 UTC−6
Report
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 18,218
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere (Canada)

World Cup qualifiers

20 March Third round Australia  5–1  Indonesia Sydney, Australia
20:10 UTC+11
Report
Stadium: Sydney Football Stadium
Attendance: 35,241
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
5 June Third round Australia  1–0  Japan Perth, Australia
19:00 UTC+8
Report Stadium: Perth Stadium
Attendance: 57,226
Referee: Qasim Al-Hatmi (Oman)

Player statistics

Correct as of 18 November 2025 (v.  Colombia).
Numbers are listed by player's number in last match played

No. Pos Nat Player Total Friendlies World Cup qualifiers
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK  AUS Mathew Ryan 5 0 1+0 0 4+0 0
1 GK  AUS Tom Glover 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
12 GK  AUS Paul Izzo 4 0 4+0 0 0+0 0
18 GK  AUS Joe Gauci 1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
18 GK  AUS Patrick Beach 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
2 DF  AUS Miloš Degenek 9 0 5+0 0 3+1 0
3 DF  AUS Lewis Miller 10 1 3+3 0 4+0 1
4 DF  AUS Kye Rowles 4 0 3+0 0 1+0 0
5 DF  AUS Jordan Bos 4 1 2+2 1 0+0 0
5 DF  AUS Callum Elder 2 0 0+2 0 0+0 0
10 DF  AUS Kasey Bos 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
14 DF  AUS Jason Davidson 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
15 DF  AUS Kai Trewin 2 0 2+0 0 0+0 0
16 DF  AUS Aziz Behich 4 1 0+0 0 4+0 1
19 DF  AUS Fran Karačić 2 0 0+0 0 0+2 0
20 DF  AUS Alex Grant 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
20 DF  AUS Jacob Italiano 2 0 2+0 0 0+0 0
21 DF  AUS Cameron Burgess 9 0 4+1 0 4+0 0
22 DF  AUS Jason Geria 7 0 3+0 0 3+1 0
23 DF  AUS Alessandro Circati 5 0 4+0 0 1+0 0
24 DF  AUS James Overy 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
25 DF  AUS Hayden Matthews 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
25 DF  AUS Jack Iredale 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
5 MF  AUS Anthony Caceres 2 0 0+0 0 0+2 0
8 MF  AUS Connor Metcalfe 8 1 6+0 0 2+0 1
10 MF  AUS Ajdin Hrustic 3 0 1+2 0 0+0 0
13 MF  AUS Aiden O'Neill 9 0 4+1 0 3+1 0
14 MF  AUS Riley McGree 5 0 2+1 0 0+2 0
16 MF  AUS Max Balard 5 1 3+2 1 0+0 0
17 MF  AUS Ryan Teague 4 0 1+0 0 2+1 0
17 MF  AUS Cameron Devlin 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
19 MF  AUS Patrick Yazbek 6 0 1+3 0 1+1 0
20 MF  AUS Paul Okon-Engstler 2 0 1+1 0 0+0 0
22 MF  AUS Jackson Irvine 4 3 1+1 0 2+0 3
6 FW  AUS Martin Boyle 10 1 2+4 0 4+0 1
7 FW  AUS Nishan Velupillay 2 2 0+0 0 2+0 2
7 FW  AUS Nicolas Milanovic 2 0 0+2 0 0+0 0
7 FW  AUS Nicholas D'Agostino 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
7 FW  AUS Nestory Irankunda 5 1 2+3 1 0+0 0
9 FW  AUS Kusini Yengi 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
9 FW  AUS Adam Taggart 1 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
9 FW  AUS Mohamed Toure 7 2 4+2 2 0+1 0
11 FW  AUS Brandon Borrello 3 0 0+0 0 2+1 0
11 FW  AUS Adrian Segecic 0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
11 FW  AUS Daniel Arzani 4 0 0+1 0 0+3 0
11 FW  AUS Al Hassan Toure 1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
15 FW  AUS Mitchell Duke 5 2 1+1 1 1+2 1
20 FW  AUS Samuel Silvera 1 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
20 FW  AUS Marco Tilio 1 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
23 FW  AUS Craig Goodwin 2 0 1+0 0 0+1 0
  • Source:

References

  1. ^ Doherty, Luke (17 March 2025). "Inside Socceroos' big selection questions, surprise snubs for must-win World Cup qualifiers". Fox Sports.
  2. ^ Hanson, Henry; Shalala, Amanda (20 March 2025). "Socceroos move closer to World Cup with 5-1 win over Indonesia in Sydney". ABC News.
  3. ^ Lynch, Joey (25 March 2025). "Jackson Irvine stars as Socceroos clinch key World Cup qualifying win over China". The Guardian.
  4. ^ Lynch, Joey (5 June 2025). "Socceroos all but book World Cup 2026 berth after last-gasp Aziz Behich goal sinks Japan". The Guardian.
  5. ^ Smith, Ben (5 June 2025). "Socceroos all but earn World Cup qualification off back of Aziz Behich miracle against Japan in Perth". The West Australian.
  6. ^ Laughton, Max (6 June 2025). "Why Socceroos must wait for official World Cup spot as miracle scenario explained". Fox Sports.
  7. ^ Lynch, Joey (10 June 2025). "Socceroos secure World Cup place with come-from-behind win over Saudi Arabia". The Guardian.
  8. ^ "Socceroos record roll continues". FIFA. 10 June 2025.
  9. ^ "New Zealand challenges Socceroos to renew 'Soccer Ashes'". ESPN. 26 March 2025.
  10. ^ "All Whites Take On Socceroos for Soccer Ashes this September in Auckland and Canberra". NZ Football. 23 June 2025.
  11. ^ Hanson, Henry (5 September 2025). "Socceroos beat New Zealand 1-0 in Canberra after Max Balard's debut goal". ABC News.
  12. ^ Lynch, Joey (9 September 2025). "Socceroos get glimpse of exciting future as Toure and Irankunda sink New Zealand". The Guardian.
  13. ^ "Subway Socceroos to take on Canada in Montreal". Socceroos. Football Australia. 4 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Subway Socceroos secure clash with the United States in October". Socceroos. Football Australia. 15 July 2025.
  15. ^ Monteverde, Marco (11 October 2025). "Nestory Irankunda stars against Canada, Aussies unbeaten in 11 games under Tony Popovic". news.com.au.
  16. ^ Lewis, Samantha (15 October 2025). "Haji Wright scores twice as USA come back from a goal down to see off Australia". The Guardian.
  17. ^ Pegan, Martin (14 October 2025). "Socceroos riding wave of momentum towards more favourable World Cup draw". The Guardian.
  18. ^ "CommBank Socceroos to take on Venezuela and Colombia in the United States". Socceroos. Football Australia. 28 October 2025.
  19. ^ Lynch, Joey (15 November 2025). "Passive Socceroos problems exposed in disappointing defeat to Venezuela". The Guardian.
  20. ^ Lynch, Joey (18 November 2025). "Sick Socceroos slump to defeat as Colombia stars make difference in New York". The Guardian.