Confirmed venue for Australia's first 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match
The Socceroos' journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup will start in Melbourne on November 16 at AAMI Park when Australia takes on either Bangladesh or the Maldives.
The Socceroos' first World Cup qualifier will be played in Victoria, Football Australia said on Wednesday morning. The Socceroos' opponent will be decided following the conclusion of a two-legged playoff in October.
After being placed in Group I with Palestine and Lebanon, it is the first of six Second Round qualifiers the Socceroos will play. This round serves as qualifying for the Asian Cup that will be hosted in Saudi Arabia in 2027.
"Over the past year, we've had the chance to add a few younger players to the team, and we've tested them against some top-notch competition. As we approach the start of a new World Cup qualification campaign, it has given us some priceless experience, and we're in a terrific position," Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said.
It has been a long since we've had the chance to play in Australia and experience the support of a home crowd, which gives the team a tremendous boost. We're eager to return to AAMI Park and begin our march toward 2026 since the Victorian football community is one of our national teams' strongest supporters.
Five days later, Australia will travel to play Palestine, though the location and time have not yet been set.
In their final game at AAMI Park, the Socceroos defeated Vietnam 4-0 in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match. Goals from Jamie Maclaren, Tom Rogic, Craig Goodwin, and Riley McGree helped them to victory.
Tickets for the Football Account pre-sale go on sale on Friday, September 22, at 12 PM (AEST), and the general public can purchase them on Monday, September 25, at 3 PM (AEST).
Tickets for this match are priced at $20 for children, $25 for concessions, $35 for adults, and $90 for families.
SOCCEROOS’ 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP SECOND ROUND QUALIFIERS FIXTURE
Australia v Winner of Maldives and Bangladesh
Date: Thursday, November 16 2023
Location: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Time: 8.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Network 10 and Paramount+
Palestine v Australia
Date: Tuesday, November 21 2023
Location: TBC
Time: TBC
Australia v Lebanon
Date: Thursday March 21 2024
Location: TBC
Time: TBC
Lebanon v Australia
Date: Tuesday March 26 2024
Location: TBC
Time: TBC
Winner of Maldives and Bangladesh v Australia
Date: Thursday June 6 2024
Location: TBC
Time: TBC
Australia v Palestine
Date: Tuesday June 11 2024
Location: TBC
Time: TBC
