Australia host Brazil twice in Queensland this September: Townsville on Friday 25 September and Suncorp Stadium on Tuesday 29 September, both at 8:00pm AEST. Match details, the markets worth a look and our reads on both fixtures in the Socceroos' first assignment since the World Cup.
It's the one that could send the Socceroos through. After a stunning 2-0 opening win over Türkiye, Australia face hosts the United States in a Group D showdown at Lumen Field (CenturyLink Field) in Seattle — and a result here would all but book a place in the knockout rounds.
The Socceroos’ perfect start to World Cup 2026 is over, beaten 2-0 by co-hosts the United States at a raucous Lumen Field in Seattle.
Tony Popovic faces some of the toughest selection decisions in Socceroos history ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With a 26-man squad to name and the tournament just weeks away, Australia's preparation has been disrupted by key injuries, fierce position battles, and the emergence of some exciting new faces demanding places.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the biggest commercial soccer event ever staged for Australian audiences, and the Socceroos have one of the toughest group draws in recent memory.
It ended the cruellest way. After 120 minutes locked at 1-1 with Egypt in Dallas, Australia’s 2026 World Cup came down to a penalty shootout — their first in World Cup history — and they lost it 4-2.
The Socceroos’ 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign is complete, and Australian soccer betting rolls on. Tony Popovic’s side reached the Round of 32 in North America before going out to Egypt on penalties. This hub covers everything you need for betting on Australia’s national team and covers fixtures and results, squad news, and the best markets and bookmakers for Socceroos betting.
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Australia reached the FIFA World Cup 2026 for the sixth time in their history. Drawn into Group D alongside the USA, Paraguay and Türkiye at the expanded 48-team tournament, the Socceroos finished second to progress to the Round of 32, where they were beaten by Egypt on penalties.
Tony Popovic, appointed in October 2024, took the Socceroos into the tournament as Group D underdogs and got a response: a 2-0 win over Türkiye and a battling 0-0 draw with Paraguay were enough to edge into the knockouts. The run ended against Egypt in a Round-of-32 shootout, but Australia again showed they can punch above their weight on the biggest stage.
For detailed squad information and selection previews, read our dedicated Socceroos World Cup Squad 2026 guide.
Australia’s completed 2026 World Cup campaign, its lead-up results and the fixtures that follow it. The Socceroos finished second in Group D before going out to Egypt on penalties in the Round of 32. Spain went on to win the tournament. See our World Cup final report and the Socceroos Group D deep dive.
| Date | Match | Competition | Result / our tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 March 2026 | Australia v Cameroon | Friendly | Australia won 1-0 |
| 31 March 2026 | Australia v Curaçao | Friendly | Australia won 5-1 |
| 30 May 2026 | Mexico v Australia | Friendly | Mexico won 1-0 |
| 13 June 2026 | Türkiye v Australia | World Cup, Group D | Australia won 2-0 |
| 19 June 2026 | Australia v USA | World Cup, Group D | USA won 2-0 |
| 25 June 2026 | Paraguay v Australia | World Cup, Group D | 0-0 draw, Australia finished 2nd |
| 3 July 2026 | Australia v Egypt | World Cup, Round of 32 | 1-1, Egypt won 4-2 on penalties |
| 25 September 2026 | Australia v Brazil (Townsville) | Friendly | 1-1 draw |
| 29 September 2026 | Australia v Brazil (Brisbane) | Friendly | Our tips |
The post-World Cup cycle opens at home with a double-header against Brazil in Queensland. Match details, kick-off times, markets and our read on each game are in our Socceroos vs Brazil preview.
Tony Popovic works from a settled core, and the selection questions almost always sit in defence. Australia named a 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, and each window after it is where the next group gets its audition.
The senior group is built around captain Jackson Irvine (St Pauli), goalkeeper Mat Ryan (AS Roma), creative midfielder Riley McGree (Middlesbrough), and Nestory Irankunda (Bayern Munich). Centre-back Alessandro Circati (Parma) has established himself as first choice at the back, while Jordan Bos’s 85th-minute winner against Cameroon on 27 March 2026 cemented his place in Popovic’s plans.
For the full squad with positions, clubs, ages, and cap counts, read our Socceroos World Cup Squad 2026 article.
Australian bookmakers offer a range of markets on Socceroos matches and World Cup betting. Here are the main markets to know:
Match Result (1X2): The most common market. Bet on Australia to win, the match to draw, or the opponent to win. Australia are usually the outsider against top-tier opposition and much closer to even against sides ranked around them.
Total Goals (Over/Under): A popular alternative to match result. Given Popovic’s structured setup, Australia often play tight, low-scoring affairs in competitive matches, though the 5-1 friendly against Curaçao showed they can fire when the opposition allows space.
Both Teams to Score (BTTS): Always worth checking for Socceroos matches. Mat Ryan is a reliable last line of defence, but international football at World Cup level brings quality attacks that can test any goalkeeper.
First Goalscorer / Anytime Goalscorer: Jackson Irvine contributes goals from midfield, while Nestory Irankunda is the exciting pick for those looking for value. If Deni Juric holds down the striker role, he is the logical first goalscorer option.
Same Game Multi: Combine multiple markets within the same Socceroos match for a boosted return. See our same game multi guide for tips on building smart combinations.
Tournament futures: To qualify from a group, to reach a given round, or an outright price in a qualifying campaign. One result moves these a long way, so early value matters more here than in any match market.
Finding the best odds for Socceroos markets means shopping across multiple bookmakers. Coverage of international football, especially Socceroos friendlies, can vary between operators, so it is worth checking a few before placing. For a full comparison of Australian betting sites that cover soccer, visit our soccer betting sites Australia page.
Major tournaments are covered comprehensively by all the big Australian bookmakers, from the group stage through to the final. The best sites for Socceroos and tournament betting typically offer:
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Australia opened Group D with a 2-0 win over Türkiye, then lost 2-0 to the host nation USA before a 0-0 draw with Paraguay secured second place and a Round-of-32 spot. Egypt ended the campaign on penalties.
The Socceroos were drawn in Group D alongside the USA, Paraguay and Türkiye. With the USA as host nation it was a demanding group, and Australia came second to reach the knockout stage.
Tony Popovic has been the Socceroos head coach since October 2024. He replaced Graham Arnold, who guided Australia to the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Popovic previously managed Western Sydney Wanderers, Perth Glory, and several clubs in Europe.
Jackson Irvine is the Socceroos captain. The St Pauli midfielder is the heartbeat of the team and one of Australia’s most experienced international players, with over 60 caps to his name. He plays in the Bundesliga and brings leadership and energy to the squad.
Football Australia names a squad in the week or so before each FIFA international window. Friendly windows are where Popovic tests the fringe of the group, so the team sheets are worth watching more closely than they are in a tournament. We cover the selection calls in our Socceroos squad coverage.
Network 10 and Paramount+ hold the Socceroos rights in Australia. Selected home matches are live and free on 10 and 10 Play, with the rest on Paramount+, so check the broadcast note on the match preview for the game you want. SBS held the free-to-air rights for the men’s World Cup.
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