The Subway Socceroos are set to intensify their pursuit of a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a critical pair of qualifiers. Australia will kick off its campaign against Indonesia on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Sydney Football Stadium, followed by a showdown with China PR on March 25, 2025. Both games are pivotal as Australia fights to secure one of the two automatic qualification spots in Group C.
Matchday against Indonesia will kick off at 8:00 PM AEDT, marking an exciting return to the newly reconstructed Sydney Football Stadium, where the Socceroos haven’t played in nearly a decade. This marks the first home game for the national team since March 2017, when they faced the United Arab Emirates in a FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifier.
The Socceroos currently find themselves in second place in Group C, trailing Japan but holding a narrow lead over the rest of the pack, with only a point separating them from their closest rivals. In their most recent outings, Australia managed to draw with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, keeping their hopes alive for direct qualification but leaving little margin for error.
Australia's head coach, Tony Popovic, highlighted the need for a strong performance in the upcoming matches. "We understand the importance of these upcoming games and are excited by the opportunity to further cement our position in the group’s automatic qualifying positions," said Popovic. His focus will be on both the tactical execution and player morale as they prepare for these crucial encounters.
The squad for these qualifiers features six uncapped players, a nod to the future of the national team. Among these, Alex Grant (Sydney FC), Nectarios Triantis (Hibernian FC), and Ryan Teague (Melbourne Victory FC) are eager to make their senior debuts. At the same time, the team also welcomes back experienced players like Jason Davidson and Fran Karačić, who bring valuable experience to the pitch.
Additional key players include Brandon Borrello (Western Sydney Wanderers FC) and Anthony Caceres (Sydney FC), with a solid contingent of ten A-League Men players in the squad. However, the team will be without important members such as Harry Souttar, Massimo Luongo, and Riley McGree due to injuries, emphasizing the challenges the squad faces as they strive for World Cup qualification.
Indonesia, currently under the management of Patrick Kluivert, will arrive in Sydney with their own ambitions. Having drawn with Australia previously in qualifying and coming off a solid 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, they will aim to leapfrog the Socceroos in the standings. Their promising young talent, Marselino Ferdinan, has emerged as a player to watch, having already notched five international goals.
As both teams prepare for this critical clash, the stakes couldn't be higher. The soccer community is abuzz with anticipation for the matches, recognizing the importance of securing points as the group stages move toward the final fixtures.
Following the match with Indonesia, Australia will face China PR in Hangzhou, with that kick-off scheduled for March 25 at 10:00 PM AEDT. Australia will be aiming not just for victory but for a clear performance indicating their readiness to secure their sixth consecutive World Cup appearance.
Lastly, fans are urged to tune in to catch the matches, which will be available live and free on Network 10, 10 Play, and streamed exclusively on Paramount+. As the countdown continues to the qualifiers, every moment on the pitch will be critical, with hopes riding high for the Subway Socceroos as they embark on this journey toward World Cup 2026.
