Jacob Italiano presented his CommBank Socceroos cap | C
Tony Popovic | Post-Match Press Conference | Canada v C
Paul Izzo | Post-Match Interview | Canada v CommBank So
Alessandro Circati | Post-Match Interview | Canada v Co
Canada v Australia | Extended Highlights | 2025 Interna
Mo Toure: Nestor's goal shows the team's hunger | Inter
Canada v Australia | Quick Highlights | 2025 Internatio
GOAL: Nestory Irankunda keeps up his scoring ways in Ca
Checking in with Alessandro Circati ahead of Canada cla
Tony Popovic | Pre-Match Press Conference | Canada v Co
Aiden O'Neill | Pre-Match Press Conference | Canada v C
Daniel Arzani on the importance of these matches for Wo
Kye Rowles: I'll be ready for whatever role | Press Con
Jacob Italiano: It would be a dream to make my debut |
Mitch Duke excited to be back and praises the young tal
Jordy Bos: I'm really enjoying my football | Press Conf
Tony Popovic on balancing youth vs experience, excited
Maty Ryan: I've never taken my position for granted | P
Cam Burgess: Everyone's excited to be here | Press Conf
Max Balard settling into Canada camp and building on st
Tony Popovic talks CommBank Socceroos squad selection f
WATCH: Socceroos battle to impressive 1-0 win in Canada
The Commbank Socceroos produced a hard-fought display to down Canada 1-0 on Saturday morning (AEDT).
Canada dominated possession for most of the game, but Australia remained resolute and kept their opponents scoreless, courtesy of a goalkeeping masterclass from Paul Izzo.
Nestory Irankunda snatched the winning goal in the second half to extend Australia’s unbeaten run to eleven matches under Tony Popovic and secure a seventh straight win.
The hosts made a purposeful start to the match, holding possession high up and getting into the Aussies’ box.
Canada conjured up a shooting chance 12 minutes in as Socceroos captain Alessandro Circati’s clearance came out to Nathan Saliba, whose dipping volley fell wide of the left post.
Australia were ready to pounce on the counter with Irankunda, Connor Metcalfe, and Mohamed Toure looking to combine up front.
In the 17th minute, the side won a free-kick on the right, where Metcalfe whipped a vicious in-swinging effort that Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau had to punch away.
Canada continued to probe, and in the 24th minute, Saliba tried his luck again, this time from further out, but the ball sailed over.
Over the next 10 minutes, Izzo was called into action twice to deny promising moves for the home side.
In the 42nd minute, the constant threat of Tajon Buchanan latched onto a ball into the right of the box and forced Izzo into a low save.
Australia survived Canada’s first-half surge to head into half-time level.
The Socceroos fought back at the start of the second half, as the team got into some promising positions.
The early momentum saw their best chance so far just before the hour mark. Irankunda broke down the left and found Toure in a central position, but the forward volleyed over.
Canada took the ball down the other end soon after through Ismael Kone, who blasted a shot from outside the box that Izzo caught.
Australia created an even better opportunity 62 minutes in. The recently introduced Patrick Yazbek pulled off a neat backheel and picked out Circati in a fantastic position in the box, but the defender skied his effort.
In the 70th minute, Canada came close to opening the scoring as the ball fell to Promise David centrally, but he could only fire straight at Izzo.
Moments later, the Socceroos stunned their opponents to take the lead. Mohamed Toure set off on a determined run down the right and crossed the ball in, where Irankunda pounced on Canada defender Niko Sigur to slide an effort past Crepeau.
Australia started to pick up more space in attack as Canada pushed numbers forward to find a route back into the match, with flash points increasing.
However, Canada rebuilt their pressure and had a flurry of opportunities to equalise.
In the final minute of regular time, Liam Miller swung in a right-wing cross for Jacob Shaffleburg, but Izzo produced a superb point-blank save.
Deep into stoppage time, Promise David made room for a shot in the right of the box that Izzo expertly repelled once more.
With only seconds remaining, Tani Oluwaseyi rose highest to a cross and saw the ball bounce onto the right post.
The final whistle blew after an exhilarating finish in Montreal as Australia secured their seventh victory in a row.
Match Summary
Canada 0
Commbank Socceroos 1 (Nestory Irankunda 71’)
Saturday 11 October 2025
Stade Saputo, Montreal
Canada: 16. Maxime Crepeau, 22. Richie Laryea, 13. Derek Cornelius (15. Luc de Fougerolles 69’), 5. Joel Waterman, 23. Niko Sigur (12. Tani Oluwaseyi 78’), 19. Nathan Saliba (6. Mathieu Choiniere 69’), 8. Ismael Kone, 20. Ali Ahmed (14. Jacob Shaffelburg 63’), 17. Tajon Buchanan (11. Liam Miller 77’), 10. Jonathan David, 9. Cyle Larin (24. Promise David 63’)
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Dayne St Clair, 18. Luka Gavran, 3. Zorhan Bassong, 4. Kamal Miller, 7. Stephen Eustaquio, 21. Jonathan Osorio, 25. Jayden Nelson
Yellow Cards: Derek Cornelius 41’, Richie Laryea 90+1’, Joel Waterman 90+3’
Red Cards: Nil
Commbank Socceroos: 12. Paul Izzo, 20. Jacob Italiano (3. Lewis Miller 57’), 23. Alessandro Circati, 2. Milos Degenek, 21. Cam Burgess, 4. Kye Rowles (5. Jordy Bos 57’), Aiden O’Neill, 16. Max Balard (19. Patrick Yazbek 57’), 8. Connor Metcalfe (6. Martin Boyle 83’), 14. Nestory Irankunda (11. Daniel Arzani 90+3’), 9. Mohamed Toure (15. Mitch Duke 73’)
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Maty Ryan, 10. Ajdin Hrustic, 17. Cameron Devlin, 18. Joe Gauci, 22. Jason Geria, 25. Hayden Matthews
Yellow Cards: Mohamed Toure 41’, Aiden O’Neill 90+1’, Nestory Irankunda 90+2’
Red Cards: Nil
Match Preview: Canada v CommBank Socceroos | International Friendly
The CommBank Socceroos travel to Saputo Stadium in Montreal to take on Canada in the first international friendly of the October window.
Australia will be hoping that the experience in Canada - one of the host nations of the FIFA World Cup 26™ - will hold them in good stead ahead of the global finals.
It is set to be an incredibly even contest as the Socceroos look to gain a better understanding of the conditions in North America ,while Canada also give their fans a taste of what to expect next year.
The Squad
Head Coach Tony Popovic made eight changes to the squad that retained the Soccer Ashes in the previous international window.
It sees a reintroduction of experience, including the likes of Maty Ryan, Mitchell Duke and Jason Geria. There are also several players such as Alex Robertson, Nick D'Agostino and Cameron Devlin who are returning to the squad for the first time in a number of years after consistently impressing at club level.
Jacob Italiano will have the chance to make his debut, earning his first senior call-up after an injury to Fran Karacic forced a late change. Italiano is a 24-year-old right back currently playing club football in Austria.
There was a slight injury concern over Mo Toure, who pulled up injured in his final club game before the international break, but Popovic indicated earlier in the week that the medical staff expect him to be available for the game against Canada.
"We are fortunate, and we are grateful that we have this opportunity to try and expose these players, these young boys, to our environment," Popovic said.
"We try to put them under pressure, place expectations on them, and see how they are right now. Then, if in 20 or 30 games' time, there is a selection headache, that would be great."
Last Window
The CommBank Socceroos took on New Zealand in the Soccer Ashes last time out, running out 1-0 and 3-1 victors.
Debutant Max Balard - who has retained his place in the squad for this window - scored the winner in the first game in Canberra. In the return leg in New Zealand, Mo Toure scored a brace as he and Nestory Irankunda were incredibly impressive up front.
The Opponent
Canada are preparing for the biggest tournament of their lives as joint hosts of the World Cup next year. Full focus for Head Coach Jesse Marsch is bedding in the side that is likely to start in June, and the tactical system that he hopes will lift them to glory at the global finals.
Les Rouges are a team littered with talent across the park. They are led by striker Jonathan David, who plies his trade at Juventus, while Marseille's Ismael Kone and Villareal's Tajon Buchanan are also likely to feature. Buchanan recently scored his first professional hat-trick.
They will have to contend with several injuries, however. Defender Moise Bombito suffered a broken tibia, which will see him ruled out for four to five months, while Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies and Celtic's Alistair Johnston are also unavailable.
The injuries mean that their depth players may take a greater role against Australia.
“The team is really clear as to what kind of football we play, and the part that is painfully clear now is that we’re really trying to build the overall leadership and personality of the group,” Canada Head Coach Jesse Marsch said during the week.
“It’s not only encouraged but vital that they insert themselves into every day, that they feel comfortable being they push each other, and that we can have open and honest conversations, and that on the pitch, they’re ready to take things over.”
FIFA World Rankings
Australia: 25
Canada: 26
Insights
- The Socceroos are now eleven games undefeated, and are yet to taste defeat under Head Coach Tony Popovic.
- Canada have only conceded twice in their last seven games; however, in that time, they have lost two penalty shootouts - against Ivory Coast in an International Friendly and Guatemala in the Gold Cup.
- Maty Ryan (100) is the most experienced Socceroo in the squad; the player with the next most amount of caps is Milos Degenek (51).
- Patrick Yazbek and Canada's Jacob Shaffelburg are teammates in MLS for Nashville SC, recently lifting the U.S Open Cup.
Australia form guide: W-W-W-W-W
Canada form guide: W-W-D-W-D
What They Said
Tony Popovic
It’s a wonderful opportunity. I'm grateful that we've got these types of games, playing two [FIFA World Cup 26™] host nations, playing in these conditions. Obviously, we have to play in altitude as well in the States, which is a different challenge, which we may be faced with at the World Cup. They’re quality opposition, a lot of international experience, players that are playing regularly at a very high level. So it's a fantastic test, fantastic challenge, but also a great opportunity for us to play these teams and show what we can do.
Max Balard
For them, it's practice for the World Cup, and obviously for us too. It's also a chance to improve our position in the world rankings, to get a better pot. I just want to keep building on it. I'm eager to show what I can do, eager to play more games and get more caps and hopefully do well for the national team.
Maty Ryan
It’s a taste of what we’re going to be experiencing in the World Cup, and it’s important we can try and maximise every experience to try and gain an advantage over the opposition we’re going to be facing. We want to continue to represent our country in the best way, and we want to continue this winning momentum that we have.
On an individual level, it’s an opportunity for people to be staking their claim to be here in nine months when the World Cup kicks off, so there’s definitely always plenty to play for. There’s no such thing as a friendly game.
Jordy Bos
Both opponents are very good. Every game is always going to be hard, especially against Canada and the USA. I think we just have to stick to the game plan that the coach is laying out for us and give our all. It should be all good, but obviously a bit of a challenging opposition - we’ll see how it goes.
Cam Burgess
I think the main thing is to come into camp and stick to the principles as a team, so it doesn’t change too much who’s playing. Obviously, it’s great to play alongside those guys that I’ve played with the last few games, they’re great players, which always helps.
But other guys are champing at the bit to play as well, so there’s competition for places. There’s no guarantee you’re going to be starting, and every time you get the chance to play, it’s a real honour, and something none of us take for granted.
MATCH DETAILS
Canada v CommBank Socceroos
Friday, 10 October
Stade Saputo, Montreal
Kick-off: 7.30pm local / 10.30am AEDT (Saturday, 11 October)
Broadcast: Paramount+
