Socceroos take on Mexico at the Rose Bowl 🇲🇽🌹🏟️ | CommB
Jordan Bos Compilation vs Mexico | Highlights and Skill
Mexico vs Australia | Extended Highlights | Internation
Mohamed Toure reflects on Mexico defeat, looks ahead to
Aziz Behich: We bounced back well in the second-half |
Tony Popovic Post-Match Press Conference | Mexico vs Au
Mexico vs Australia | Extended Highlights | Internation
Harry Souttar: It was an honour to be back | Interview
Mexico vs Australia | Quick Highlights | International
Tony Popovic & Harry Souttar | Pre-Match Press Conferen
Awer Mabil discusses potential FIFA World Cup™ squad se
Alessandro Circati on Parma Season, Mexico Match & FIFA
Nishan Velupillay: Excited to play Mexico before FIFA W
Martin Boyle on World Cup Dream, Family & Mexico at the
Connor Metcalfe: Everyone wants to make the final squa
Paul Izzo on competition for spots, World Cup selection
Jackson Irvine on #Socceroos return, St Pauli, and frie
CommBank Socceroos fall to 1-0 defeat to Mexico in Pasadena
The CommBank Socceroos have been defeated 1-0 in the penultimate friendly match before the FIFA World Cup 2026™ at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California.
A goal to Mexico off the back of a set piece in the first half was the difference between the two sides.
The starting eleven featured a number of long-awaited returns. Mathew Leckie appeared for the first time since June 2024, while Harry Souttar started in his first appearance since November 2024.
Young forward Mohamed Toure and the experienced Jackson Irvine also returned to the starting eleven in the final hit out before the squad is selected for the global finals.
Souttar made his presence felt immediately, making a fantastic block within a minute of kick-off after an early Mexico set piece.
The World Cup hosts had much of the early running. Australia were forced onto the back foot, spending much of the first half defending against a Mexican side who had the majority of possession.
The pressure eventually told. Johan Vásquez got on the end of a header at the near post after a corner. It made its way in off the inside of the far post, beyond a diving Maty Ryan.
Australia almost equalised before half-time. A mistake at the back gave Toure a fantastic look a goal. It didn’t quite bounce for him, however, and the in-form striker dragged his shot wide of the post.
The second half started brightly for the Socceroos. A set piece created opportunity, a shot from distance from Aiden O’Neill having to be palmed away by a good save from the goalkeeper.
Twenty minutes into the half, Australia were the only team to have touches in the opposition box, exemplifying the shift in the match after the break.
Popovic turned to the bench in the 66th minute. Paul Okon-Engstler, Ajdin Hrustic, Nishan Velupillay and Kai Trewin were introduced as the Socceroos chased the equaliser.
The substitutes came close to making an immediate impact. Trewin created a fantastic opportunity in front of goal, slicing open Mexico’s defence with a pass that found Hrustic. The shot from inside the box, however, was blocked before it could challenge the goalkeeper.
Mexico had the ball in the back of the net after as set piece with 15 minutes of regulation time to go, but had taken the free kick too quickly. The goal did not stand.
Two more changes took place after the second drinks break. Nestory Irankunda and Aziz Behich were introduced in place of Mo Toure and Jordy Bos respectively.
The final two changes took place in the final minute of regulation time, with Awer Mabil and Cameron Burgess replacing Jackson Irvine and Lucas Herrington.
While a disappointing result, it was a vital learning experience against the World No.15 and there will be plenty to take from what was a strong second-half showing.
Match Summary
Mexico: 1 (Vasquez 28’)
Australia: 0
Mexico: 1. Raul Rangel (13. Guillermo Ochoa 46’), 2. Jorge Sanchez (15. Israel Reyes 46’), 4. Edson Alvarez (3. Cesar Montes 60’), 5. Johan Vasquez (28. Alejandro Gomez 73’), 7. Luis Romo (18. Obed Vargas 73’), 8. Alvaro Fidalgo (19. Gilberto Mora 60’), 10. Alexis Vega (16. Julian Quinones 60’), 17. Orbelin Pineda (21. Cesar Huerta 46’), 20. Mateo Chavez (23. Jesus Gallardo 60’), 22. Guillermo Martinez (11. Santiago Gimenez 46’), 24. Luis Chavez (6. Erik Lira 60’)
Unused substitutes: 12. Carlos Acevedo (GK), 9. Raul Jiminez, 14. Armando Gonzalez, 26. Brian Gutierrez, 27. Kevin Castaneda
Yellow Cards: 21. Cesar Huerta 52’
Australia: 1. Mathew Ryan, 3. Alessandro Circati, 5. Jordan Bos (16. Aziz Behich 79’), 7. Mathew Leckie (10. Ajdin Hrustic 66’), 8. Connor Metcalfe (34. Nishan Velupillay 66’), 9. Mohamed Toure (11. Nestory Irankunda 79’), 13. Aiden O’Neill (20. Paul Okon-Engstler), 19. Harry Souttar, 22. Jackson Irvine (38. Awer Mabil 90’), 23. Jacob Italiano (36. Kai Trewin 66’), 26. Lucas Herrington (21. Cameron Burgess 90’)
Unused substitutes: 12. Paul Izzo (GK), 28. Patrick Beach (GK), 2. Milos Degenek, 4. Kye Rowles, 6. Martin Boyle, 17. Cameron Devlin, 25. Jason Geria
Match Preview: Mexico vs CommBank Socceroos | International Friendly
The CommBank Socceroos will take on Mexico in their penultimate friendly before the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
- READ MORE: Our history vs Mexico
It is a last chance for players to impress Head Coach Tony Popovic as he and his coaching staff look to select the final 26-player squad by 1 June ahead of the tournament. It is also an opportunity for the team to solidify their football principles before the global finals.
The game will be held at the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California and first meeting between the two nations since a 2-2 friendly draw in Arlington, Texas in September 2023.
The Squad
There are 30 players who are currently in Sarasota, Florida as part of the train-on squad ahead of the global finals. Popovic and the CommBank Socceroos coaching staff are using the Sarasota camp to assess a wider pool of players in the train-on squad before finalising their selection.
Recent additions to the squad include uncapped Tete Yengi and Cristian Volpato, as well as youngsters Lucas Herrington and Paul Okon-Engstler.
Captain Mat Ryan and key defender Alessandro Circati have also joined the squad.
"We took the difficult route when we qualified in June to try and expand the group as big as we could," Popovic said earlier this month.
"That was a conscious decision we made with every friendly game to expose players, to test players, not wait until after the World Cup. That's made the group larger, which is a great headache for us to have. It won't be pleasant when you've got to tell players that they haven't made the squad, but it's a wonderful headache, because we see that the pool is getting bigger.
"When you look at these young boys like Lucas Herrington coming through, whether it's now or in the future, that should be exciting."
Popovic confirmed that every member of the 30-player squad will be fit and ready to play against Mexico.
Last Window
The CommBank Socceroos had a positive FIFA Series 2026™, a late goal to Jordy Bos helping them to a 1-0 victory over Cameroon before sweeping aside Curacao 5-1.
"We know what we want to see in the process and preparation we are doing," Popovic said after those games in March.
"Winning is always great, and winning gives more confidence and more belief, but overall we wanted to see certain things on the park, expose some players, try some new players.
"We are very happy with the progress, and the wins are fantastic. Everyone should go back to their clubs confident... and have as many players available and healthy for selection come June 1."
The Opponent
Co-hosts Mexico sense a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
Ranked No.15 in the world, Mexico have consistently reached the Round of 16 at the global finals in recent years, only failing to do so in 2022. There are well-founded hopes that, buoyed by a home crowd, they could go deep in the 2026 edition of the tournament.
Coach Javier Aguirre is expected to play a high-intensity, high-pressing style that suits the players at his disposal. The former Mexican international has been at the helm since 2024 in what is his third stint as boss, and has been tasked with maintaining competitive tension within the squad without the difficulties of a long qualifying campaign.
Fulham striker Raúl Jiménez is their highest profile player. The 35-year-old will not only be a vital source of goals for Mexico, he will also be an experienced head as they navigate the pressure of expectation ahead of the World Cup.
23-year-old Armando González is another player to watch. The young striker has reportedly been watched by some of the biggest clubs in European football after bursting onto the scene in Liga MX this season. He will be hoping for a breakout World Cup campaign.
FIFA World Rankings
Australia: 27
Mexico: 15
Head-to-head
Played: 6
Wins: 2
Draws: 3
Losses: 1
Form Guide
Australia form guide: W-W-L-L-L
Mexico form guide: W-D-D-W-W
What They Said
Tony Popovic
Playing the host a nation, Mexico, 70,000 plus people... It will really feel like we're here for the World Cup now. We've had players in at various times in the last three weeks. We're working on our game, we're delighted we have such a top opponent to showcase ourselves tomorrow and see how we have progressed so far, and what room we still have left to improve before we play Turkey. Players are fit, so everyone that's here is fit, and I look forward to seeing what the boys can do tomorrow.
We chose a path that we felt will help us in terms of having a training camp early, and then deciding late in terms of the 26 players that will go towards the World Cup. That's something that we decided a long time ago in our planning, we're comfortable with that. It's never nice for a coach in terms of what's coming up in telling some players that they won't be here, but that's when we started the journey and the process.
We knew that we would come to this point, and the more players that we could bring into our squad, into our environment, we believe that we can make the squad better. Now we also have another player that's coming in very late that also gives us an opportunity to improve the squad and make it stronger, so I'm happy with the process we have. I'm really looking forward to the game tomorrow. I can't wait for the match, and then we need to make some decisions, and then we go to our base camp.
Harry Souttar
It's just a really exciting time. I'm really looking forward to the game tomorrow, and it just makes it feel a little bit more real, a little bit more closer to the squad getting announced, and these two friendly games coming up against two really tough opponents. I think it's just one that we're all looking forward to.
Alessandro Circati
It's great to hear there's a lot of people [over 70,000 tickets sold at the Rose Bowl]. It's always good fun. I think we played against Mexico maybe three years back in Texas, and there was like 95 to 100,000 people there. The more people the better, and that stadium I know is a bit iconic, so even better to play in another iconic stadium.
Match Details
Mexico vs Australia
Date: Saturday, 30 May 2026
Venue: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California
Kick-off: 7:00pm local / 12:00pm AEST (Sunday, 31 May)
Tickets: : www.SomosLocales.com
Broadcast: Paramount+
