Australia’s CommBank Young Socceroos will travel to China for two matches against the Chinese U20 national team as part of the Australia-China Friendship Series.
The tour is supported by the Australian Government through the National Foundation of Australia–China Relations (NFACR) and forms part of a broader program of football engagement aimed at strengthening sporting, cultural and people-to-people links between Australia and China.
The Australia-China Friendship Series represents the third major football engagement between Australia and China in March 2026, with the AFC Women’s Asian Cup and the FIFA Series, both hosted by Australia, creating an unprecedented month of football diplomacy and underlining the game’s growing role as a platform for bilateral engagement and international cooperation.
The two matches will be played on Saturday 28 March and Tuesday 31 March 2026 at Yiwu Meihu Sports Center Stadium in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, providing the Young Socceroos with high-quality international competition in a key football market and host region.
The series will also serve as a central preparation pillar of Australia’s defence of the AFC U20 Asian Cup, which will also be held in Zhejiang Province in March 2027.
Quotes attributable to Football Australia Interim Chief Executive Officer, Heather Garriock:
“The Australia-China Friendship Series is a great opportunity for Football Australia to engage with China and strengthen our relationship both on and off the pitch.
“The two-match series will be played in Zhejiang Province which will be one year out from Australia’s defence of the AFC U20 Asian Cup in the same region. This will give players and staff valuable exposure to local conditions, venues and football environments ahead of the continental championship.
“We would like to thank the Australian Government, through the National Foundation of Australia–China Relations (NFACR), who has made this tour possible and supports our broader football engagement aimed at strengthening sporting and cultural links between Australia and China. We also thank the Chinese Football Association for their ongoing partnership.”
Quotes attributable to Gary Cowan, CEO of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations:
“The Foundation is pleased to support Football Australia and the Australian Men’s U20 Tour to China in 2026 through the Australia-China Friendship Series grant.
“This comes hot on the heels of China’s Steel Roses taking part in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia enhancing people-to-people links and showcasing Australian sporting excellence.
“Football is one of the areas in which Australia’s links with China - in friendship and competition - are growing. This is a great thing.”
Further details, including squad selection and broadcast information, will be confirmed in the lead-up to the matches.