Match Preview: Socceroos v Jordan
With the AFC and intercontinental FIFA World Cup™ play-offs just around the corner, the Socceroos face Jordan in a friendly in Doha on Wednesday (Thursday, 4am AEST).
The upcoming match against Jordan will be held in Doha – the same city as the AFC and intercontinental FIFA World Cup™ play-offs – and will be played just six days ahead of the AFC play-off against UAE.
Looking to replicate the UAE match as much as possible, the Jordan fixture will see the Socceroos take on Western Asian opposition, in the same climate, city, and pitch conditions that they need to overcome a week later.
While this will be the first time Australia and Jordan have faced-off in a non-competitive fixture, the close head-to-head results between these two teams will mean Jordan are the perfect opposition for the Socceroos ahead of their clash against the UAE.
Since joining the Asian Football Confederation in 2006, Australia has faced Jordan on seven occasions in a variety of Asian Cup Finals, Asian Cup Qualification, and World Cup Qualification matches.
The Socceroos have a fairly even record against the Jordan - winning four times and losing three times in the seven matches dating back to their first meeting in September 2012.
These two nations last faced off in June 2021 when the Socceroos claimed a late 1-0 win courtesy of a Harry Souttar header with 15 minutes to go. In fact, Australia have won their last two men’s internationals against Jordan each by a score of 1-0.
The Socceroos enter the match having struggled for form over the past six months, winning just one of seven matches. Their last result was a 1-0 loss to Saudi Arabia as the third stage of Asian World Cup qualifying came to a disappointing end for Graham Arnold's men.
On the other hand, Jordan have won seven of their last 10 men’s internationals including a 3-1 win over New Zealand in their
only game thus far in 2022.
While form is against the Socceroos, Australia has won their last two games in the Middle East for an overall record of four wins, three losses with 12 goals scored and six goals conceded.
The match against Jordan will be extra special for Aziz Behich, who is set to make his 50th appearance in men’s internationals for the Socceroos.
Elsewhere in the Middle East, the UAE played out a 1-1 draw with Gambia as they also continue their preparations for the crucial AFC FIFA World Cup™ play-off.
How to watch
Yet again the friendly against Jordan will be broadcast live and free on Australia's 'Home of Football,' Network Ten.
Each of Australia’s matches over the coming fortnight will be broadcast exclusively live and free across the nation on Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+.
For international viewers in countries without a broadcast partner, the match will be live streamed on the My Football YouTube channel.
Network 10 will also have a crew covering the Socceroos in the Middle East, ensuring that supporters are able to stay in touch with the team’s campaign via regular features on 10 News and other programming.
To watch all of the latest involving Socceroos and the rest of Asian Qualifying, Australian football fans can visit https://10play.com.au/socceroos.
International Friendly
Australia v Jordan
Date: Wednesday, 1 June 2022
Venue: Al Janoub Stadium
Kick-off: 9pm local; 4am AEST (Thursday, 2 June 2022)
Broadcast: Live and free in Australia via Network 10 and simulcast on 10 Play and Paramount+. International viewers in countries without a broadcast partner, the match will be live streamed on the My Football YouTube channel.
World Ranking
Australia: 35
Jordan: 91
What they said
Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold
"We don't want to send them into a four-week window of not having any match minutes at all so the starting XI against Jordan will be based around players that haven't played for probably three weeks or more. They need minutes in their legs."
Socceroos midfielder Ajdin Hrustic
“It (the friendly) is probably one of the biggest plus points that we've got. We've got time to prepare and we've got a lot of training sessions ahead where we can work on little details which we never did before.
"The vibe is good and the energy is good. I’ve seen all the players and the staff. They are all excited because they've got a bit more time to prepare. Normally, we come in, train once or twice and then play a big game. Now we have time to step up and we have time to do everything that we need to do to prepare ourselves for the big games coming up.”
What's next for the Socceroos?
Australia must defeat UAE at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium – a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ venue – on June 7 (local time) to set up a winner-takes-all match-up against Peru in one of FIFA’s two intercontinental play-offs on June 13 (local time) on the same pitch.
The victor of UAE/Australia v Peru will secure a place in Group D featuring France, Denmark, and Tunisia at this year’s FIFA World Cup which will be held between November 21 and December 18.