The Subway Socceroos will take on either the winner of Bangladesh or the Maldives to officially kick start their FIFA World Cup 2026™ qualifying campaign at AAMI Park on Thursday, 16th November (8.00pm AEDT).
Australia return to the stadium for the first time since January 2022 and as a result, we decided to look back at our previous fixtures at AAMI Park ahead of the mid-November qualifier.
In four matches at the venue - all being competitive - Australia boasts an impeccable record, outscoring their opponents 14 to 4 in the process.
2012 - 4-2 win vs Saudi Arabia - FIFA World Cup Qualification
February 2012 was the first time the Subway Socceroos got to play at the recently constructed AAMI Park. Opened in 2010, the stadium hosted a third round FIFA World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia. Having already guaranteed top spot of the group, little was riding on the match which could explain the Aussies' slow start. An accurate Salem Al-Dawsari strike fired the visitors into the lead on 19 minutes before Alex Brosque restored parity with a tidy finish of his own. Nasser Al-Shamrani then gave his side the lead again on the stroke of half-time before the Aussies scored three goals in four minutes. Brosque turned provider for Harry Kewell, before completing his brace with a glancing header and Brett Emerton made it 4-2 with a sliding finish to cap off an entertaining clash.
2015 - 4-1 win vs Kuwait - AFC Asian Cup
AAMI Park was the setting for Australia's opening group game of the AFC Asian Cup 2015. But the Socceroos' quest to start on the front foot did not initially go to plan. The Green and Gold fell behind inside eight minutes from a corner but soon recovered through a close-range finish from Tim Cahill. After assisting Cahill, Massimo Luongo headed Australia into the lead just prior to the interval and Mile Jedinak doubled the host nation's advantage from the penalty spot. James Troisi then iced the victory in stoppage time, rifling home at the near post after Mathew Leckie's attempted pass ricocheted kindly to the midfielder. It was a positive start and laid the foundations of the success to follow later that month - crowned Champions of Asia for the maiden time.
2017 - 2-1 win vs Thailand - FIFA World Cup Qualification
Heading into its final third round qualifying group match against Thailand, Australia needed a dominant result and or hope Saudi Arabia drop points against Japan to directly qualify for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™ . But despite a barrage of attacking forays, the Aussies could only muster a 2-1 win against Thailand. Aaron Mooy's sensational cross picked out the head of Tomi Juric to finally break the deadlock on 69 minutes. But the visitors were not going down without a fight and equalised via a stunning finish off the crossbar from Pokklaw Anan. In the 86th minute though, Mathew Leckie kept the dream alive after controlling a loose ball from a corner and thumping home his strike. Ultimately, though it was in vain as Australia had to qualify via the dreaded two-legged home and away ties. First, through the fourth round in Asia against Syria and then subsequently an Intercontinental Play-off against Honduras.
2022 - 4-0 win vs Vietnam - FIFA World Cup Qualification
Australia began 2022 with a convincing 4-0 victory against Vietnam in its round 3 Group B qualifier on the road to Qatar. Jamie Maclaren started the scoring on the half hour mark and Tom Rogic made it two to the good with a composed dinked finish over the onrushing goalkeeper in first-half added time. Following the re-start, Craig Goodwin and Riley McGree would score their first senior goals for their country with splendid efforts. Mat Ryan sent a long ball over the top which enabled the winger to delicately chip his effort beyond the gloveman. Goodwin then squared a pass to McGree who still had a lot to do, with the dynamic midfielder shifting the ball onto his weaker right foot and arrowed his attempt into the bottom corner from the edge of the 18-yard box.
Subway Socceroos v Bangladesh/Maldives
Date: Thursday, 16 November 2023
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Time: 8.00pm AEDT
Ticket Prices: Start from $20 Child, $25 Concession, $35 Adult, $90 Family
Football Account Pre-Sale: 12.00pm AEST on Friday, 22 September 2023
General Public On-Sale: 3.00pm on Monday, 25 September 2023 via Ticketek
Broadcast: Network 10 and Paramount+
