The CommBank Socceroos will tackle Curacao in their final match on home soil before the FIFA World Cup 2026™ at AAMI Park on Tuesday, 31 March at 8.10pm AEDT.
Australia return to the stadium for the first time since November 2023 for the FIFA Series, in what serves as important preparation for Tony Popovic and his coaching staff ahead of the major tournament in June.
In five matches at the venue - all competitive - Australia boasts an impeccable record, with five wins and outscoring their opponents 21 to four in the process.
2012 - 4-2 win vs Saudi Arabia - FIFA World Cup Qualifier
February 2012 was the first time the CommBank 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 Qualifier
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 Qualifier
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.
2023 - 7-0 win - FIFA World Cup Qualifier
Australia faced Bangladesh in the Second Round of FIFA World Cup qualification for the 2026 edition at AAMI Park in Melbourne. The Aussies would go on to record their biggest ever win over Bangladesh, prevailing with a convincing 7-0 trouncing. Harry Souttar nodded the hosts into an early lead with a towering header before Brandon Borrello finished of some slick play with an open-goal tap-in.
Mitch Duke then scored a quick-fire double before half-time, first a well-taken header before reacting swiftest on the rebound after Borrello's shot ricocheted off the post. Melbourne local Jamie Maclaren then bagged a second-half hat-trick which included finishing off crosses from Jordan Bos and Lewis Miller to seal a comfortable victory.
Match Details
Australia vs Curaçao
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Date: Tuesday 31 March 2026
Kick-off: Australia vs Curaçao (8.10pm), China PR vs Cameroon (5.00pm)
Broadcast: Network 10 and Paramount+
Tickets: Buy tickets here