Tete Yengi scores on debut as CommBank Socceroos draw 1-1 with Switzerland

The CommBank Socceroos have drawn 1-1 with World No.19 Switzerland in the final match before the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

A heavily changed Socceroos side showed promising signs against a strong Switzerland outfit and the minutes provided to different players will likely prove invaluable ahead of the global finals. Tete Yengi scored Australia’s goal on international debut.

Head Coach Tony Popovic made seven changes to the starting eleven that took on Mexico last week. Patrick Beach came in between the sticks, and Nestory Irankunda, Paul Okon-Engstler, Kai Trewin and Aziz Behich returned to the side.

The two other additions, Cristian Volpato and Tete Yengi, became CommBank Socceroos #660 and #661 respectively after being named in the starting eleven for the very first time.

Harry Souttar wore the captain's armband for the match, the 66th player to do so in our history.

Australia looked to challenge Switzerland early on through a high press. Nestory Irankunda was particularly successful and the team earned themselves a corner early in proceedings as a result.

However, it was Switzerland who struck first. A testing through ball from Granit Xhaka found the run of Dan Ndoye. The striker made no mistake from close range to give Switzerland the lead.

Both sides had further chances in the half. Harry Souttar was not far away at the back post from a set piece, before Patrick Beach made a fantastic save deep in first-half stoppage time to keep the score at 1-0 at the break.

There were four changes for the Socceroos at half-time. Connor Metcalfe, Jason Geria, Cameron Burgess and Jacob Italiano were introduced, in place of Cristian Volpato, Alessandro Circati, Lucas Herrington and Aiden O’Neill respectively.

 

 

 

 

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Australia started the second half brightly. Irankunda rattled the crossbar after a high turnover, forcing a fantastic fingertip save from Swiss keeper Gregor Kobel in the process.

They found the breakthrough shortly after. A wonderful ball from Cameron Burgess found the run of Connor Metcalfe. He squared it to Tete Yengi who tucked it away from close range to score his first international goal on his debut.

Four more changes followed with 20 minutes or so remaining. Jackson Irvine, Mathew Leckie, Jordan Bos and Mohamed Toure entered the field of play, replacing Paul Okon-Engstler, Nestory Irankunda, Aziz Behich and the goalscorer Yengi.

The match was evenly poised in the final stages. While possession was dominated by Switzerland in the first half, things were much more even in the second, and both sides were creating chances.

The final two substitutions for Australia came in the 82nd minute, with Milos Degenek replacing Harry Souttar and Cameron Devlin replacing Kai Trewin. It was Devlin’s first appearance for the national team since June 2024.

Those rotations meant that every member of the Socceroos 26-player squad had taken the pitch over the course of the two friendlies against Mexico and Switzerland.

In the end, neither side could find the goal that would be decisive, and shook hands on an important hit out for both teams ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Match Summary

Australia: 1 (Yengi 56')
Switzerland: 1 (Ndoye 14')

Australia: 18. Patrick Beach (GK), 3. Alessandro Circati (6. Jason Geria 46'), 13. Aiden O’Neill (4. Jacob Italiano 46'), 15. Kai Trewin (14. Cameron Devlin 81'), 16. Aziz Behich (5. Jordan Bos 71'), 17. Nestory Irankunda (7. Mathew Leckie 71'), 19. Harry Souttar (2. Milos Degenek 82'), 20. Cristian Volpato (8. Connor Metcalfe 46'), 24. Paul Okon-Engstler (22. Jackson Irvine 71'), 25. Lucas Herrington (21. Cameron Burgess 46'), 26. Tete Yengi (9. Mohamed Toure 71')

Unused substitutes: 1. Mathew Ryan, 12. Paul Izzo, 10. Ajdin Hrustic, 11. Awer Mabil, 23. Nishan Velupillay

Yellow Cards: 26. Tete Yengi 33', 17. Nestory Irankunda 68'

Switzerland: 1. Gregor Kobel, 3. Silvan Widmer (6. Denis Zakaria 71'), 4. Nico Elvedi (24. Aurele Amenda 71'), 5. Manuel Akanji (18. Eray Comert 79'), 8. Remo Freuler (19. Noah Okafor 79'), 9. Johan Manzambi (14. Ardon Jashari 71'), 10. Granit Xhaka (16. Christian Fassnacht 79'), 11. Dan Ndoye (15. Djibril Sow 46'), 13. Ricardo Rodriguez (2. Miro Muheim 71'), 20. Michel Aebischer (22. Fabien Rieder 46'), 23. Zeki Amdouni (26. Cedric Itten 71')

Unused substitutes: 21. Marvin Keller, 12. Yvon Mvogo, 25. Luca Jaquez

Yellow Cards: 5. Manuel Akanji 32', 10. Granit Xhaka 45+2', 19. Noah Okafor 82'

FIFA World Cup Canada, Mexico, United States 2026™ - Australia's Group D Matches