The Subway Socceroos will play their first matches on home soil since their record-breaking performance at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, with two exciting international friendlies against Ecuador in Sydney and Melbourne.
The Aussies enjoyed their most successful FIFA World Cup™ campaign to date, registering two wins, two clean sheets and scored in all four of their matches before falling 2-1 to eventual champions Argentina in the Round of 16.
Fans will get the chance to watch their heroes and celebrate their homecoming after capturing the hearts' of the nation.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the Subway Socceroos' two March clashes with Ecuador.
How to watch
The matches against Ecuador will be broadcast live and free on Australia's 'Home of Football,' Network Ten.
The first match at CommBank Stadium in Sydney will be shown live on 10 in Sydney and Melbourne, while live on 10 Bold in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
The friendly will also be streamed via both 10 Play and Paramount+.
Australia's second clash against La Tri at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium will be broadcast live on 10 Bold and streamed live via 10 Play and Paramount+.
International fans, stay tuned for more information around how you can watch the game.
How to buy tickets
Tickets for Australia's at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Friday, 24 March (8.00pm AEDT kick-off) and Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Tuesday, 28 March (7.30pm AEDT kick-off), are ON SALE NOW!
Follow the links below to purchase yours!
- MATCH ONE (March 24, Sydney) - CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE
- MATCH TWO (March 28, Melbourne) - CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE
- Sydney and Melbourne to host celebration matches against Ecuador
- Tickets start at $10 for Juniors, $15 for Concessions and $20 for Adults
The locations
The Subway Socceroos return to Western Sydney's CommBank Stadium for the first time since November 2021 - their only previous visit to the venue which saw a 0-0 stalemate against Saudi Arabia.
Four days later, Arnold's side travel to Melbourne for its second game against La Tri at Marvel Stadium.
Australia has played a total of seven matches at Docklands and return to the stadium for the first time in nearly seven years. The Green and Gold's overall record is three wins, two draws and two defeats.
Our squad
Graham Arnold has named an exciting 26-player squad for the upcoming matches with Nestory Irankunda included as a train-on player.
Twenty players from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 squad have been selected, while there are four potential debutants (Joe Gauci, Jordan Bos, Aiden O'Neill and Alex Robertson) and two players in Connor Metcalfe and Brandon Borello returning.
Injuries meant Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren, Ajdin Hrustic and Martin Boyle were unavailable for selection.
Recently, the boss outlined his intentions for the upcoming camp at a press conference with the aim of these two matches to celebrate the team's success in Qatar while also begin to shift the focus to the new FIFA World Cup cycle later this year and next year's AFC Asian Cup (exact details to be confirmed).
"We've got a long list of players that we're already monitoring and scouting for obviously the next campaign," Arnold said.
"But for these two games, I'm looking to bring back the boys that went to the World Cup.
"There will be some players that aren't here, in terms of (Ajdin) Hrustic and even Mathew Leckie that has a hamstring injury at the moment. So he's in doubt, plus Martin Boyle of course (knee).
"So you know, if we're short of those type of players and I'll be looking to bring in some other players to fill those spots as we have a quick turnaround in the two games with the game on Friday night here in Sydney and the one on Tuesday down in Melbourne.
"So on that side of it, it'll be rewarding the World Cup players but at the same time, giving the fans a great opportunity to say thank you."
READ MORE: Talking Points: Graham Arnold's Australia vs Ecuador Press Conference announcement
SUBWAY SOCCEROOS SQUAD – WELCOME SERIES VS EQUADOR – MARCH 2023
|
Name |
Current Club, Country |
‘A’ Caps (Goals) |
Junior Club |
|
Nathaniel ATKINSON |
Heart of Midlothian FC, Scotland |
6 (0) |
Riverside Olympic FC / Football Tasmania |
|
Keanu BACCUS |
St Mirren FC, Scotland |
5 (0) |
Parklea FC / Football New South Wales |
|
Aziz BEHICH |
Dundee United FC, Scotland |
57 (2) |
Meadow Park SC / Football Victoria |
|
Brandon BORRELLO |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
4 (0) |
Modbury Jets SC / Football South Australia |
|
Jordan BOS |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
0 |
Hoppers Crossing SC / Football Victoria |
|
Jason CUMMINGS |
Central Coast Mariners FC, Australia |
2 (1) |
Lothian Thistle Hutchinson Vale FC (Scotland) |
|
Milos DEGENEK |
Columbus Crew, USA |
42 (1) |
Blacktown City FC / Football New South Wales |
|
Thomas DENG |
Albirex Niigata, Japan |
2 (0) |
Adelaide Blue Eagles / Football South Australia |
|
Cameron DEVLIN |
Heart of Midlothian FC, Scotland |
1 (0) |
Sutherland Sharks FC / Football New South Wales |
|
Mitchell DUKE |
Fagiano Okayama, Japan |
25 (9) |
Liverpool Rangers SC / Football New South Wales |
|
Joe GAUCI (Gk) |
Adelaide United FC, Australia |
0 |
Cumberland United FC / Football South Australia |
|
Craig GOODWIN |
Adelaide United FC, Australia |
14 (3) |
Munro Para City FC / Football South Australia |
|
Jackson IRVINE |
FC St. Pauli, Germany |
53 (7) |
Ringwood City SC / Football Victoria |
|
Garang KUOL |
Heart of Midlothian FC, Scotland |
3 (0) |
Goulburn Valley Suns / Football Victoria |
|
Awer MABIL |
AC Sparta Prague, Czechia |
31 (8) |
Saint Augustines FC / Football South Australia |
|
Riley MCGREE |
Middlesbrough FC, England |
15 (1) |
Gawler Eagles FC / Football South Australia |
|
Connor METCALFE |
FC St. Pauli, Germany |
5 (0) |
South Cardiff FC / Northern NSW Football |
|
Aaron MOOY |
Celtic FC, Scotland |
57 (7) |
Carlingford Redbacks FC / Football New South Wales |
|
Aiden O’NEILL |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
0 |
University of Queensland Football Club (Formerly Kenmore FC) / Football Queensland |
|
Andrew REDMAYNE (Gk) |
Sydney FC, Australia |
4 (0) |
Gosford City Dragons FC / Football New South Wales |
|
Alexander ROBERTSON |
Manchester City FC, England |
0 |
Pagewood Botany FC / Football New South Wales |
|
Kye ROWLES |
Heart of Midlothian FC, Scotland |
7 (0) |
Palm Beach SC / Football Queensland |
|
Mathew RYAN (Gk) (Cpt) |
AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands |
79 (0) |
Blacktown City FC / Football New South Wales |
|
Harry SOUTTAR |
Leicester City FC, England |
14 (6) |
Brechin City Boys Club (Scotland) |
|
Marco TILIO |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
5 (0) |
APIA Leichhardt FC & Sydney Olympic FC / Football New South Wales |
|
Bailey WRIGHT |
Rotherham United FC, England |
28 (2) |
Langwarrin SC / Football Victoria |
|
Train-On Player Nestory IRANKUNDA |
Adelaide United FC, Australia |
0 |
Adelaide Croatia Raiders SC / Football South Australia |
Our history vs Ecuador
The two countries have encountered on just the solitary occasion at the senior men's level which happened on March 5, 2014 which ended in a 4-3 defeat.
It was played on neutral territory in London, with Millwall's 'The Den' a fitting setting for Tim Cahill to break the Socceroos' all-time goalscoring record, overtaking Damian Mori with his 30th international goal in the eighth minute.
Australia would race to a three-goal lead just past the half hour mark, but Ecuador responded after half-time with four goals to seal a dramatic turnaround.
READ MORE: Looking back: Our last meeting with Ecuador
Our schedule
International Friendlies
Match Day One
Date: Friday, 24 March 2023
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Time: 8.00pm AEDT
Tickets: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=SOCECU23
Broadcast: Live on 10 in Sydney and Melbourne, 10 Bold in Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth, and on 10 Play and Paramount+.
Match Day Two
Date: Tuesday, 28 March 2023
Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Time: 7:30pm AEDT
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/event/25005E53BFD52417
Broadcast: Live on 10 Bold, 10 Play and Paramount+