The Subway Socceroos will be in Canberra on 5 September to play for the Anzac Soccer Ashes trophy. Photo: Football Australia.
The Subway Socceroos will face off against the New Zealand All Whites in Canberra in game one of the Anzac Soccer Ashes trophy match.
This unique part of footballing history was rediscovered in 2023 and will come to the Capital during the September FIFA Men’s International window.
Football Australia interim CEO Heather Garriock said the Socceroos’ return to Canberra would be a “memorable occasion” for the region’s football fans.
“The Soccer Ashes illustrates Australia and New Zealand’s deep and ongoing connection and celebrates our shared love of football,” she said.
“We’re thrilled that fans in the nation’s capital will be part of another chapter of the long and storied history between our two nations on the pitch.”
Australia currently holds the Soccer Ashes following a 2-0 victory over the All Whites in Brentford in 2023.
The Canberra match on 5 September will be the Subway Socceroos’ first appearance after securing direct qualification to the FIFA World Cup 26. This was due to victories against Japan (1-0) and Saudi Arabia (2-1) in Round Three qualifying.
The Socceroos will use the Canberra match – and the subsequent reverse fixture in Auckland on 9 September – as part of preparations for their sixth consecutive appearance in the FIFA World Cup.
Head coach Tony Popovic said the matches were an important first step in the journey.
“It’s always special when Australia plays New Zealand. There’s a great respect and rivalry between our two nations that is steeped in history dating back to the formation of our national team,” he said.
“The Soccer Ashes is a trophy we proudly hold and an iconic piece of our game’s history. We’re looking forward to playing for them once again in September.”
ACT Sport Minister Yvette Berry said Canberrans were constantly calling for more international fixtures in the Capital.
“This is an example of the ACT government delivering on that and making sure that our community has those opportunities to support international teams, like the Australian Socceroos, in the same way that we saw the Matildas supported earlier on,” she said.
“All of our community sports clubs … we need them to see an opportunity for where those young people could be one day. The Socceroos are another example of that, and I look forward to seeing a sellout crowd.”
The Anzac Soccer Ashes trophy was built by New Zealand trophy maker Harry Mayer in 1923.
The elaborate wooden casket, constructed from a combination of New Zealand honeysuckle and Australian maple, contains the ashes of cigars smoked by Australian captain Alex Gibb and New Zealand captain George Campbell after the first meeting between the two nations on Australian soil in June 1923.
The Subway Socceroos will take on the New Zealand All Whites on Friday, 5 September, at GIO Stadium. Tickets (pre-sale available from 24 June, general tickets from 25 June) are $29 for children, $31 for concession holders, $39 for adults and $110 for families. $2 (plus GST) from every ticket sold will be donated to the CommBank Pararoos and CommBank ParaMatildas, Australia’s CP national teams for male and female footballers with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury or symptoms from a stroke.
