The CommBank Socceroos will host New Zealand at GIO Stadium in Canberra on Friday evening in the first of two matches that will determine the holders of the Soccer Ashes.
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Australia will feature a youthful, exciting squad who have turned heads with their early-season club form and will be hoping to push for limited places at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With only four windows to go until the World Cup, every game is crucial for Popovic and his team and these games are no exception.
There is also a trophy on the line. The winner of the Soccer Ashes will be determined by aggregate score across the two fixtures, with the second leg potentially going directly to penalties in the event of a tie.
Read our preview of the first match in the Soccer Ashes series below.
EXPLAINER: What are the Soccer Ashes?
The Squad
Head Coach Tony Popovic made 13 changes to the squad that secured qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2026 last window. Given the A-League Men remains in pre-season, the squad is made up of players who are based overseas.
Adrian Segecic, Noah Botic and Nicolas Milanovic are a trio of prodigious youngsters who have earned their first call-up while 27-year-old Anthony Kalik has been rewarded for his form with Hajduk Split in Croatia with his own maiden call-up.
Goalkeepers Paul Izzo and Tom Glover, midfielder Max Balard, and the four players who have been called up for the first time have the opportunity to debut for the Socceroos in this window.
29-year-old Jack Iredale returns to the squad after Popovic was forced to make a change due to an injury to Fran Karacic in his final club game before the window. Iredale is also uncapped and the Hibernian defender will be vying for an opportunity to run out in Green and Gold for the first time against New Zealand.
Many eyes will be on the players who have made electric starts to the season and have forced their way back into Popovic’s plans as a result. Teenage talent Nestory Irankunda has scored two free-kicks for Watford, boding well for his first foray into the English Championship. Samuel Silvera has played a key role in Middlesbrough’s perfect start to the season, while Jordy Bos has a goal and an assist after his big money transfer to Dutch giants Feyenoord in the off-season.
It is a squad with one eye to the future in what is being hailed in the media as a potential new ‘Golden Generation’ of Socceroos talent.
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The Opponent
New Zealand are a team that have always been competitive and will be motivated to take it to Australia to get their hands on the Soccer Ashes and help their own preparations for the World Cup.
They qualified for the global tournament after defeating New Caledonia 3-0 in the final of the OFC Qualifying tournament in March. Most recently, they defeated Ivory Coast 1-0 in the June friendly window before falling 2-1 to Ukraine.
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Head Coach Darren Bazeley has selected a strong squad for the window, featuring several names familiar to Australian football fans through the A-League Men. They include the likes of young goalkeeper Alex Paulsen and veteran winger Kosta Barbarouses, amongst several others.
Chris Wood is the most high-profile name in the Kiwi squad. The Nottingham Forest talisman was recently named in the 2024/25 PFA Premier League Team of the Season for his 20 Premier League goals and has already started the season with a bang, scoring two in the three games played so far.
“Playing Australia is always a big deal, but to be able to compete for a trophy, with one game at home, is massive,” Bazeley said at the squad announcement.
Last Time Out
These teams last met in 2023, after the Soccer Ashes – a trophy created in 1923 – were rediscovered when the grandchildren of former Australian Soccer Football Association (ASFA) Chairman Sydney Storey found the trophy in their family home.
That one-off game, played in London nearly two years ago, ended in a comfortable victory for Australia. Mitchell Duke and Jackson Irvine were the goal scorers as Australia claimed the Soccer Ashes.
Australia’s line-up will look much different this time around, but they will be hoping for a similar result across the two legs.
FIFA World Rankings
Australia: 24
New Zealand: 82
Head-to-Head (‘A’ Internationals)
Played:Â 65
Wins:Â 41
Draws:Â 11
Losses: 13
InsightsThis is the seventh Soccer Ashes series. New Zealand won the first two series, in 1922 and 1923, but Australia have retained the trophy since.Eight players are in line to make their debut for the CommBank Socceroos, including Jack Iredale, who was a late call-up to the squad.Chris Wood is New Zealand’s leading all-time goalscorer, with 44 in his career.Six players in the CommBank Socceroos 25-player squad currently play in the EFL Championship.Australia are unbeaten in their last seven games against New Zealand, having last tasted defeat in 2002.
Australia form guide: W-W-W-W-D
New Zealand form guide: L-W-W-W-W
What They SaidPaul Okon
It’s just about improving. We’re eight games unbeaten, and maybe that’s not the most important thing, but winning breeds that type of culture that we’re looking for. New Zealand is a good opposition. They’ve also qualified for the World Cup. So yes, they’re friendly games on paper. There are no points at the end of it. But for us, they mean a lot.
They mean a lot because it gives us the opportunity to look at many players, to build on depth. It’s going to be a long season. At certain times throughout the window, we may be missing people for whatever reason, and it’s important for us to then be able to say: ‘okay, he can step in and do a job for us’. But at the same time, we want to keep winning.
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Paul Okon: We want to continue to go undefeated | CommBank Socceroos v New Zealand
Nicolas Milanovic
There are no real friendlies in football anywhere, to be fair. It’s [the message is] to win, and the best way we can do that is – we’ve got a few new boys now to get comfortable with the system and play the way the coach wants to play, and hopefully that’ll win us two games.
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Nicolas Milanovic: We’re all striving to get our first cap | CommBank Socceroos v New Zealand
Aiden O’Neill
We did an excellent job qualifying for the World Cup. Now, it’s the next step in making sure we’re fully prepared going in there, and not just going to participate in the World Cup, but with the mindset of really trying to do something.
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Aiden O’Neill: It’s exciting to have quite a few new boys in camp | CommBank Socceroos v New Zealand
Samuel Silvera
Running out on GIO [Stadium] will be amazing. The last time I was here, it was an amazing crowd, and hopefully I do get that opportunity to put the shirt on and walk out.
They’ve [New Zealand] done well, and they’ve got a good squad, but I don’t think a friendly is a friendly to be honest, especially for us. It’s preparation for the World Cup. We want to be playing at the highest level, competing at the highest level. We’re looking forward to it, and we can’t wait for the challenge.
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Sam Silvera: I’m grateful to be here | CommBank Socceroos v New Zealand
Lewis Miller
There are a lot of new faces, and we’ve all got the same goal. We know that it’s all business, but at the end of the day, we’re still super excited and proud of what we’ve achieved for this country. The best is yet to come for this group. We’re going to stay as one and get to know one another inside and out. At the end of the day, it’s all about preparation for the biggest tournament in football.
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Lewis Miller: The best is yet to come from this group | CommBank Socceroos v New Zealand
Ajdin Hrustic
New Zealand is a good side, a good country. They’ve got some very good players and they qualified for the World Cup, so they’re going to be ready to go. I don’t think they’ll take it as a friendly either.
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Ajdin Hrustic delighted to be back in CommBank Socceroos camp 💚💛
Alessandro Circati
It was an honour meeting the Prime Minister (Anthony Albanese) and Sports Minister (Minister for Sport Anika Wells). It was great to obviously see their support towards Australian football. I think we’re getting them closer and getting them more involved which is a positive for us, the future generation and the world of football.
Ale Circati: I’m very happy I followed Gianluigi Buffon’s opinion | CommBank Socceroos v New Zealand
Milos Degenek
I think each window is now an opportunity for all of us to prove that we should be there and to prove to the boss that we’re capable of doing something special with Australia. I think it’s a challenge and it’s exciting, and each game is a battle and there’s no friendly games.
Milos Degenek: Every game is a battle | CommBank Socceroos v New Zealand
MATCH DETAILS
Australia v New Zealand
Friday, 5 September 2025
GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off:Â 7.45pm AEST
Tickets: Available via Ticketek
Broadcast:Â 10 Drama, 10.com.au and Paramount+