Colombia and Australia Clash in World Cup Friendly at Citi Field
New York's Citi Field played host to a men's international football friendly between Colombia and Australia on Tuesday night, November 18, 2025. The match served as a warm-up for the 2026 World Cup in North America, allowing both teams to fine-tune their strategies and experiment with squad selection.
Colombia, currently ranked 13th in the world by FIFA, entered the game on an eight-match unbeaten run. They secured their place at the World Cup after finishing third in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, even ahead of footballing giants like Brazil and Uruguay. In their most recent friendly, Colombia secured a 2-1 victory over New Zealand, with Gustavo Puerta scoring on his debut and Johan Carbonero also finding the net.
Australia, ranked 25th globally, aimed to bounce back from a recent 1-0 defeat to Venezuela. Coached by Tony Popovic, the Socceroos have been using these friendlies to test new players and build squad depth in preparation for the upcoming World Cup cycle.
Nestor Lorenzo, Colombia's coach, opted for an experienced lineup with a 4-3-3 formation, while experimenting with the midfield. The starting XI featured Camilo Vargas in goal, Santiago Arias, Davinson Sánchez, Jhon Lucumí, and Johan Mojica in defense; Juan Portilla, Richard Ríos, and Yáser Asprilla in midfield; and James Rodríguez, Luis Díaz, and Luis Suárez in attack.
Popovic made five changes to the Australian starting XI from the Venezuela game. The team lined up in a 5-2-3 formation with Paul Izzo in goal; Lewis Miller, Milos Degenek, Kai Trewin, Cam Burgess, and Kye Rowles in defense; Aiden O'Neill and Jackson Irvine in midfield; and Connor Metcalfe, Riley McGree, and Mohamed Toure in attack.
The match provided both teams with an opportunity to experience a different footballing culture and familiarize themselves with the conditions they might encounter during the World Cup. For Colombia, it was a chance to assess their squad depth and allow emerging talents to prove themselves. Australia, meanwhile, was looking to regain form and test their preparedness against a strong opponent.
The game also held significance in terms of FIFA ranking points, with Colombia aiming to solidify their position as a top seed for the World Cup draw in December.
[Bolavip US] reported live updates during the match, noting that Luis Diaz had a chance to score in the 35th minute, following a play by James Rodriguez, but his shot went wide. Australia had their first offensive free kick in the 33rd minute, but McGree's kick missed the target. The report also highlighted Colombia's dominance in ball possession, led by James Rodriguez.
