The Socceroos faced off against New Zealand's All Whites at GIO Stadium in Canberra on Friday, September 5, 2025, in the first leg of the Soccer Ashes series. The match marked the resumption of a storied Trans-Tasman rivalry, with the historic trophy up for grabs for the first time on Australian soil since its rediscovery in 2023.

Both Australia and New Zealand have already secured their places at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making these friendlies ideal preparation for the major tournament. For Australia, these matches are crucial for coach Tony Popovic to ফাইন-tune his squad and provide opportunities for emerging players to stake their claim for a spot in the World Cup team.

Popovic named a youthful and exciting squad, featuring several uncapped players who have impressed with their club form. Nestory Irankunda and Adrian Segečić were among the most talked-about young players in the squad. Despite the focus on youth, Popovic opted for a tried-and-tested starting XI for the match against New Zealand. Martin Boyle, who has experience playing as a center forward for his club Hibernian, led the line.

New Zealand, coached by Darren Bazeley, also boasts a talented squad, even with some notable absences. Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood, the lone Premier League player on the pitch, captained the All Whites and aimed to surpass Mark Viduka as Oceania's greatest-ever goal scorer in the English top flight. While Marko Stamenić and Liberato Cacace were unavailable due to injury, other key players like Sarpreet Singh were in the lineup.

Australia has a strong historical record against New Zealand, having won 42 of their 66 encounters, with only 13 losses. The Socceroos are also unbeaten in their last seven games against the All Whites, with their last defeat dating back to 2002. Furthermore, Australia has dominated the Soccer Ashes series, winning five of the seven editions.

The match was broadcast live and free on Network 10 in Australia, with coverage also available on 10.com.au and Paramount+. International fans outside of New Zealand and the United States could watch the match on YouTube.

Going into the match, Australia was on a nine-game unbeaten streak, with five wins and four clean sheets. New Zealand had won four of their last five games, also keeping clean sheets in those victories. However, they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Ukraine in their most recent friendly.