Australia men's national soccer team

Australia
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Socceroos
AssociationFootball Australia
ConfederationAFC (Asia; 2006–present)
OFC (Oceania; 1966–1972, 1978–2006)[1]
Sub-confederationAFF (Southeast Asia)
Head coachTony Popovic
CaptainMathew Ryan
Most capsMark Schwarzer (109)
Top scorerTim Cahill (50)
Home stadiumVarious
FIFA codeAUS
First colours
Second colours
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FIFA ranking
Current 24 Increase 1 (24 October 2024)[2]
Highest14 (September 2009)
Lowest102 (November 2014)
First international
 New Zealand 3–1 Australia 
(Dunedin, New Zealand; 17 June 1922)
Biggest win
 Australia 31–0 American Samoa 
(Coffs Harbour, Australia; 11 April 2001)
(World record for senior international matches)[3]
Biggest defeat
 Australia 0–8 South Africa 
(Adelaide, Australia; 17 September 1955)
World Cup
Appearances6 (first in 1974)
Best resultRound of 16 (2006, 2022)
Asian Cup
Appearances5 (first in 2007)
Best resultChampions (2015)
OFC Nations Cup
Appearances6 (first in 1980)
Best resultChampions (1980,
1996, 2000, 2004)
Confederations Cup
Appearances4 (first in 1997)
Best resultRunners-up (1997)
Websitesocceroos.com.au

The Australia men's national soccer team represents Australia in international men's soccer. Officially nicknamed the Socceroos,[6] the team is controlled by the governing body for soccer in Australia, Football Australia, which is affiliated with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the regional ASEAN Football Federation (AFF).

The team played its first match in 1922 and originally participated in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). In this confederation, Australia won the OFC Nations Cup four times between 1980 and 2004, and dominated many FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns during earlier rounds. The team won 31–0 against American Samoa in World Cup qualification, achieving the world record for the largest victory in a senior international match. Despite this, the team only managed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup twice in 11 attempts while in this confederation. The team moved to the AFC in 2006, winning the AFC Asian Cup once in 2015 and finishing runners-up in 2011. By winning this competition, Australia became the only team in the world to have won two different confederation cups.[7] Since moving confederations, the team has also qualified for the World Cup in every attempt, qualifying an additional four times for an overall six qualifications. Australia has made appearances in the World Cup knockout stages twice, having progressed to this stage in 2006 and 2022.

The team additionally represented Australia at the now-defunct FIFA Confederations Cup four times, winning a silver and bronze medal in 1997 and 2001 respectively. Mark Schwarzer has the most caps for Australia, with 109 to his name, while Tim Cahill has the most goals scored, with 50. Australia initially developed a rivalry with New Zealand and a rivalry with Uruguay, and, after joining the AFC, has developed a fierce rivalry with Japan.

  1. ^ "OFC History". Oceania Football Confederation. 18 March 2006. Archived from the original on 18 March 2006. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  2. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Aussie footballers smash world record". BBC Sport. 11 April 2001. Retrieved 10 June 2012.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  5. ^ "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  6. ^ Rugari, Vince (22 September 2022). "Fresh deal: Socceroos ink record-breaking sponsorship deal". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  7. ^ "Socceroos lift Asian Cup after dramatic extra-time win over South Korea". The Guardian. 31 January 2015.