The FIFA Series matches here and in Australia are a great chance to compare the AW's and Socceroos.
It's for the first time easy to watch both national teams live or on demand for free playing in the same period.
The Socceroos matches vs. Cameroon and Curacao in the FIFA Series are available live and on demand on FIFA+ in NZ.
Find all the FIFA Series games here:
https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/showcase/fifa-series-2026/211e042e-d7fb-46a9-a621-5a30a45a18d6
I watched the Socceroos vs. Cameroon which kicked off an hour after the AW's v Finland finished.
Popovic has the side very well organized (a much more effective unit than the All Whites in this respect)
They lack a cutting edge up front, though Irankunda did well when he came on at halftime, and were lucky to get the win.
Eight subs on in the second half (who were all pretty good) replacing all but two outfield players - shows their depth.
Full Socceroos squad and the clubs they play for here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_men%27s_national_soccer_team#Players
Starting lineup and the subs here vs. Cameroon:
https://za.soccerway.com/match/australia-xSrf6qMM/cameroon-zk1uVG2D/summary/lineups/?mid=U7WG1svn
Comparing the club level of their players with ours (Socceroos starting 11):
Goal: la Liga
Defence: MLS / Serie A / Eredivisie / Austria / J2 (Jap 2nd tier)
Midfield: SPL / Championship / Bundesliga / MLS
Strikers: Poland
The eight subs who came on in the second half:
Defenders: Cyprus / MLS / Championship
Midfielders: Eredivisie / MLS / A-League
Strikers: Championship / Segunda Div. (Spain 2nd tier)
Only four A-League players in the squad; only one played.
Socceroos v Curacao will be streaming live here in NZ at 10pm Tuesday NZT:
https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/content/australia-vs-curacao/05aca402-c4ee-4318-b383-a4a24cd7861b
The most entertaining FIFA Series game though was definitely the New Caledonia v Jamaica WCQ play-off.
I watched that third on demand after the Socceroos match.
More than 40,000 in the Guadalajara stadium, 95% rooting for underdog New Caledonia.
And, boy, did NC put up a good fight.
Won the ball a surprising number of times and mounted some good attacks right to the end with the precarious score only 1-0.
George Gopes-Fenepej, a former Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 striker in France had some good chances, including a spectacular effort from 20 m.
Watch out in future vs. the AW's for former French youth international and Ligue 1 midfielder Angelo Fulgini (age 29) currently playing in the Saudi Pro League on loan from major French club Lens.
The most high-profile player to ever play for NC (more than 200 Ligue 1 apps for Angers and Lens and in the Bundesliga for Mainz).
It's for the first time easy to watch both national teams live or on demand for free playing in the same period.
The Socceroos matches vs. Cameroon and Curacao in the FIFA Series are available live and on demand on FIFA+ in NZ.
Find all the FIFA Series games here:
https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/showcase/fifa-series-2026/211e042e-d7fb-46a9-a621-5a30a45a18d6
I watched the Socceroos vs. Cameroon which kicked off an hour after the AW's v Finland finished.
Popovic has the side very well organized (a much more effective unit than the All Whites in this respect)
They lack a cutting edge up front, though Irankunda did well when he came on at halftime, and were lucky to get the win.
Eight subs on in the second half (who were all pretty good) replacing all but two outfield players - shows their depth.
Full Socceroos squad and the clubs they play for here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_men%27s_national_soccer_team#Players
Starting lineup and the subs here vs. Cameroon:
https://za.soccerway.com/match/australia-xSrf6qMM/cameroon-zk1uVG2D/summary/lineups/?mid=U7WG1svn
Comparing the club level of their players with ours (Socceroos starting 11):
Goal: la Liga
Defence: MLS / Serie A / Eredivisie / Austria / J2 (Jap 2nd tier)
Midfield: SPL / Championship / Bundesliga / MLS
Strikers: Poland
The eight subs who came on in the second half:
Defenders: Cyprus / MLS / Championship
Midfielders: Eredivisie / MLS / A-League
Strikers: Championship / Segunda Div. (Spain 2nd tier)
Only four A-League players in the squad; only one played.
Socceroos v Curacao will be streaming live here in NZ at 10pm Tuesday NZT:
https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/content/australia-vs-curacao/05aca402-c4ee-4318-b383-a4a24cd7861b
The most entertaining FIFA Series game though was definitely the New Caledonia v Jamaica WCQ play-off.
I watched that third on demand after the Socceroos match.
More than 40,000 in the Guadalajara stadium, 95% rooting for underdog New Caledonia.
And, boy, did NC put up a good fight.
Won the ball a surprising number of times and mounted some good attacks right to the end with the precarious score only 1-0.
George Gopes-Fenepej, a former Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 striker in France had some good chances, including a spectacular effort from 20 m.
Watch out in future vs. the AW's for former French youth international and Ligue 1 midfielder Angelo Fulgini (age 29) currently playing in the Saudi Pro League on loan from major French club Lens.
The most high-profile player to ever play for NC (more than 200 Ligue 1 apps for Angers and Lens and in the Bundesliga for Mainz).