Socceroos to open their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign at Melbourne’s AAMI Park

Graham Arnold’s Socceroos will start their qualifying road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in this Australian city in November.

The Socceroos will play in Melbourne in November. Picture: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

The Socceroos will start their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in Melbourne.

The Graham Arnold-coached Australians will play either Bangladesh or Maldives – who meet in a two-legged playoff next month – at AAMI Park on November 16.

“We’ve had the opportunity to bring some younger players into the squad over the last 12 months and we’ve tested them against some high-quality opposition,” Arnold said.

“It has provided us with some invaluable experience, and we’re in a great position as we approach the beginning of a new World Cup qualification campaign.”

Graham Arnold’s Socceroos will play in Melbourne in November. Picture: WANG Zhao / AFP

The Socceroos also play on November 21 – outside of Australia – against another of their second-round opponents, Palestine, at a yet-to-be determined venue.

Lebanon is also in Australia’s group, with the top two nations from each of the nine second-round AFC groups to progress to the third round of the confederation’s World Cup qualifiers as well as secure a berth in the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Football Australia chief executive officer James Johnson said: “We’re so proud of what Graham and his players have been able to achieve in recent times. This group have continued to elevate the profile of Australian football.

“The journey now begins once again for this group, with this match at AAMI Park the very first in a new FIFA World Cup qualifying cycle.”

The Socceroos will also be in action at the January-February Asian Cup in Qatar.

“It is a busy but certainly exciting time for the Socceroos, which includes the selection of several new faces into the senior men’s national team since last year’s World Cup,” Johnson said.

The Socceroos, who drew 2-2 with Mexico in Dallas earlier this month, will play London friendly games against England and New Zealand next month.

Originally published as Socceroos to open their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign at Melbourne’s AAMI Park