The Socceroos will get an early look at Canada ahead of the 2026 World Cup with a friendly in October

A third match has been locked in as part of the Socceroos path to the 2026 World Cup and it’s in the right place.

The Socceroos have added a clash with Canada to a schedule which also includes a showdown with New Zealand on the way to the 2026 World Cup.

Having secured a berth at next year’s FIFA showpiece being held in the USA, Mexico and Canada, the Socceroos will get an early taste by travelling to Montreal for the match in October.

The match at Stade Saputo, which isn’t a World Cup venue, against the 30th ranked Canadians will be the first time the two sides have met since 2013 when the Socceroos won 3-0 victory at Craven Cottage, London.

It will form part of a “comprehensive road map” for the Socceroos en route to the World Cup. to prepare for a sixth consecutive appearance at world football’s showpiece event.

“This match will be a valuable experience for our players and staff and we’re looking forward to facing Canada in conditions we can expect at the World Cup,” Socceroos coach Tony Popovic said.

The Socceroos celebrate qualification for the 2026 World Cup after beating Saudi Arabia (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“This camp will certainly inform our approach as we look ahead to next year and will contribute significantly to our planning and preparation both on and off the pitch.”

“It will be another excellent opportunity to work with the squad and play high-quality match minutes against a strong opponent,” Popovic concluded.

It follows the recent announcement of a two-match series against New Zealand in September, in which Australia will compete for the ‘ANZAC Soccer Ashes’ trophy.

Football Australia’s Interim CEO, Heather Garriock said securing direct qualification to FIFA World Cup allowed for a more tailor-made preparation.

“We always knew how important it would be to directly qualify and it’s a credit to Tony, his staff and the playing group for achieving that,” Garriock said.

“The ability for us to assemble and play at one of the host countries for FIFA World Cup is a significant pillar of our preparation and one we’re very much looking forward to.

“Direct qualification provides us with an extended run of international matches of our choosing, allowing us to be strategic on what activity will best support the on-field development of the squad, while factoring other key performance contributors to ensure all facets of our program are well placed when the World Cup commences.

“The length of time and available fixtures between now and June 2026 is something we’re all really pleased to have at our disposal, and we’ll be providing Tony and his team with the support they need to use this period as effectively as possible.”