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World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

Fair point yet the available UEFA teams are Estonia, Albania and Czech Rep. The pressure of the qualifiers when Velupillay was introduced is higher than a practice game against these nations. Maybe in October. Water under a bridge now. This would've been an FA decision to keep the Ashes going.
Actually - surprised they didn’t make this the farewell game just prior to the World Cup
 
Actually - surprised they didn’t make this the farewell game just prior to the World Cup
That'll be next year for the Ashes to continue :D

What even was the NZ 2022 thing? Hardly felt like a farewell.

2018 we didn't even have one but it was good to have a camp in Turkey and then face Czech and Hungary. Ironic it didn't exactly lead to better play. That cohort were capable of more and we have BVM to thank.
 
That'll be next year for the Ashes to continue :D

What even was the NZ 2022 thing? Hardly felt like a farewell.

2018 we didn't even have one but it was good to have a camp in Turkey and then face Czech and Hungary. Ironic it didn't exactly lead to better play. That cohort were capable of more and we have BVM to thank.
A bit harsh on Bert there. He was only ever a short term fill in because Ange quit and Arnie still had a contract with Sydney. It's not as if he had time to impart anything of himself to the team.
 
That'll be next year for the Ashes to continue :D

What even was the NZ 2022 thing? Hardly felt like a farewell.

2018 we didn't even have one but it was good to have a camp in Turkey and then face Czech and Hungary. Ironic it didn't exactly lead to better play. That cohort were capable of more and we have BVM to thank.
We did have one (not specifically “Ashes” in 2010 as well
 
A bit harsh on Bert there. He was only ever a short term fill in because Ange quit and Arnie still had a contract with Sydney. It's not as if he had time to impart anything of himself to the team.
He set us up well defensively and our midfield was good. Issue was cowardice to attack. We had some options and they weren't used. Luongo didn't see a minute and Cahill wasn't used as much as he should've been.
 
He set us up well defensively and our midfield was good. Issue was cowardice to attack. We had some options and they weren't used. Luongo didn't see a minute and Cahill wasn't used as much as he should've been.
I definitely thought he could have used Tim more. When he did get a bit of time against Peru you could see that they thought him the biggest danger we had as they heavily marked him. Can't remember what Luongo was doing at the time elsewhere but I think he peaked in 2015 and although never poor he never reached those heights again. Having said that he probably should still have played more games for us over the years than he did.
 
I definitely thought he could have used Tim more. When he did get a bit of time against Peru you could see that they thought him the biggest danger we had as they heavily marked him. Can't remember what Luongo was doing at the time elsewhere but I think he peaked in 2015 and although never poor he never reached those heights again. Having said that he probably should still have played more games for us over the years than he did.
Luongo featured in the games before the tournament and had the blinder against Colombia. Had Luongo come on for Jedinak against Peru, he shuts down their second goal. Jedinak was spent and couldn't track their run.
 
If this Iran and US thing keeps escalating do Iran get to go to world cup or? any precedents of this in the past?

I hope Arnie got out of Baghdad
 
If this Iran and US thing keeps escalating do Iran get to go to world cup or? any precedents of this in the past?

I hope Arnie got out of Baghdad
I think Iranian citizens enter the US every day as appropriate checks have been done for the reason of travel. A million people enter the country daily but an article about some journalist commenting that murdering the president would be a good idea is the one who's story makes it seem everyone goes through the wringer. Threats of violence will be checked by local police on the street, why wouldn't immigration agencies do the same?
 
I think Iranian citizens enter the US every day as appropriate checks have been done for the reason of travel. A million people enter the country daily but an article about some journalist commenting that murdering the president would be a good idea is the one who's story makes it seem everyone goes through the wringer. Threats of violence will be checked by local police on the street, why wouldn't immigration agencies do the same?
All Iranians along with 13(?) other countries have already not been allowed to enter the US for about 2 weeks
 
All Iranians along with 13(?) other countries have already not been allowed to enter the US for about 2 weeks
That's true yet there will be special provisions for such events and for diplomats. Every country in that list is a failed state.
 
We’re coming to the capital to renew a rivalry! 🇦🇺🤝🇳🇿

This September, Canberra will host the first of a two-match series against New Zealand, contesting the historic Soccer Ashes Trophy.

🎟️ Pre-sale: 24.6.25, 10:00am AEST
🎟️ General Public on sale: 25.6.25, 4:00pm AEST

🇦🇺 v 🇳🇿 - 5.9.25, 7:45pm AEST
🏟️: GIO Stadium
📱💻📺: 10, Paramount+

#Socceroos #ForeverGolden #AUSvNZL #VisitCanberra

I am seeing on Twitter a rumoured match against the USA at altitude in Denver on October 14 (the last day of the October window).

We played Mexico at Arlington (USA) in September 2023 as a rare standalone friendly. I reckon there is a reasonable chance of another match in the window this time (approx Oct 9/10/11) to work on travel preparation whether it is in any of the 3 host countries and potentially against Canada, Mexico, another qualified AFC team or a South American team which will have completed qualifiers in the September window.
 
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I am seeing on Twitter a rumoured match against the USA at altitude in Denver on October 14 (the last day of the October window).

We played Mexico at Arlington (USA) in September 2023. I reckon there is a reasonable chance of another match in the window this time (approx Oct 9/10/11) to work on travel preparation whether it is in any of the 3 host countries and potentially against Canada, Mexico or a neutral country not playing qualifiers in that window.
I've seen this too. Seems it'd check out given the number of teams not available.
 
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