England and Australia have locked in an agreement that will see the Matildas and Socceroos head to London for friendly meetings in April and October, respectively.
The Matildas will travel to the capital to continue their preparations for the 2023 Women’s World Cup with a fixture against the Lionesses on April 11 at Brentford Community Stadium, while the Socceroos will head to Wembley Stadium on October 13.
For Australia’s women, it will mark the first meeting with their English counterparts since a 1-1 draw in 2018 and represents one of the final and perhaps most crucial tune-up fixtures for Tony Gustavsson’s side ahead of this July’s home World Cup.
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England are considered one of that tournament’s favourites under coach Sarina Wiegman and looms as a likely Round of 16 opponent should the Matildas fail to top their group.
Though they have faced off seven times previously, most recently a 2016 friendly in Sunderland in which the hosts won 2-1, Australia’s men’s clash with England later this year will represent the first time they have ever met at the home of football in London.
The Socceroos famously defeated England in 2003, when they secured a stunning 3-1 upset at Upton Park thanks to goals from Tony Popovic, Harry Kewell, and Brett Emerton. Sven-Goran Eriksson in the English dugout, the English side downed that night counted Rio Ferdinand, Michael Owen, and David Beckham amongst their starters.
Loaded with players plying their trade across Europe’s top leagues, that side would subsequently break Australia’s 32-year World Cup drought by qualifying for Germany 2006.
Current coach Graham Arnold serving as an assistant to Frank Farina that day, it remains the only time Australia’s men have tasted victory over the Three Lions, with the European powers leading the overall record with four wins and two draws.
“That night brings back some amazing memories for Australian football and football fans,” Arnold said. “While we had a very talented Australian team, we were taking on an England outfit stacked with superstars, and the result made the players believe that they could take on anyone and qualify for the World Cup in 2006. It is a memory the boys will never forget.”
