What can I expect from Australia? Australia avoided the play-offs to qualify directly for this World Cup for the first time since 2014, going unbeaten in their final eight matches after Tony Popovic replaced Graham Arnold as head coach - including a first win against Japan in 15 years.

Mexico goes up against Australia on Saturday in its penultimate warm-up fixture ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. MORE: Argentina, Lionel Messi playing World Cup friendlies at iconic college football stadiums How to Watch Mexico vs Australia Time

World Cup excitement arrived in Alameda as fans gathered on the island to watch the Australian Men's National Soccer Team hold an open community training session.

Tony Popovic couldn’t have scripted it better. Trash talking of the Socceroos by America’s Alexi Lalas. Mate, your own side ain’t that flash. You’ve merely given Popovic a giggle while motivating a proficient group of underdog players already preparing to rip in from next week’s opening shrill whistle of the World Cup.

Johan Vazquez scored and delivered Mexico's best performance as El Tri edged Australia 1-0 at the Rose Bowl. GOAL rates every player after an uneven display that offered Javier Aguirre valuable World Cup roster clues ahead of his final squad announcement.

Mathew Ryan and Mathew Leckie will go to a record-equalling fourth FIFA World Cup for Australia, while a next generation led by Alessandro Circati and Mohamed Touré will appear at their first after being named in Tony Popovic's squad.

Herrington’s meteoric rise has him on the cusp of becoming the youngest Australian player to ever start in a World Cup match. Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo?

That was Simon Hill’s call of the biggest moment in Australian football history, when the Socceroos scored their first World Cup goal against Japan. Things would only get better in the next 15 minutes on that famous day in Kaiserslautern as Cahill scored again and John Aloisi sealed Australia’s first World Cup triumph in injury time.