Home / Sports / Socceroos face familiar foe Arnold in Asian Cup draw
Socceroos face familiar foe Arnold in Asian Cup draw
10 May
Summary
- Australia drawn with Iraq, coached by former manager Graham Arnold.
- Socceroos will also face Tajikistan and Singapore in Group D.
- The 2027 Asian Cup tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia next January.
The Australian men's national football team, the Socceroos, have been placed in Group D for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, set to take place in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5, 2027. Their opponents include Iraq, now managed by former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold, alongside Tajikistan and Singapore. Australia, currently ranked 27th globally, is the highest-ranked team in their group.
Australia's campaign begins on January 9, 2027, against Singapore, followed by a notable clash with Iraq on January 14, 2027. The team concludes its group stage on January 19, 2027, against Tajikistan. Socceroos coach Tony Popovic expressed respect for the opponents, stating the team's ambition for the competition, which holds significant historical importance for Australian football, having last won it in 2015. He also noted the team's ongoing focus on the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
The draw, originally scheduled for April 11, was postponed due to the conflict in the Middle East. The 24-team tournament will feature matches across Riyadh, Jeddah, and Khobar. To advance to the knockout stage, Australia must finish in the top two of their group, with a possibility of progressing as one of the four best third-placed teams.
