The Socceroos will tune up for next month’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ play-offs in Doha with an international friendly against Jordan in Qatar on the evening of Wednesday, 1 June 2022 (local time).
The international friendly, which will be played six days before Australia’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) play-off, will provide the Socceroos with a great opportunity to prepare ahead of the team’s crunch clash with United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium (Al Rayyan Stadium) on Tuesday, 7 June 2022.
A win over UAE on June 7 would propel the Socceroos to a make-or-break intercontinental play-off against Peru on Monday, 13 June 2022, with the winner of that match sealing a place in Group D at this year’s FIFA World Cup™ alongside defending Champions France, Denmark, and Tunisia.
The Socceroos met Jordan twice throughout the current FIFA World Cup™ qualifying campaign, with both games ending in 1-0 wins for Australia.
Socceroos Head Coach Graham Arnold, who is currently in Europe scouting and connecting with overseas-based players ahead of his squad selection later in May, said he’s pleased to have locked in a friendly against Jordan ahead of the biggest month of football for the Socceroos in four years.
“We are looking forward to the opportunity to play Jordan in early June as we prepare for the AFC and intercontinental FIFA World Cup™ play-offs in Doha,” Arnold said.
“Whilst we are rivals on the pitch, off the pitch we have developed good communication and understanding with the Jordan Football Association over the past few years, so it is pleasing that we have been able to secure this match as we prepare for our World Cup play-offs in Qatar, and Jordan prepare for their upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualification fixtures in Kuwait.”
Arnold will spend the next two weeks in Europe monitoring and meeting with Australian players as he seeks to finalise the Socceroos’ squad for June.
“We are monitoring a large group of players globally ahead of the final squad selection,” Arnold added. “It has been pleasing seeing many Australian players in strong form at their clubs over the past few weeks. I am excited to think that many of our players will arrive in camp with great minutes under their belts ready for our final FIFA World Cup™ qualifying push.”
