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Australia national football team

The Australia national football team, nicknamed the Socceroos, is the men's senior international soccer team of Australia.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Australia national football team, nicknamed the Socceroos, is the men's senior international soccer team of Australia. It is run by Football Australia and has competed in the AFC since 2006, having previously been part of the OFC. The team has qualified for multiple FIFA World Cups and won the 2015 AFC Asian Cup as host nation.

History

The team has represented Australia in international men's football since the early 1960s, with later changes in confederation membership reflecting Australia’s move from Oceania to Asia. It has also played in major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Confederations Cup.

Competition record

Australia has qualified for several FIFA World Cups and won the AFC Asian Cup in 2015. Sources also note podium finishes at the FIFA Confederations Cup in 1997 and 2001.

Governing body and identity

Football Australia administers the team, which uses the FIFA code AUS and the nickname Socceroos. The team’s home matches are played at various venues rather than a single permanent stadium.

Notable players

Mark Schwarzer is the team’s most-capped player, while Tim Cahill is its top scorer. Mathew Ryan is listed as captain in current team information.

Key facts

  • Australia's men's national team is commonly known as the Socceroos.
  • The team is governed by Football Australia.
  • Australia joined the AFC in 2006 after earlier periods in the OFC.
  • The team won the 2015 AFC Asian Cup while hosting the tournament.
  • Mark Schwarzer holds the team's appearance record and Tim Cahill its scoring record.
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Canadian context

Canada and Australia are both members of FIFA and regularly compete in the global international soccer system; Canadian readers may encounter Australia in World Cup qualifying, FIFA tournaments, and broader Commonwealth sporting coverage.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Australia national football team called?
It is commonly called the Socceroos.
Who runs the team?
Football Australia is the governing body for the team.
Which confederation does Australia play in?
Australia has been in the AFC since 2006.
Who has the most caps for Australia?
Mark Schwarzer, with 109 appearances.
Who is Australia's all-time top scorer?
Tim Cahill, with 50 goals.
Has Australia won a major continental title?
Yes. Australia won the 2015 AFC Asian Cup as host nation.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_men's_national_soccer_team
    Supports: Nickname Socceroos; governing body; confederation history; head coach; captain; most caps; top scorer; home stadium; FIFA code; competition notes.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_Australia
    Supports: Football Australia as governing body; headquarters in Sydney; national teams operated by the organization.
  3. Wikipedia — https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hans/%E6%BE%B3%E6%B4%B2%E5%9C%8B%E5%AE%B6%E8%B6%B3%E7%90%83%E9%9A%8A
    Supports: AFC membership since 2006; 2015 AFC Asian Cup win; World Cup progression context.
  4. Live Soccer TV — https://www.livesoccertv.com/countries/australia/
    Supports: Founded and affiliated dates; team identity and basic profile.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soccer_in_Australia
    Supports: Nicknames and relationship to Australian football context.