That’s it from me today! I’ll leave you with Jack Snape’s match report from Snapdragon Stadium.
The Socceroos kick off their World Cup campaign against Turkey on Sunday June 14 at 2pm AEST from BC Place in Vancouver. I’ll be part of the team bringing you all the action from the tournament, so see you again soon!
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Ah, here we go. Tony Popovic finally steps up to the microphone to debrief the match.
I think it’s nice that we got a result in the end. We’re playing a very strong nation, so I’m pleased about that. Good response in the second half. Lot of different players on the field, and the young boys acquitted themselves well.
[Yengi] found it difficult in the first half, our front three were a bit disjointed, they weren’t quite sure what to do. But they settled in the second half – Nestor got better, Tete got better.
Conditions were warm and sticky on the pitch. It was a good experience for us against a wonderful opponent… you just have to get through that first part, and fortunately we didn’t concede another goal.
I think this all plays a part in the experience for the players. It’s nice not to have any injuries after this game, that was the most important part. We were competitive and we scored a really nice goal, so I’m happy and looking forward to next week.
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Or maybe not. We’ve got goal-scorer Tete Yengi instead.
It’s an amazing feeling. You work hard for moments like this and I’m happy to help the team today and get my first game, first of all, and also my first goal.
To be out here on the pitch, one week away from the World Cup, you can only dream of moments like this. I’m so grateful for the opportunity and hopefully we can go into the World Cup with a positive.
First half, they made it very hard for us. It’s a great team with a lot of experienced players. We had to do a lot of defending, but second half, we got on the ball more and created some opportunities, which is how I got my goal.
It was an intense game against top-quality players. This is what it’s gonna be like at the World Cup. With more atmosphere, we’ll get that extra drive, but I think we’re ready.
Switzerland dominated the vast majority of the match, particularly in the opening 45 minutes. They end the match with 63% possession, 9 shots to 5, and 7 corners to 2. They’ll be wondering how they didn’t capitalise on their dominance in the first half, especially through the lethal Ndoye.
The Socceroos once again struggled to break out of sustained pressure and connect with their front-line. Nestory Irankunda was Australia’s best outlet, though debutant Cristian Volpato was fairly absent. They had to rely on direct long-balls over the top of the field and counter-attacks in behind to create anything of note, which is how Yengi poked home the equaliser in the second half.
How much did Popovic learn about his new recruits? What were the key takeaways? The Australian head coach will provide some reflections shortly.
Full-time: Switzerland 1-1 Australia
A debut goal from new Socceroo Tete Yengi cancels out an early strike by Swiss winger Dan Ndoye. It ends all square in San Diego.
90+3 mins: One final chance for Australia as they come down the left, but Toure takes a heavy touch that’s cleared away. He gives away a clumsy foul in the process.
90+2: Switzerland come down the left once more and send in two crosses, one after the other, trying to find the head of Itten. The substitute forward launches into the air but heads his second – and best – chance over the crossbar.
90+1 mins: Three minutes of added time. Will there be a winner in this second ever meeting between Australia and Switzerland?
88 mins: Another ball in behind Switzerland’s left-back for Toure to forlornly chase. He’s largely all by himself up there as the rest of his team try not to overstretch themselves and give away any space. They’ve bunkered into a 5-4-1 as the clock ticks towards stoppage time.
86 mins: Australia almost could have snatched a late winner! Another direct long-ball over the top of the field bounces enticingly into empty space on the right, with Toure sprinting with every atom of himself to reach it. He launches a hopeful leg forward to try and touch it out of the path of the onrushing Kobel, but just misses and the keeper clears.
84 mins: Switzerland turn up the pressure in the final few minutes of regular time, maintaining sharp possession in and around Australia’s penalty area. The Socceroos do well to rally defensively and shut down any shooting angles, though, forcing the Swiss back into midfield to try and find a different channel. This looks like some of the game management we’d expect from a Tony Popovic team in the final six minutes of a match.
82 mins: Barely a minute after coming on, Okafor receives a yellow card for a high foot that scrapes the face of Socceroos defender Burgess as he leaned down to try and head the ball away.
80 mins: More substitutions for both sides. For Australia, Souttar is replaced by Milos Degenek, while Kai Trewin comes off for Cam Devlin for his first minutes since 2024. For Switzerland, Noah Okafor replaces Remo Freuler, Eray Comert is on for Akanji, and Christian Fassnacht takes over from Xhaka.
79 mins: A huge chance for Switzerland! A flat, curling cross from substitute winger Muheim on the left – who’s left in plenty of space - arrows right towards fellow substitute Itten, but his header fizzes over the crossbar.
75 mins: The game is opening up now as Australia come down the other end through Yengi, who squares for Metcalfe to his right. The St Pauli midfielder takes a terrible touch in-field, though, and yells into the sky as two red shirts carry the ball away. Switzerland then try to counter immediately with a long-ball down the left wing, but Beach sprints out and hoofs it away.
74 mins: Switzerland almost make it two as the ball bobbles around Australia’s penalty area before Zakaria volleys it wide.
70 mins: Both teams take the opportunity of the drinks break to make a host of substitutions.
For Switzerland: Widmer, Amdouni, Elvedi, Rodriguez and Manzambi are off. Denis Zakaria, Miro Muheim, Cedric Itten, Aurele Amenda, and Ardon Jashari are on.
For Australia: Behich, Okon-Engstler, Yengi, and Irankunda are off. Jordan Bos, Jackson Irvine, Mohamed Toure, and Mat Leckie are on.
68 mins: Things are heating up in San Diego! After Xhaka was pushed to the ground by Trewin, Irankunda unnecessarily kicks the ball into the Swiss captain while he’s lying prone in the grass. Xhaka immediately gets up and stomps towards the young Socceroo, with teammates on both sides scuffling around to separate them. Irankunda earns a yellow card for his silliness, which leads into the second hydration break of the game.
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67 mins: They’re not as relentless in their attack as they were in the first half, but Switzerland are still finding a few openings. A slicing through-ball parts Australia’s back-line with Amdouni running onto it, but Beach flies off his line to gather it in his chest just in time.
65 mins: Australia have eight players behind the ball as Manzambi comes down the left and cuts back for Xhaka, who curls a deadly cross in towards the penalty spot. Aziz Behich flings out a leg and sends it out for a corner.
62 mins: Switzerland try to find an opening, passing back and forth around Australia’s penalty area. They eventually find enough space to let off a cross, but it’s wildly overhit and falls to Irankunda, who turns and passes up the field to Yengi, who’s shoved over by Akanji and wins a free kick. Exhale.
60 mins: Australia have given away a few free kicks in succession as Switzerland slowly try to muscle their way up the field. The Socceroos have certainly looked more lively since bringing on those fresh legs, with Metcalfe in particular adding a lot of energy in midfield.
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56 mins: Sometimes route-one football pays off. That goal started from a Socceroos goal kick, with one of their centre-backs launching a straight, flat pass right over the top of the entire field. It ain’t pretty, but it works. That’s Tete Yengi’s first ever goal for Australia, too. Hopefully the first of many.
GOAL! Switzerland 1-1 Australia (Yengi, 55)
Australia pull a goal back after a surprise counter-attack right down the guts of the field! Connor Metcalfe ghosts in behind Switzerland’s left back and is in acres of space, squaring across the six-yard box for Yengi who stretches a long leg out to poke home.
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54 mins: Play is halted after Connor Metcalfe faceplants into Xhaka’s shoulder and crashes to the grass. The replay is like a scene from Looney Tunes, his entire face flattening against the captain’s armband. He’s fine, though.
50 mins: Australia spring a surprise attack once again with Tete Yengi running at Switzerland’s back-line before squaring a pass for Irankunda. The Watford winger doesn’t seem to see Aziz Behich in open space on the left and cuts back to the right instead before trying to round Widmer and losing the ball.
Meantime, it was Aiden O’Neill who came off for Australia, not Kai Trewin. Blame my app and buffering internet.
48 mins: Oof, what a chance! Irankunda pounces on a messy touch by a Swiss defender and charges towards the top of the box, shifting the ball onto his right and launching a powerful strike that Kobel gets his fingers to before clanging off the crossbar and out for a corner.
Second half begins
Some wholesale defensive changes for Australia as Tony Popovic looks to experiment with his back-line combinations.
Two changes at the break for Switzerland as Djibril Sow replaces Dan Ndoye, while Fabian Reider comes on for Michel Aebischer.
It’s a quadruple-sub for Australia as Connor Metcalfe takes the place of Cristian Volpato, Jacob Italiano is on for Aiden O’Neill, Cameron Burgess takes the place of Lucas Herrington, and Jason Geria replaces Alessandro Circato.
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Are first-halves cursed for Australia? Their opening 45 minutes against Mexico a week ago was just as flat and disjointed as this one, despite a significant number of changes to the starting side.
“Another flat first half for me,” says former Socceroo Alex Brosque on the broadcast. Do you agree? What does Tony Popovic need to do at half-time to bring some spark back to this side?
Half-time: Switzerland 1-0 Australia
Switzerland with a deserved lead in San Diego thanks to a Dan Ndoye goal, with the Socceroos struggling to keep possession or create any meaningful chances on the counter-attack. A lot to think about during the break.
47 mins: Switzerland want to end this first half with a bang as Dan Ndoye latches onto another through-ball inside Australia’s penalty area. He opens his body up to try and poke the ball beneath Patrick Beach, but the goalkeeper does well to smother.
46 mins: Granit Xhaka earns Switzerland’s second yellow for tugging back Volpato in the centre-circle as the new Socceroo was charging forward attempting to pass.
43 mins: Australia wins a lucky free kick near the top corner of Switzerland’s penalty area after a counter-attack led by Irankunda leads to Tete Yengi being shoved to the ground by Manuel Akanji. Cristian Volpato – who’s been very quiet so far – sends a lovely free kick deep to the back post, where the towering Harry Souttar heads it just wide of the post.
41 mins: Switzerland sit back and allow Australia to have the ball in their own back third. The Socceroos had moved it around comfortably for a few minutes, but you can see the moment Switzerland spark their press and suffocate the Australians. It works perfectly, with Lucas Herrington sending a pass fizzing past Aziz Behich and out for a throw.
38 mins: The stats paint a clear picture of the match so far: Switzerland have had 5 shots (2 on target) to Australia’s one (0). 68% possession to 32%, and 5 corners to one.
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36 mins: Australia finally have some sustained possession, moving the ball around down their left wing through Aziz Behich and Paul Okon-Engstler. They’re still struggling to find openings through Switzerland’s solid defence, though, so end up just passing backwards before trying to come forwards again. In the end, they lose the ball anyway.
33 mins: The free kick coming from that Akanji foul is wasted, bouncing calmly out for a goal kick. A minute later, Australia cop their own yellow card as Tete Yengi stretches out to tackle Akanji but scrapes his lower leg instead.
31 mins: Nestory Irankunda is away after that cleared corner, picking up the ball and charging over the half-way line. But Manuel Akanji stomps across midfield to catch the Socceroos striker, clattering into him from the back and earning the first yellow card of the game.
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30 mins: Dan Ndoye, the player of the match so far, wins another corner for Switzerland after trying to twist and turn past Alessandro Circati. They go short, but Australia do well to clear it.
28 mins: Australia are really struggling to maintain any sustained possession against this counter-pressing Swiss side. Plenty of unforced errors and intercepted passes as they try to find open channels up-field, ultimately resorting to long balls over the top for Irankunda to chase. Not super inspiring football, you’d have to say.
25 mins: Aaaand we’re back. It’s currently hovering around 20 degrees Celsius in San Diego, so the wet towels on the necks of players seemed a bit melodramatic. But this is meant to be a dress rehearsal for the World Cup, so maybe it’s more about the rhythm than anything.
22 mins: The corner is headed clear by an Australian shirt once again, and the referee blows the whistle a moment later to signal the game’s first water break. The Socceroos will be desperate to re-set after this opening period of relentless Swiss pressure.
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21 mins: Australia give away another corner after a long ball over the entire field is bundled out by Lucas Herrington. Switzerland are cruising right now.
18 mins: The first corner from Switzerland is thumped back out by Tete Yengi. On the second attempt, a series of deadly single-touch passes almost slices through the Socceroos’ packed defence, but the final cut-back is met by a yellow shirt instead who clears it upfield. Whew.
16 mins: Switzerland are hungry for a second as Zeki Amdouni charges through a scattered Australian defence, shimmying near the top of the box before opening his body to shoot. Thankfully Alessandro Circati is there to intercept and give away a corner.
GOAL! Switzerland 1-0 Australia (Dan Ndoye, 14)
The Swiss winger latches onto a stunning pass from deep in midfield, takes a steadying touch in the penalty area and shoots calmly past Patrick Beach.
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11 mins: A gorgeous flicked pass from Swiss captain Granit Xhaka almost finds Dan Ndoye, who’d made a ghosting run through Australia’s two centre-backs. He stretches out with his toe, but he just misses the ball as it bounces into Patrick Beach’s arms.
10 mins: It’s been a few intense minutes for the Socceroos, bunkering in to defend waves of Swiss attack down the left wing. They finally get a moment to breathe with a switched clearance, but can’t hold onto the ball for long before Switzerland retake possession and start moving the ball around again.
8 mins: That was close! Some tight, incisive passes from Switzerland finds Michel Aebischer in a pocket of space just outside Australia’s box, who sends a delicious pass through the defence for Ndoye to run onto. The winger’s first touch is a bit heavy, though, and Patrick Beach flies out to deflect his toe-poke wide.
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5 mins: Nestory Irankunda is off like a rocket to press Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who neatly Cruyff turns away from the sprinting striker. Switzerland then come the other way within moments, launching the first shot of the game wide of Australia’s goal.
4 mins: After that early scare, Switzerland have their foot back on the ball as they try to come down the left wing through Dan Ndoye. Alessandro Circati has blocked and cleared a few attempted passes into the penalty area already as Tony Popovic’s side revert to their back 5 off the ball.
3 mins: A whipped-in corner from Nestory Irankunda glances off the head of Kai Trewin and spins just wide of the far post. Early positive signs for Australia.
2 mins: An early high press from the Socceroos forces an error from a Swiss centre-back, who gives away the first corner of the match.
Kick-off!
We’re underway in front of a smattering of fans at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.
What’s your tip for today’s match?
Can this youthful Australian side spring a surprise on an incredibly experienced Switzerland team?
Send me your score predictions via email: samantha.lewis.freelance@theguardian.com
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There’s been a huge amount of discussion around the amount of money fans are expected to fork out across this World Cup.
From Fifa’s troubling dynamic pricing system that has made almost all match tickets unaffordable to the average fan, to the jacked-up costs of local accommodation, and even triple-figure bus fares and parking tickets, it’s a wonder any Socceroos fans have been willing (or able!) to make the trek from Down Under at all.
One of them, though, is Les Street, a famous Australian ground-hopper who has followed the national team to three World Cups. He wrote about his journey to get to North America for World Cup 2026 and the mixed feelings he’s having about the whole thing.
Sadly, Les won’t be at today’s Switzerland friendly, but that hopefully means he’s reading this blog instead. G’day, Les!
It’s a young, hungry, and energetic Australian XI to take on Switzerland today. Jack Snape takes us into head coach Tony Popovic’s rejuvenated side. Can they do something special at the World Cup?
Popovic described this generation as without fear, mostly. “I’d like them to be more fearless than what they are, because sometimes that comes with experience, that when the pressure’s on, they go in their shell a little bit,” he said. “And then when they do two or three good actions, you can just see them open up and relax and off they go.”
Switzerland XI
1. Gregor Kobel, 5. Manuel Akanji, 4. Nico Elvedi, 13. Ricardo Rodríguez, 8. Remo Freuler, 10. Granit Xhaka (c), 3. Silvan Widmer, 9. Johan Manzambi, 20. Michel Aebischer, 11. Dan Ndoye, 23. Zeki Amdouni.
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Australia XI
In this final test before the tournament, Tony Popovic has handed debuts to both Cristian Volpato and Tete Yengi. Patrick Beach also earns his second cap between the posts ahead of regular no. 1 Mat Ryan, while Lucas Herrington, Kai Trewin, and Paul Okon-Engstler add to their single-figure cap tallies. Nestory Irankunda is back starting on the wing, while Harry Souttar captains Australia for just the third time.
1. Patrick Beach, 3. Alessandro Circati, 19. Harry Souttar (c), 25. Lucas Herrington, 15. Kai Trewin, 13. Aiden O’Neill, 24. Paul Okon-Engstler, 16. Aziz Behich, 17. Nestory Irankunda, 20. Cristian Volpato, 26. Tete Yengi.
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Joey Lynch paints us a picture of Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic, the former defender now coaching his country to his first major tournament, and the combination of particularity and ruthlessness that has come to define him.
While at Sanfrecce Hiroshima, he suffered what a specialist told him was a career-ending toe injury, only to completely change the way he played and prepared, and keep going for another 12 years, including a stint in the Premier League with Crystal Palace. This attitude transferred to his coaching too. “He used to look at things I didn’t even think of looking at,” says Brendan Hamill, who played under Popovic at Wanderers and Victory. When asked what some of these small details are, he laughs. “A gram of bodyweight! It’s details that make the big difference for him.”
Indeed, a proper diet is a big focus for Popovic: the best athletes are the ones who are fuelling their bodies in the right way. But you don’t need talent to eat the right things, the coach observes, especially when you’ve got a legion of staff there to support you. Sports dietician Julie Meek was one of his first appointments upon his ascension to national team coach. Adequate sleep and recovery is another, with detailed instructions for when to get shut-eye on long flights across multiple time zones and new pillows distributed during the March camp. “You could almost say he’s part machine,” assistant coach Hayden Foxe once said of his boss.
Christian Finkbeiner and Luacs Werder profiled Switzerland for the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Guide, which you should absolutely check out (if only to giggle at some of the player descriptors).
Sitting at 19 in Fifa’s world rankings, the Swiss topped their qualifying group without losing a single match. Spear-headed by Rennes striker Breel Embolo, fortified at the back by Inter defender Manuel Akanji, and supercharged through the middle by “running machine” Remo Freuler, there is quality throughout Switzerland’s spine.
However, there are some concerns about the squad’s depth beyond the regular starting XI, particularly in midfield. So much comes through their captain Xhaka, it’s hard to imagine what Switzerland can achieve if he suffers fatigue or a knock during the tournament.
Take a read of their player profiles in the Guardian’s complete guide to all 1,248 World Cup players below.
Wondering where to watch the Socceroos at the 2026 World Cup that kicks off in just under a week?
Luckily for you, we’ve got all your questions covered in this handy explainer.
Preamble
Hello friends and welcome to live coverage of this final World Cup warm-up friendly between Australia and Switzerland. Kick-off at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego is noon Saturday local time (5am Sunday AEST).
Today’s match is the final opportunity for both nations to nail down their starting sides and tweak any last-minute tactics ahead of their World Cup openers next week. The Socceroos will face a fancied Turkey in their first Group D clash, while Switzerland take on previous hosts Qatar in Group B.
Over the past week, each nation has locked in the 26 players that they hope can go as far as possible in this 48-team behemoth of a tournament.
There is a particular buzz around Australia’s final-hour inclusion of former Italy youth international Cristian Volpato and towering young striker Tete Yengi, neither of whom appeared in Australia’s 1-0 loss to Mexico last weekend, but who we hopefully get a glimpse of today.
As for Switzerland, they come into this friendly off the back of a comfortable 4-1 win over Jordan and with the wind in their sails after a surprisingly deep run in the 2024 Euros. Anchored by captain Granit Xhaka, for whom this will probably be the last World Cup, there are some bright stars emerging, in particular Dan Ndoye and Johan Manzambi.
There are a few cool pre-game yarns worth reading, which I’ll bring you shortly. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s game, the squads, any players you’re excited to see, and the tournament in general. Flick ‘em through via email.
