Updates from the first of two games in Queensland
Any thoughts?
Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic continues to show he is prepared to make big selection calls with captain Maty Ryan axed from the squad for these two friendlies against Brazil.
“We know what Maty Ryan is to Australian football,” Popovic said. “A player that has a distinguished career – continues to have one – over 100 caps. But we’d like to have a look at another keeper.”
Joey Lynch is in Townsville tonight to report on the game and has already taken in Brazil’s unlikely visit to the north Queensland town with a population of just over 200,000 as the place to begin their regeneration after another World Cup failure.
A legacy of more World Cup titles than any other nation demands respect, as does the aura of a shirt worn by the likes of Pelé, Socrates, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Neymar. Vinícius, Raphinha, Marquinhos et al are global superstars, and the cultural cachet of joga bonito still permeates. So too are the good vibes, good people and goodwill that accompany them; a Brazilian supporter with a prop World Cup trophy in hand was among those navigating the connection to Townsville from Brisbane airport on Thursday morning. These fixtures, followed by a game against India on 3 October, are going to prove lucrative for the South Americans too. They’ll even be taking the field in Queensland as the official “home” side.
Which brings us to football. And to start, if Brazil are after a genuine Australian football experience they will get one at Lang Park in Brisbane next Tuesday, when they play on a surface only four days after the Dolphins v Roosters preliminary final. But coming off another World Cup failure, Brazil have also landed at an inflection point. Or perhaps more accurately, the latest inflection point, as the nation conducts a new round of soul-searching over a diminishing place among football’s elite.
Australia can turn to their own star power for the first men’s A international to be played in Townsville.
The Brazilians have arrived at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville.
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Hello and welcome to live coverage of the international football friendly between Australia and Brazil at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville.
The Socceroos and Seleção both return to action for the first time since the 2026 World Cup with this the first of two international friendlies between the teams to be played in Queensland over the next few days. This is also the first men’s A international to be held in Townsville while the second game in the series will be played on Tuesday at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Australia will use the friendlies to begin their preparations for the 2027 Asian Cup while the five-time world champions take their first steps to regenerate the squad after failing to meet expectations at the global showpiece a few months ago. The Socceroos were, in case I need to remind you, knocked out on penalties by Egypt in the round of 32. Brazil went one step further when they beat Japan 2-1 in the new knockout phase before losing by the same score to Norway in the round of 16.
Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic has called up a 25-player squad for the two-match series though striker Mohamed Toure has been forced out by injury along with Alex Robertson. On a more positive note, Riley McGree and Patrick Yazbek return after their untimely stint on the sidelines. Five players have been called up for the first time – goalkeeper Jacob Chapman, Kealey Adamson, Eli Adams, Yaya Dukuly and Marcus Younis. Kasey Bos – the younger brother of Jordy – and teenage defender Dylan Leonard are also in line for a debut.
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has turned to youth for the first international window since the World Cup, though Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, Barcelona’s Raphinha, Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos and Arsenal duo Gabriel and Bruno Guimaraes are among the headline names to make the trip. Defenders Artur Dias (Athletico Paranaense) and Maurio Júnior (PSV Eindhoven) are among the new faces to look out for, along with Chelsea’s young attacker Estêvão.
Kick off in Townsville is 8pm AEST / 7am BRT / 11am BST. I’ll be back shortly with the starting line-ups and team news. But now is the time to hit me up with thoughts and predictions – shoot me an email, or find me on Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social. Let’s get into it!