The Socceroos will have the perfect warm-up match ahead of their World Cup campaign when they face co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium in California. The 90,000-capacity Rose Bowl, which hosted the final of the 1994 World Cup and 1999 Women's World Cup, is expected to sell out - and will be packed with Mexican fans. The Socceroos can expect a parochial, hostile crowd - the perfect preparation ahead of a World Cup group stage featuring another co-host, the United States. 'It is also the last opportunity for players to impress before the final 2026 World Cup squad list must be submitted to FIFA. The FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 12 (AEST) - with the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa.

Source: Metro February 18, 2026 23:36 UTC