Socceroos players have called on Football Australia to move their upcoming friendly against Jordan away from Amman due to safety fears. The Professional Footballers Australia union has formally conveyed the squad's unanimous view that the November 18 fixture should be rescheduled or relocated.
Beau Busch, the PFA's chief executive, confirmed the players' stance. "With the support of the PFA, the players have overwhelmingly expressed their view that the Jordan match should be rescheduled or relocated," Busch said. The move follows advice from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade against travel to Jordan and comes after Indonesia cancelled a planned friendly there citing regional violence.
The squad announcement for the upcoming window has been delayed while a resolution is sought. The team is due to play Qatar in Doha on November 13 before the planned trip to Amman four days later. Australia's last outing was a 4-2 defeat to Brazil in late September, a match where Alessandro Circati and Connor Metcalfe scored but defensive errors proved costly. That result leaves the team looking to bounce back in this Middle East trip, with the full fixtures schedule available on our site.
Further complicating the backdrop is the postponed Asian Cup, which was originally scheduled for Saudi Arabia in January but was called off after an attack on Riyadh's international airport. Head coach Tony Popovic signed a short-term contract extension to cover that tournament, and his deal is now set to expire early next year. Veteran winger Awer Mabil, 31, remains available for selection, telling reporters recently, "I'm always happy to be selected for the national team and representing your country."
Football Australia is now in talks with Jordanian officials to find a solution that satisfies security concerns while maintaining vital match preparation. The governing body must also address outstanding player payments from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The immediate focus, however, is securing a safe venue for the Jordan match to ensure the squad can focus fully on their performance against Qatar this week.
Background and full detail: theguardian.com
