International men's football will return to South Australia for the first time in more than seven years this October with the Subway Socceroos set to take on China in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup Qualifier at the Adelaide Oval.
The match, to be held on Thursday, 10 October, adds to South Australia's diverse events calendar, which continues to boost visitation and expenditure for the state.
A win in the AFC Third Round clash will be crucial in the men's national team's bid for automatic qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2026, with the top two of six teams in Group C progressing directly to the major tournament.
History will be on the side of the Subway Socceroos on 10 October, with the men's national team going undefeated at the Adelaide Oval this century, having recorded 3-2 (vs Saudi Arabia, 2017), 7-0 (vs Tajikistan, 2016) and 3-0 (vs New Zealand, 2011) wins from three starts.
The men's team's return to South Australia follows a sold-out friendly between the CommBank Matildas and China earlier this year, with nearly 53,000 fans packing out the Adelaide Oval in May.
Several players are expected to feature in an international match in their home state for the first time, with five players from the Subway Socceroos squad that defeated Palestine 5-0 last month hailing from South Australia.
A successful campaign would see the Socceroos qualify for a sixth consecutive FIFA World Cup, with the 2026 edition to be played across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Tickets for the Adelaide Oval match will go on sale to Football Australia Football Account holders at 10:00am ACST on Friday, 19 July 2024 and to the public at 2:00pm ACST on Monday, 22 July 2024.
Tickets prices will start from $15 Child, $20 Concession, $29 Adult, and $58 Family and will be available to be purchased via Ticketek.
Acting Premier, Susan Close said "we can't wait to welcome the Socceroos back to Adelaide for the first time in more than seven years."
"Off the back of the Matildas' sold-out exhibition in May and five FIFA Women's World Cup matches at Coopers Stadium last year, we're excited to continue the football fever of the past 12 months," Acting Premier Close said.
"I look forward to seeing crowds of thousands in their green and gold cheering on our national team and enjoying all the offerings of our hospitality and tourism businesses.
"This match adds to South Australia's non-stop events calendar and demonstrates the Malinauskas Government's commitment to deliver world-class major events."
Football Australia CEO, James Johnson said "I am looking forward to seeing the Subway Socceroos step out onto the iconic Adelaide Oval for the first time in seven years."
"The Subway Socceroos are one of Australia's most beloved sporting teams and we want to ensure they are connecting with football communities right across the country," Mr Johnson said.
"We know the people of South Australia have been crying out for national team fixtures, and they showed their enthusiasm for our game and support for the CommBank Matildas in their recent friendly at Adelaide Oval. I have no doubt that 'Arnie' and his squad will feel the same wave of support when they arrive in October.
"There is a rich footballing history across South Australia stretching from the grassroots right through to our national teams, and I'm so pleased we've been able to bring this community an international match of such significance.
"I'd also like to acknowledge Premier Peter Malinauskas and the South Australian Government, who have demonstrated a commitment to our game at all levels and established themselves as a state that delivers events of the highest quality. We're extremely appreciative of our partnership and thank them for their ongoing support of football."
Subway Socceroos Head Coach, Graham Arnold said the match will act as a homecoming for several members of his squad.
"We've got a number of players from South Australia across our extended squad who I'm sure will be very pleased to see us returning to Adelaide," Mr Arnold said.
"It will be the first time any of them have represented their nation in their home state, which will no doubt be a memory they will cherish for the rest of their careers. Opportunities like this are fleeting in international football and I know those players will be extremely motivated as they represent not just themselves, but their family, friends and local community.
"We've spoken a lot about how significant securing strong results in our home matches will be during this phase of qualification, and the players understand my expectations around their preparation and performance.
"I've not had the opportunity to coach the national team in Adelaide and I'm looking forward to the community getting behind the Socceroos for this important game."
