Australia is a country located on the Pacific Ocean. It also doubles as a continent, considering it encompasses the whole land covering Australia. Like every country, Australia is a sport-crazy nation, which participates and excels in various sporting endeavors. The most popular sports in Australia include Cricket, Rugby, Australia rules football, and also soccer.
Here are some other interesting facts about Australian football or soccer as it’s called there.
1. Origins of Australian Soccer
Football was brought to Australia in the late 19th century by British Immigrants.
2. First Australian Club
The oldest club in Australia was founded in 1880 called Wanderers FC, but the oldest club still in existence is Balgownie Rangers founded in 1883.
3. Earliest recorded football match
The first football game played in Australia was said to have taken place on the 7th of August, 1875. The match was between the inmates and wards men of the Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum located in Wacol.
4. Australian Men’s National Team
The Australian national team is also known as the Socceroos. Their first official match was played on 17th of June, 1922. It was a 3-1 friendly loss against New Zealand.
5. Australia part of Two Confederations
Australia is currently part of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). They were formerly part of the Oceanic Football Confederation (OFC).
6. Name of Football Governing Body
The name of the body that regulates all things regarding soccer, futsal, and beach soccer is Football Australia. The body was founded in 1963 as the Australian Soccer Federation.
7. Biggest Margin of Victory
Australia’s biggest margin of victory was a 31-0 annihilation of American Samoa which was the 2002 World Cup qualifier played on the 11th of April, 2001. The match is also a senior record for the biggest margin of victory over another team.
7. Biggest Losing Margin
The worst defeat suffered by the Australian national team was a 8-0 home loss against South Africa on the 17th of September, 1955.
8. World Cup Appearances
Australia has appeared at the World Cup Finals 5 times. Their best performance was at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where they got to the second round.
9. Major Honours
Australia has won the Asian Cup once and the OFC Nations Cup 4 times.
10. Highest goal scorer
The record of the highest Australian goal scorer is currently held by ex-Everton FC and Socceroos midfielder Tim Cahill. He scored 50 goals in 108 matches for the Socceroos.
11. Most Caps
The Australian player who currently holds the record for most caps in the Australian national team is former Middlesbrough FC and Fulham FC goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. Mark Schwarzer successfully made 109 caps for them.
12. Australian Female national
Australia also has a senior women’s national team known as the Matildas. The nickname was gotten from the most popular Australian folk song “Waltzing Matilda”. They won the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2010.
