Trending
Prev Story
Next Story

FA scrambles for Jordan alternative with Socceroos reluctant to travel

ABC News Australia •
November 12, 2026 • 07:41 AM
1
1 reads 0 reactions

Socceroos players remain hesitant to travel to Jordan due to security concerns and Football Australia is searching for answers.

FA scrambles for Jordan alternative with Socceroos reluctant to travel

Socceroos players remain unwilling to travel to Amman to take on Jordan in a friendly next week. ( Getty Images: Eurasia Sport Images/Ayush Kumar )

Football Australia is looking for an alternative venue with Socceroos players unwilling to travel to Jordan to play a friendly in Amman.

FA CEO Martin Kugeler as well as other big hitters have flown to Doha in order to try to find solutions.

The Socceroos are scheduled to take on Qatar in Doha on Saturday before the scheduled Jordan clash in Amman on November 18.

Socceroos players remain unwilling to travel to Jordan as Football Australia (FA) scrambles for alternatives to playing an upcoming friendly in Amman.

But US Soccer's decision to withdraw its team from the under-17 World Cup in ‌Qatar over safety concerns is not expected to affect either the Socceroos or their Joeys counterparts.

The Socceroos and Joeys are both in camp in Doha ahead of their respective friendlies and World Cup campaigns.

The senior team is due to face Qatar on Saturday (AEDT) before travelling to Amman to face Jordan on November 18.

The latter is the issue, with PFA boss Beau Busch saying last week that Socceroos players had "overwhelmingly expressed their view that the Jordan match should be rescheduled or relocated".

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) advises Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Jordan "due to the unpredictable security situation" and the "threat of terrorism".

FA had been keen for the game in Jordan to proceed, but has said it was monitoring the security situation in the area.

The friendlies against Qatar and Jordan were arranged as preparations for January's Asian Cup, but the postponement of the tournament to December 2027 due to conflict in Saudi Arabia has decreased their significance.

Martin Kugeler has flown to Doha to find a solution. ( Getty Images: Ayush Kumar )

FA heavy hitters including chief executive Martin Kugeler and football director Heather Garriock flew to Doha this week, as did Busch and men's head of player relations Jon McKain.

Players are not expected to back down and agree to play in Jordan, likely leaving cancellation or relocation as the options.

One option is Australia remaining in Qatar and playing Jordan in Doha.

But that proposal is understood to have been met with some reluctance from both the Qatari and Jordanian football associations.

Jordan has already had to deal with Indonesia pulling out of a friendly this window.

Playing the Jordan game somewhere in southern Europe is another option, along with cancelling or postponing the game altogether.

Coach Tony Popovic, due to speak to media in his pre-match press conference on Thursday night, has indicated no players would be blacklisted from future selection if they withdrew from his squad for security reasons.

Elsewhere, in ‌a letter sent to players, US Soccer said it was cancelling its team's pre-tournament camp and its participation in the under-17 World Cup "in light of current circumstances".

US Soccer cited US State Department's Level 3 travel advisory for Qatar and related ‌directives for ‌embassy ⁠staff and families.

But the Joeys are not expected to follow the US in withdrawing from the under-17 tournament in Qatar, while the Socceroos are understood not to have issues with being in Qatar.

Prev Swipe Story Next

Same Story from Other Publications

Compare how 6 other independent news outlets reported on this story.

6 Publications
The Guardian
1w ago
Socceroos urge FA to move Jordan friendly in Middle East due to safety concerns

Socceroos urge FA to move Jordan friendly in Middle East due to safety concerns

Australia to face Qatar in Doha before match in Amman with some players reluctant to travel to the region where the Asian Cup was postponed

#jordan #socceroos #amman
Compare →
The Age
1w ago
Socceroos squad announcement delayed as players ‘overwhelmingly’ oppose Jordan trip

Socceroos squad announcement delayed as players ‘overwhelmingly’ oppose Jordan trip

Tony Popovic was due to name his squad for the Socceroos’ upcoming friendlies on Friday - but many players are reluctant to make themselves available due to safety concerns.

#jordan #socceroos
Compare →
SBS News Australia
1w ago
More than three months after the World Cup, why haven't the Socceroos been paid?

More than three months after the World Cup, why haven't the Socceroos been paid?

With stars owed up to $36,000, Football Australia says tax complications in the United States are to blame for the hold-up.

#socceroos #football
Compare →
NPR News
1d ago
Rep. Jim Jordan will lead House Republicans next year. What's his leadership style? : Consider This from NPR

Rep. Jim Jordan will lead House Republicans next year. What's his leadership style? : Consider This from NPR

As GOP lawmakers prepare for a major power shift in Congress, what does the election of Jim Jordan to lead House Republicans tell us about the party’s path forward?This episode was produced by Kathryn Fink and Chris Harland-Dunaway, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. It was edited by Jason Breslow, Sarah Handel, and Tinbete Ermyas. Our director is Jonas Adams.And our executive producer is Courtney Dorning.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

BBC News
2d ago
England: Does Jordan Pickford finally face serious competition from James Trafford?

England: Does Jordan Pickford finally face serious competition from James Trafford?

Does England's long-time first-choice goalkeeper Jordan Pickford finally face serious competition for his place, asks chief football writer Phil McNulty.

CNBC World
2d ago
Jim Jordan elected House GOP leader

Jim Jordan elected House GOP leader

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., announced the day after Election Day he would not run for minority leader in the 120th Congress.

Related Stories

Sports
Build #2611