Introduction
Australia vs New Zealand have a long-standing sports rivalry, and it’s filled with history, strong feelings, and a deep sense of pride from both countries. While their matches in cricket and rugby get a lot of attention, football also has a special place in this rivalry. The return of the Soccer Ashes competition in 2025 has brought a lot of excitement back to this historic contest. This comes just a few months before both teams head to the FIFA World Cup 2026. What makes this match stand out is not only the game itself, but also the rich history connected to the Soccer Ashes trophy.
The History of Soccer Ashes
The Soccer Ashes trophy started in 1923. The trophy was created a special urn that was used to hold the ashes of the cigars smoked by the team captains from Australia and New Zealand. The urn was kept in a case belonging to a veteran from Gallipoli. For a substantial time, it represented the deep and historical football rivalry between Australia and New Zealand. However, it went missing in the 1950s, and was not unearthed until 2023. The trophy’s return dredged up a lot of memories and feelings of meaning and pride for supporters from either country. The trophy itself now serves a continued feeling, and history every time the teams played, and the friendships and sporting spirit between the two countries.
The Build-Up to 2025
Australia and New Zealand (NZ) both confirmed plans to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Australia is ranked 24th in the world and is making its sixth consecutive appearance in the World Cup as well as it is the better team. New Zealand is at 82nd in the world, and this will be its first World Cup since 2010, while the disparities in ranking present evidence about how much better Australia is than New Zealand is making a concerted effort to prove it can beat them.
During the series, Australia has mixed in experienced players with new, younger players, including Nestory Irankunda and Adrian Segecic. New Zealand’s captain, Chris Wood, is hopeful that there will finally be a win against Australia after 23 years without one, along with support from players like Ryan Thomas and Sapreet Singh who are returning.
First Leg: Canberra Thriller
The first meeting was played on 5 September 2025 at GIO Stadium in Canberra, with the match attended by almost 20,000 people.
It was a tightly contested match, neither team could convert their chances into goals for the most part.
The goal came late, when Max Balard, who had just come on as a substitute, scored in the 87th minute, just two minutes after entering the game. The final score was Australia 1 – New Zealad 0 and Australia extended its unbeaten run to nine matches
Coach Popovic said the performance was “okay” and made the astute observation that, “the way New Zealand played, they made it quite tough for us.”
However, the New Zealand team left with their confidence intact, as coach Darren Bazeley said “we controlled a big part of the game and probably deserved something more.”
Second Leg: A Thrill in Auckland
The rivalry shifts to Auckland’s Go Media Stadium on September 9 and supporters are excited with the big day planned with lots of entertainment, music and excitement.
For New Zealand, this game is more than a friendly – it is a chance to restore pride and break their losing streak against the Socceroos. For Australia it is a chance to show their strength and develop their team in preparation for the World Cup.
It may not be tournament qualifying but it still counts for team confidence, ranking points and the heritage of who has beaten who.
Cultural and Sporting Significance
The Soccer Ashes is more than a game—it is shared history, a friendly rivalry, and national pride. For New Zealanders, beating Australia is like beating an older, bigger brother; for Australians, it is about showing that they’re better than their nearest rivals. These contextual niceties adds a feel to the matches similar to the importance of what a World Cup game would feel like, even though they are called friendlies.
Highlights to Date
- 1923: The Soccer Ashes trophy was played for, for the first time.
- 1982: New Zealand qualified for their first FIFA World Cup and demonstrated how far New Zealand football had progressed.
- 2002: That was the last time New Zealand beat Australia in football.
- 2023: The trophy that was ‘lost’ was ‘found’ again. The trophy was back, and so the tradition returned!
- 2025: Max Balard scored a late goal on debut to help Australia win in Canberra.
Looking Ahead
With the second installment of the series approaching, there is a level of excitement from both sides to see what transpires. Will New Zealand end its long wait for victory or will Australia carry its winning streak into the next match? Regardless of the victor, along with the return of the Soccer Ashes, interest in Oceania football has increased, and both sets of fans have had a taste of the wonderful matches that are to come at the World Cup.
Conclusion
The Australia and New Zealand rivalry is not only about who scores the most goals, but what the history and pride of each country represents. With the Soccer Ashes here and both teams aiming for World Cup glory, this renewed rivalry is highly exciting. Every play, challenge, and goal has shown that the whole world is watching, when it comes to the neighbouring rivals. The matches of 2025 have already seen exciting matches, with plenty still to come!