Sports · Football · 1 hr ago
Socceroos' Jordan friendly moved to Doha after players refuse to travel
Australia's Socceroos will play Jordan in Doha, after the friendly was moved from Amman.
The match had been scheduled for November 18, during the teams' camps in Qatar.
Players were unwilling to travel to Jordan, where Australia’s travel advice warns of an unpredictable security situation and a threat of terrorism.
Football Australia sent senior officials to Doha to find an alternative after players called for the match to be relocated or rescheduled.
The move keeps the friendly on the schedule while avoiding the planned trip to Amman.
The game was arranged as preparation for the Asian Cup, but that tournament has been postponed until December 2027.
Australia is due to face Qatar before Jordan, with the Qatar match scheduled for Saturday.
Football Australia moved the Socceroos’ friendly against Jordan from Amman to Doha after players refused to travel to Jordan.
As many as 21 players reportedly declined to make the trip, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The match had been scheduled for November 18.
Football Australia had been seeking alternatives, including playing the match in Qatar, in southern Europe, or cancelling or postponing it.
Australia’s travel department advises Australians to reconsider travel to Jordan because of an unpredictable security situation and the threat of terrorism.
- Who
- Australia’s Socceroos and Jordan’s national team.
- What
- Their friendly was moved from Amman to Doha after Socceroos players refused to travel to Jordan.
- When
- It was scheduled for November 18, 2026.
- Where
- The match was moved to Doha, Qatar, from Amman, Jordan.
- Why
- Players were unwilling to travel to Jordan amid security concerns.
Socceroos players
Football Australia
Travel to Jordan
Socceroos players
Players were unwilling to travel to Amman and wanted the match rescheduled or relocated.
Football Australia
Football Australia had been keen for the game to proceed in Jordan.
Match arrangements
Socceroos players
Players were not expected to agree to play in Jordan.
Football Australia
Football Australia explored alternatives, including Doha, southern Europe, cancellation or postponement.
ABC Australia reported that Socceroos players remained unwilling to travel to Amman for the friendly.
Football Australia chief executive Martin Kugeler and other officials flew to Doha to seek a solution.
The friendly was scheduled to take place in Amman.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the friendly had been moved to Doha.
- New venue
- Doha, Qatar
- Original venue
- Amman, Jordan
- Scheduled match date
- November 18, 2026
- Players reportedly refusing to travel
- As many as 21
- Officials who travelled to Doha
- Martin Kugeler and Heather Garriock
3 sources
What people are saying
overwhelmingly expressed their view that the Jordan match should be rescheduled or relocated
due to the unpredictable security situation
threat of terrorism