If you are searching for England National Football Team vs Australia National Football Team Lineups, the first thing to know is that, at the time of writing, no men’s senior fixture between the Three Lions and the Socceroos has been confirmed. Their last meeting was a friendly at Wembley on 13 October 2023, which England won 1-0. Since then, both nations have played in a World Cup, changed their squads and, in Australia’s case, built a new generation around Tony Popovic. This guide covers the players, the likely shapes and the recent form of each side, so that when the teams do meet again you will know exactly who to watch.
Where Both Teams Stand in November 2026
England arrive at this point in strong shape. Under Thomas Tuchel they finished third at the 2026 World Cup, beating France 6-4 in the third-place play-off after a 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina. Harry Kane remains captain, and the team has since started the 2026-27 Nations League in League A Group C alongside Spain, Croatia and the Czech Republic.
Australia, coached by Tony Popovic and captained by Mathew Ryan, qualified directly for a sixth straight World Cup. They reached the round of 32 after finishing second in Group D, then lost on penalties to Egypt following a 1-1 draw. Their autumn friendlies against Brazil, a 1-1 draw in Townsville and a 4-2 defeat in Brisbane in front of a record 52,423 crowd, showed a young side that can trouble elite opposition.
Head-to-Head: A One-Sided but Closing Gap
The Socceroos’ own match preview before the 2023 game listed seven previous meetings: one Australian win, two draws and four defeats. Add the 2023 result and England lead 5-2-1 across eight matches. The most recent encounters were tight.
| Date | Venue | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct 2023 | Wembley Stadium, London | Friendly | England 1-0 Australia |
| 27 May 2016 | Stadium of Light, Sunderland | Friendly | England 2-1 Australia |
Both games were settled by a single goal, which is why Australia are rarely treated as easy opponents by England’s coaching staff.
The Last Real Lineup: England 1-0 Australia, October 2023
For anyone comparing England National Football Team vs Australia National Football Team Lineups across the years, the 2023 game is the most useful reference point. England started with Sam Johnstone in goal, a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Lewis Dunk, Fikayo Tomori and Levi Colwill, Jordan Henderson and Conor Gallagher in midfield, with Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Jarrod Bowen supporting Ollie Watkins. Watkins scored the only goal in the 57th minute. Colwill and Gallagher were booked for England, while Australia’s Keanu Baccus, Ryan Strain and Jackson Irvine all went into the referee’s notebook in a game officiated by Stéphanie Frappart in front of 81,116 supporters.
Almost none of that England team would be a guaranteed starter today, which tells you how much has changed in three years.
England Squad and Player Details
Thomas Tuchel’s England blend experienced leaders with a growing group of young players. After the World Cup he named a 27-man squad for the opening Nations League matches, recalling Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer, although Palmer, Declan Rice and Marcus Rashford were among five players who later withdrew. That means availability, not just form, decides who starts.
Goalkeepers
Jordan Pickford remains the long-standing number one and a calm presence behind a young defence. James Trafford was handed the start against Spain in September and is now the main challenger. Jason Steele completes the goalkeeping group as an experienced third option.
Defenders
Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi formed a trusted partnership, and Konsa scored in the 6-4 win over France. Jarell Quansah was selected in the Spain starting XI, showing Tuchel’s willingness to rotate. Nico O’Reilly offers an attacking option at left-back. Trent Alexander-Arnold returned to the group after missing the World Cup and brings creative passing from right-back or midfield. Reece James, Ben White, John Stones and Djed Spence have all been part of recent selection discussions, and Tuchel can pick from them depending on fitness.
Midfielders
Declan Rice is the team’s anchor and scored in the third minute against France. Jude Bellingham was England’s standout performer at the World Cup, scoring against Croatia, Panama and France, and twice each against Mexico and Norway. Elliot Anderson and Myles Lewis-Skelly formed the double pivot against Spain, giving the side energy and progressive passing. Cole Palmer, when available, supplies a different kind of creativity between the lines.
Forwards
Harry Kane is captain and talisman. He arrived at the World Cup with 78 England goals, scored twice against Croatia and DR Congo, converted a penalty against Mexico and added to the record. Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick, including a penalty, in the third-place game against France. Anthony Gordon scored England’s goal in the semi-final against Argentina and is a regular on the left. Marcus Rashford scored against Croatia in the group stage and offers pace when fit.
Australia Squad and Player Details
Australia’s 2026 squad is a mix of veterans and uncapped or recently capped talent. The season has seen 26 players used and five debutants, which signals a team in transition but not in decline.
Goalkeepers
Patrick Beach surprised many by starting at the World Cup and kept a clean sheet against Turkey, appearing in all four tournament matches. Mathew Ryan, the captain and veteran, was introduced for the penalty shoot-out against Egypt. Paul Izzo and Jacob Chapman provide depth.
Defenders
Harry Souttar is the physical centre of the defence and a major aerial threat in both boxes, though he missed in the shoot-out against Egypt. Alessandro Circati has become a key figure, scoring his first international goal against Curaçao and another against Brazil in Brisbane. Lucas Herrington and Cameron Burgess compete for the other centre-back place. At full-back, Jordan Bos scored the late winner against Cameroon and a goal against Curaçao, while Aziz Behich, Jacob Italiano and Jason Geria offer experience and alternatives. Miloš Degenek is another option.
Midfielders
Aiden O’Neill has appeared in all ten matches this year, usually as the holding midfielder. Connor Metcalfe is the team’s most consistent attacking midfielder, scoring against Turkey and against Brazil. Jackson Irvine brings leadership and physical presence, while Paul Okon-Engstler also played in all ten matches. Cristian Volpato, who switched allegiance from Italy shortly before the World Cup, adds technical quality and flair. Ajdin Hrustic, Riley McGree and Alex Robertson give Popovic further variety.
Forwards
Nestory Irankunda is the headline name. The young winger is Australia’s top scorer in 2026 with four goals, including the opener against Turkey and a stunning free kick against Brazil. Tete Yengi scored on his debut against Switzerland. Mohamed Touré, Awer Mabil, Nishan Velupillay, Mathew Leckie and Marcus Younis (who debuted against Brazil in Townsville) give the squad pace and depth.
Projected Starting Lineups
Because no fixture is scheduled, any version of England National Football Team vs Australia National Football Team Lineups has to be a projection. The following XIs are built from each side’s most recent competitive selections and are not official team sheets. Injuries and withdrawals could change them.
England projected XI (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Jordan Pickford |
| RB | Trent Alexander-Arnold |
| CB | Ezri Konsa |
| CB | Marc Guehi |
| LB | Nico O’Reilly |
| CM | Declan Rice |
| CM | Elliot Anderson |
| RW | Bukayo Saka |
| AM | Jude Bellingham |
| LW | Anthony Gordon |
| ST | Harry Kane (c) |
For comparison, the side that began the Spain game was Trafford; Konsa, Guehi, Quansah, O’Reilly; Anderson, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane. If Tuchel treated an Australia game as a chance to rotate, expect Trafford, Quansah and Lewis-Skelly to feature.
Australia projected XI (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Patrick Beach |
| RB | Jason Geria |
| CB | Harry Souttar |
| CB | Alessandro Circati |
| LB | Jordan Bos |
| CM | Aiden O’Neill |
| CM | Jackson Irvine |
| RW | Nestory Irankunda |
| AM | Connor Metcalfe |
| LW | Cristian Volpato |
| ST | Tete Yengi |
This is an informed guess rather than a confirmed selection. Popovic has rotated freely, and Okon-Engstler, Herrington, Touré and Mabil could all start depending on form and fitness.
Key Battles to Watch
Kane against Souttar and Circati. England’s captain will test the aerial strength and positioning of Australia’s centre-backs. Souttar is among the tallest defenders in international football, so England will probably look to move the ball quickly and attack the spaces behind him.
Bellingham against O’Neill and Irvine. Bellingham’s late runs into the box produced seven goals at the World Cup. Australia’s midfield will need to track him tightly and stay compact.
Irankunda against England’s left-back. Irankunda’s pace and direct running make him Australia’s most dangerous outlet. Whoever starts on England’s left will need support from Rice or Anderson.
Set pieces. Souttar and Circati are threats from corners. England have been prone to conceding in open, high-scoring games, such as the 6-4 win over France and the 3-2 win over Mexico, so Australia’s route to goal may be dead-ball situations and quick counters.
Latest 10 Matches: England
| Date | Opponent | Competition | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Oct 2026 | Czech Republic (H) | Nations League | England 3-0 Czech Republic | Win |
| 3 Oct 2026 | Croatia (A) | Nations League | Croatia 0-7 England | Win |
| 29 Sep 2026 | Czech Republic (A) | Nations League | Czech Republic 0-2 England | Win |
| 26 Sep 2026 | Spain (H) | Nations League | England 2-3 Spain | Loss |
| 18 Jul 2026 | France | World Cup third-place play-off | France 4-6 England | Win |
| 15 Jul 2026 | Argentina | World Cup semi-final | England 1-2 Argentina | Loss |
| 11 Jul 2026 | Norway | World Cup quarter-final | Norway 1-2 England (AET) | Win |
| 5 Jul 2026 | Mexico (A) | World Cup round of 16 | Mexico 2-3 England | Win |
| 1 Jul 2026 | DR Congo | World Cup round of 32 | England 2-1 DR Congo | Win |
| 27 Jun 2026 | Panama | World Cup group stage | Panama 0-2 England | Win |
England won eight of these ten matches, scoring 30 goals. The only blemishes were the narrow defeats to Spain and Argentina, both against elite opposition. The Czech Republic appears twice in the Nations League run, home and away, as the fixture list shows.
Latest 10 Matches: Australia
| Date | Opponent | Competition | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Sep 2026 | Brazil (H, Brisbane) | Friendly | Australia 2-4 Brazil | Loss |
| 25 Sep 2026 | Brazil (H, Townsville) | Friendly | Australia 1-1 Brazil | Draw |
| 3 Jul 2026 | Egypt (Arlington) | World Cup round of 32 | Australia 1-1 Egypt (Egypt won 4-2 on penalties) | Draw, lost on penalties |
| 25 Jun 2026 | Paraguay | World Cup group stage | Paraguay 0-0 Australia | Draw |
| 19 Jun 2026 | United States (Seattle) | World Cup group stage | USA 2-0 Australia | Loss |
| 13 Jun 2026 | Turkey (Vancouver) | World Cup group stage | Australia 2-0 Turkey | Win |
| 6 Jun 2026 | Switzerland (San Diego) | Friendly | Australia 1-1 Switzerland | Draw |
| 30 May 2026 | Mexico (Pasadena) | Friendly | Mexico 1-0 Australia | Loss |
| 31 Mar 2026 | Curaçao (Melbourne) | FIFA Series | Australia 5-1 Curaçao | Win |
| 27 Mar 2026 | Cameroon (Sydney) | FIFA Series | Australia 1-0 Cameroon | Win |
Australia recorded three wins, four draws (counting the Egypt shoot-out loss as a draw after 120 minutes) and three defeats, scoring 13 and conceding 11. They have not won since beating Turkey on 13 June, a five-match winless run, but they have not been outclassed either.
Tactical Outlook
Tuchel’s England generally control possession and rely on Rice and Anderson to shield the back line while Bellingham and the wide forwards attack space. The cost is that they can be exposed on transitions, as the Spain and Argentina games showed. Against a disciplined Australian side, patience will matter. England should be able to dominate territory, but they will need quick circulation to break a compact block.
Popovic’s Australia are more adventurous than past Socceroos teams. They press, they use Irankunda and Volpato to carry the ball forward, and they are comfortable playing out through Circati. The Brazil games showed both strengths and weaknesses: they scored three times across two matches but also conceded five. Against England, the likely plan is to stay compact, hit quickly on the break and use Souttar at set pieces.
Prediction
On recent evidence England are clear favourites. They are a World Cup bronze medallist with a deep squad, and their individual quality in attack is hard to match. Australia, though, have proven they can score against top opposition and would not be overawed. A reasonable expectation is a comfortable but not effortless England win, perhaps 2-0 or 3-1, with Australia likely to find a goal from a set piece or a quick break.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When do England and Australia play next?
As of 1 November 2026, I could not find a confirmed men’s senior fixture between the two teams. Their most recent meeting was the 1-0 England win at Wembley on 13 October 2023. Check the FA and Football Australia websites for any announcement.
2. Who has the better head-to-head record?
England. Including the 2023 match, England have won five of eight meetings, with two draws and one Australian win, based on the Socceroos’ own preview figures plus the 2023 result.
3. Who is England’s captain and main striker?
Harry Kane captains England and leads the line. He came into the 2026 World Cup with 78 England goals and added to the total during the tournament.
4. Who is Australia’s most dangerous attacker?
Nestory Irankunda is Australia’s top scorer in 2026 with four goals. His pace, dribbling and free-kick ability make him the biggest threat. Connor Metcalfe and Tete Yengi are also scoring regularly.
5. Are the projected lineups official?
No. Official team sheets are published about an hour before kick-off. The XIs in this article are projections based on recent selections and could change because of injuries, withdrawals and tactical decisions.
Final Thoughts
When the two nations are next drawn together, England National Football Team vs Australia National Football Team Lineups will probably show a familiar spine for England around Kane, Bellingham, Rice and Saka, and a youthful, pacy attack for Australia led by Irankunda, Yengi and Metcalfe. England are favourites on form and depth, but Australia have the tools to make it uncomfortable. Bookmark this page and check the confirmed team sheets an hour before kick-off, because injuries and rotation can change the picture quickly.
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