In their final match before coach Tony Popovic selects his World Cup team, the Socceroos were defeated 1-0 by co-hosts Mexico.
In front of a boisterous, localized audience of 78,479 spectators at the Rose Bowl stadium, Australia was utterly subjugated by the world No. 15 team until retaliating after halftime, albeit in vain.
Mohamed Toure should have tied the score just before halftime, but Johan Vasquez’s header in the 28th minute proved the difference.
Australia got better after halftime, but in the 76th minute, Mexico tried a fast free kick and believed they had scored, but it was ruled back, sparking an all-out brawl.
Mathew Leckie and Harry Souttar had their first starts since late 2024 in Popovic’s mostly seasoned lineup, which he announced the day before he selected his team on June 1.
Nestory Irankunda made a late appearance, and Cristian Volpato, who had just arrived in camp on Saturday morning after defecting from Italy, naturally did not make the squad.
In Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the Australians in Los Angeles, Gilberto Mora of Mexico beats Socceroo Aziz Behich to the ball.
As he gets ready to announce his World Cup team on Monday, coach Tony Popovic (seen motivating his team after the game) will have questions following the loss.
Before increasing their vigor in the second half, the Australians were totally subjugated by their competitors.
The 15-man bench did not include uncapped striker Tete Yengi, attacker Brandon Borrello, or backup goalkeeper Joe Gauci.
Leckie made just three appearances since the 2022 World Cup and began as an inverted right winger in his first game since November 2024.
In his first game since December 2024, Souttar was in the starting back three with 18-year-old Lucas Herrington, who seems set for his first World Cup, and Alessandro Circati.
Among the bright spots were Herrington, Souttar, Jordy Bos, and Toure in flashes.
Mexico dominated the first half after Souttar denied a Vasquez shot in the first minute.
Toure was furious when Edson Alvarez took him down in the seventh minute, but his cries for a foul and card went unanswered.
In the fifteenth minute, Jackson Irvine missed a shot, while in the twenty-fifth, Mat Ryan skillfully stopped Alexis Vega.
Vasquez ghosted in behind Aiden O’Neill, leaped, and turned a bullet header on to the post that beat Ryan to give Mexico the lead after Vega whipped in a corner.
Toure should have scored in stoppage time after chipping wide of an open goalmouth after Mateo Chavez Garcia’s failed defensive header.
When legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who was going to his fifth World Cup, joined the game at halftime and punched aside O’Neill’s fierce long-range shot three minutes later, the stadium was in awe.
After halftime, Australia’s play was notably more intense, and Popovic rotated a lot during the half.
The key events of the half were the non-goal and the altercation that followed, as Mexico withstood a late surge from the Socceroos.
Before the team is revealed, Australia will travel to their Bay Area camp on Sunday (Monday AEST). On June 6, they will play Switzerland in another friendly in San Diego.
