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Published 20 February 2023 4 min read
England

England men's and women's teams to host Australia

Written by:

Andy Walker

The Lionesses and Three Lions will both play the Aussies on home soil in 2023

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England will have a unique international double this year with both women’s and men’s senior teams going head-to-head against Australia in London.

On Tuesday 11 April (7.45pm BST kick-off), the Lionesses will welcome the Matildas to Brentford for an Alzheimer’s Society International before the Socceroos travel to take on the Three Lions at Wembley Stadium connected by EE on Friday 13 October (7.45pm BST kick-off).

In between the two Australia matches, Sarina Wiegman’s squad will head Down Under in July for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023.

The Lionesses have not played against Australia since October 2018 when Fran Kirby scored in a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage, Fulham, while the last meeting for the men was a 2-1 victory at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light in May 2016. An 18-year-old Marcus Rashford made history that day by becoming the youngest male player to score on his England debut.

April will be another busy month for Wiegman as before the Australia date, she will lead her EURO winners against South American champions Brazil in the Finalissima 2023 at a sold-out Wembley on Thursday 6 April.

These follow the Lionesses’ final Arnold Clark Cup fixture against Belgium in Bristol on Wednesday, which comes on the back of victories against Korea Republic and Italy to get 2023 kicked-off.
Lucy Bronze was part of the England team who shared a 1-1 draw with Australia in 2018
Lucy Bronze was part of the England team who shared a 1-1 draw with Australia in 2018
My England Football priority window: 12pm, Tuesday 21 February – 2.59pm, Wednesday 22 February

My England Football members get first access to tickets for England Women v Australia. A link to access the priority window will be sent via email on Tuesday 21 February. To receive the email, you must have signed up to My England Football by 11am on Tuesday 21 February 2023 and opted in to receive emails, ensuring ‘England Women’s senior team’ is selected in your contact preferences.

The FA announced a two-year charity partnership with Alzheimer’s Society in August 2021, and the high-profile women’s fixture against Australia, raising vital funds and awareness, follows on from a notable men’s match dedicated to the same good cause last year.

On 26 March 2022, goals from Luke Shaw and Harry Kane helped England men to a 2-1 defeat of Switzerland at Wembley in the first Alzheimer’s Society International. The Three Lions came on to the pitch for the second half without names on the back of their shirts to highlight how people with dementia often experience memory loss.
20 Feb 2023 6:27

Highlights: England 1-1 Australia


A look back at the Lionesses' last game with the Matildas, when they met at Craven Cottage in 2018

“We’re always looking for different challenges and we’re really happy to play two more strong non-European teams in Brazil and Australia in April,” said England women’s head coach Wiegman.

“They will both be competitive at the World Cup, and Australia will give everything to impress because they’re going into a home tournament with big expectation. They will want to show they are in good shape for the finals.”

Thirteen of England’s EURO winners featured in Team GB’s 4-3 quarter-final defeat by Australia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in June 2021, including the now-retired Ellen White who scored a hat-trick but still finished on the losing side.

Wiegman added: “We know Australia have players at the highest level, so for us it’s another opportunity to see where we stand in our preparation for the World Cup. It will also be very special to play them at Brentford as it was a great EURO stadium. We want to create more excitement for our fans as we prepare for what we hope will be another memorable summer.”

Tickets for England Women v Australia at the Gtech Community Stadium will go on sale from 12pm on Tuesday 21 February exclusively for My England Football members, with general sale from 3pm on Wednesday 22 February. 
Marcus Rashford scored his first goal for England's senior team against the Socceroos in 2016
Marcus Rashford scored his first goal for England's senior team against the Socceroos in 2016
The men’s team have a different road ahead with a year of EURO 2024 qualifiers beginning with Italy away and Ukraine at home on Thursday 23 and Sunday 26 March respectively.

Outside of the qualifiers, a ‘heritage match’ with Scotland at Hampden Park on Tuesday 12 September will mark the 150th anniversary of the first-ever meeting and fixing the Australia date means the 2023 calendar is complete.

“This will be a good challenge for us as Australia performed well at the World Cup despite against having four tough opponents,” said Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate.

“I imagine there will be a strong Aussie contingent in London for both games. We all know the sporting rivalry between our two countries and that alone will add an extra edge.”

In total, the Three Lions have played the Socceroos on seven occasions, winning four times and drawing twice, but only two of those fixtures have come on home soil with the aforementioned game at Sunderland in 2016 and a match at West Ham’s Upton Park in 2003.

Ticket details for the men’s game with Australia will be announced later this year.
20 Feb 2023 5:33

Highlights: England 2-1 Australia


The Three Lions last took on the Aussies in a preparation game for EURO 2016, at Sunderland's Stadium of Light