Football Australia (FA) is hopeful of finding a “resolution” to the Socceroos’ scheduled friendly in Jordan that has prompted fears players could withdraw from national team selection over security concerns.
Chair Anter Isaac said on Sydney radio station SEN1170 that the safety and security of players was FA’s top priority as the Socceroos, currently in camp in Doha, prepare to face Qatar on Saturday before travelling to Amman to face Jordan on November 18.
FA chief executive Martin Kugeler and his counterpart at the players’ union, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) boss Beau Busch, have both travelled to Doha amid fears players could pull out of the fixture because of the uncertain situation in Jordan.
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Busch said in a statement last week that Socceroos players “have overwhelmingly expressed their view that the Jordan match should be rescheduled or relocated”.
Isaac explained the friendlies were arranged with a view to January’s Asian Cup – Jordan and Qatar were finalists four years ago – which has since been delayed by 11 months due to conflict in Saudi Arabia.
“Of paramount importance is the safety and security of our players and our staff,” Isaac said on Tuesday.
“I know that the team on the ground there is working through things.
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“The Qatar game goes ahead and we’re hopeful that we can find a resolution for the Jordan game.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) advises Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Jordan following a stabbing in the capital and a gun attack on an orthodox in a church in the country’s south over the last month.
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has already indicated that, if players did withdraw, it would not cloud their selection hopes moving forward.
One possible solution, FA is understood to be considering, is asking to move the Jordan game to Qatar.
That would allay the fears of Socceroos players and save face for the Jordanian FA.
Jordan’s November window has already been hampered by Indonesia withdrawing from their friendly which was scheduled to take place this Friday over the security situation.
Qatar v Socceroos
Date: Friday, 13 November 2026
Venue: Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha
Kick-off: 5:45pm local / 1:45am AEDT (Saturday, 14 November)
Broadcast: Paramount+
Jordan v Socceroos
Date: Tuesday, 17 November 2026
Venue: Amman International Stadium, Amman
Kick-off: 7:00pm local / 3:00am AEDT (Wednesday, 18 November)
Broadcast: Paramount+
