Australia–New Zealand soccer rivalry
The Australia–New Zealand soccer rivalry is a sports rivalry that exists between the Australian men's/women's vs. New Zealand men's/women's national teams. It forms a part of a wider Trans-Tasman rivalry between the geographical neighbours of Australia and New Zealand in a range of sports including cricket, rugby league, rugby union and netball. Due to the countries' similar histories, language, and cultural and sporting interests, this wider rivalry is frequently referred to in the press as analogous to a sibling rivalry, although some fans, especially in New Zealand, reject this analogy as condescending.
Australia vs. New Zealand friendly match at Craven Cottage, London, 9 June 2005 | |
| Other names | Socceroos vs. All Whites (men) Matildas vs. Football Ferns (women) Australasia derby |
|---|---|
| Location | Australia (AFC) New Zealand (OFC) |
| Teams | Australia men's Australia women's New Zealand men's New Zealand women's |
| First meeting | Men: New Zealand 3–1 Australia (17 June 1922) Women: Australia 2–2 New Zealand (6 October 1979) |
| Latest meeting | Men: Australia 2–0 New Zealand (17 October 2023) Women: Australia 3–1 New Zealand (12 April 2022) |
| Next meeting | TBD |
| Trophy | Trans-Tasman Cup Soccer Ashes |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | Men: 67 Women: 53 |
| Most wins | Men: Australia (43) Women: Australia (35) |
| Top scorer | George Smith (16) |
| All-time series | Men: Australia: 43 New Zealand: 13 Draws: 11 Women: Australia: 35 New Zealand: 10 Draws: 8 |
| Largest victory | Men: New Zealand 0–10 Australia (11 July 1936) Women: Australia 6–0 New Zealand (4 February 2007) |
Australia New Zealand | |
The rivalry was more intense when Australia and New Zealand were both members of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and regularly contested finals of the OFC Nations Cup and for top position in OFC World Cup Qualification campaigns. The rivalry has since been less frequent since Australia left the OFC to join the more competitive Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2006. In 2022, Football Australia and New Zealand Football planned a home and away series, to mark the 100th anniversary of the first meeting between the two nations, which was first played in Dunedin back in 1922. Australia has the better record overall in both the men's and women's fixtures.