Australia Beat Cameroon 1-0 in World Cup Tune-Up
Jordan Bos delivered a match-winning strike in the dying minutes to hand Australia a narrow 1-0 victory over Cameroon in a largely uninspiring FIFA Series 2026 friendly at Stadium Australia in Sydney, giving the Socceroos a timely confidence boost ahead of the FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The Feyenoord midfielder latched onto a pass from Paul Okon and beat a defender in the 85th minute to settle a contest that had offered little in the way of goalscoring opportunities, ending a two-match losing run for Tony Popovic’s side following defeats to Venezuela and Colombia in the previous international window.
“First half we couldn’t really break through, and then second half we kept on coming,” Bos said after the match. “We had some chances and it was coming down to the last 10 minutes, and I got the goal in and we got the win. So that’s important.”
Australia’s victory was not without frustration. Ajdin Hrustic squandered a golden opportunity from the penalty spot with 20 minutes remaining after Cameroon debutant Oliver Kamdem conceded a spot-kick, only for goalkeeper Devis Epassy to dive the right way and keep the scores level.
The match was part of the FIFA Series 2026, a preparatory mini-tournament that also featured fellow World Cup qualifier Curacao, who lost 2-0 to China in an earlier fixture at the same venue.
Popovic used the occasion to cast his eyes over fringe players with World Cup squad places still undecided. He handed senior debuts to 18-year-old Colorado Rapids defender Lucas Herrington and Poland-based striker Deni Juric, both of whom showed composure in a lively opening phase before being replaced at half-time.
Nestory Irankunda and Awer Mabil were introduced up front for the second half and immediately lifted the tempo, with Irankunda going close on two occasions before Bos’s decisive intervention.
Despite the positive result, the performance underlined concerns about Australia’s attacking fluency. Both sides struggled to assert control on a slippery pitch, and Cameroon — rebuilding after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup — matched the hosts for long stretches without testing either goalkeeper significantly.
Australia, who are set to appear at a sixth consecutive World Cup, have been drawn in Group D alongside co-hosts the United States, Paraguay, and a yet-to-be-determined European nation following the conclusion of the UEFA qualification playoffs.
The Socceroos return to action in their next FIFA Series fixture against Curacao as Popovic continues refining his final squad selection ahead of the tournament.