PASADENA, California — Australia and Mexico met Saturday at the Rose Bowl in what served as the Socceroos’ final audition before coach Tony Popovic names his 26-player World Cup roster, according to ESPN.
The match was staged at the iconic Pasadena venue as part of Australia’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup. ESPN provided live coverage of the fixture, with Adam Sheldon handling play-by-play duties, and on-site reaction from Alex Hatzikostas and Joey Lynch, the network said.
ESPN described the game as the Socceroos’ penultimate outing ahead of their World Cup opener against Türkiye. The contest offered one of the last opportunities for players to press their claims for inclusion in Popovic’s squad, the network added.
Among those mentioned as figures to watch were uncapped striker Tete Yengi and midfield candidates hoping for an opportunity to impress. ESPN also noted the recent arrival of Cristian Volpato to Socceroos camp, raising the possibility that he could make his international debut.
Fans could follow the action through ESPN’s gamecast and live blog, with additional information available via ESPN’s Socceroos homepage, the network said.
