2026 World Cup preparations; how to watch, kick-off time, live updates, scores and results from Houston, Texas
Emboldened by rediscovering their signature physicality, the fierce Socceroos are ready for whatever Venezuela can throw at them.
Saturday’s game in Houston and next Wednesday’s match against Colombia in New York will be Australia’s first against South American opposition since two friendly matches against Ecuador at the start of 2023.
Midfielder Aiden O’Neill expects the world number 50 from Venezuela to present both technical and physical challenges at the Shell Energy Stadium.
“Obviously playing different types of teams is very important,” O’Neill told AAP. “With South American teams, it’s historically a very physical game. I think in those two games we showed in the last period that we’re definitely ready to fight and we can definitely bring our physicality into the game.”
Australia ruffled some feathers with its aggression in friendlies against Canada and the USA last month.
Socceroos boss Tony Popovic was pleased after bemoaning a lack of physicality in his first games at the helm.
“The boss also said there is no such thing as friendship,” O’Neill said. “It’s a group that really goes out there and we’re certainly not treating it as friendly. This is a new opportunity for the team to continue to improve and we’re going out there and we’re not holding back at all.”
Aiden O’Neill.Credit: Getty Images
O’Neill has first-hand experience of the competitiveness of South American rivals.
“There are a few South Americans on my team in New York,” he said. “They can be quite feisty at times and yes, they can be late in tackles and stuff. But it’s just part of the game and they can bring some spirit to games, you can call it that, and we’ll bring the same.”
Defender Milos Degenek will not worry about Venezuela facing difficulties after missing out on World Cup qualification.
“I don’t think we’re afraid of those tackles and things like that, even though they’re not deserved. I think it’s football,” he said. “You’re going to face teams where they’re going to fly in, and then you’re going to face teams that don’t want to fly in. So that’s part of football. And I think we’re well prepared for both scenarios.”
The fans are expected to be largely pro-Venezuelan and Socceroos great John Aloisi knows the difficulties that could arise in these two matches.
“You expect a lot of noise and that’s what the World Cup will be like,” he told AAP. “Most likely we will draw with the South American side.”
