What is the nickname of the Australia men's national soccer team?
The team is officially nicknamed the Socceroos. Sydney journalist Tony Horstead coined the name in 1967 during the team's goodwill tour to South Vietnam.
Questions about Australia men's national soccer team
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did the Australia men's national soccer team move from the Oceania Football Confederation to the Asian Football Confederation?
The move took effect on the 1st of January 2006, after FIFA approved it on the 30th of June 2005. Australia still had to qualify for the 2006 World Cup as an Oceania member until the switch took effect.
What is the biggest win in the history of the Australia men's national soccer team?
Australia beat American Samoa 31-0 on the 11th of April 2001 during World Cup qualifying, still the largest victory margin in senior international football. Archie Thompson scored 13 goals and David Zdrilic scored eight in that match.
Who holds the record for most caps and most goals for the Australia men's national soccer team?
Mark Schwarzer holds the most caps, 109 between 1993 and 2013. Tim Cahill holds the most goals, 50 in 108 appearances between 2004 and 2018.
Has the Australia men's national soccer team ever won the AFC Asian Cup?
Yes, Australia won the 2015 AFC Asian Cup as hosts, beating South Korea 2-1 after extra time on the 31st of January. The win made Australia the only team in the world to have won two different confederation championships, having also won the OFC Nations Cup four times.
How far has the Australia men's national soccer team gone at the FIFA World Cup?
Australia has reached the World Cup knockout stage twice, in 2006 and 2022. Italy eliminated Australia 1-0 in the 2006 round of 16, and Argentina eliminated Australia 2-1 in the 2022 round of 16.