Battle for ‘Soccer Ashes’ to be renewed in London

Liberato Cacace of the Allwhites in action during the Australia Socceroos v New Zealand All Whites International Football match at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia on Thursday 22 September 2022.
© Copyright photo: Jason O’Brien / www.photosport.nz
Photo: Jason O’Brien / www.photosport.nz

The All Whites will play Australia in London in October for the recently rediscovered Soccer Ashes trophy.

The two side’s will play for the trophy, which was thought lost until April this year, for the first time since 1954.

The match will be played on October 17th although a venue is yet to be confirmed.

Housed in a wooden casket and constructed from a combination of rewarewa and Australian maple, the trophy contains the ashes of cigars smoked by Australian captain Alex Gibb and New Zealand captain George Campbell following the first meeting between the two nations in Australia in June 1923.

Photo: Football Australia

The Ashes are held in a silver-plated razor case that was carried by Queensland Football Association Secretary Private William Fisher at the landing of Gallipoli in 1915.

Currently the international calendar does not support the staging of an annual match between both nations, however both countries are looking for opportunities to play more games.

The two sides have played against one another 66 times with Australia winning 42 games to New Zealand’s 13 with 11 draws.

Australia have scored 158 goals to 70 by New Zealand

“This match, as well as last September’s 100 year anniversary games, the A-League expansion in Aotearoa New Zealand, and of course the FIFA Women’s World Cup, signifies the ongoing collaboration between New Zealand Football and Football Australia which can only benefit the game as a whole in this part of the world,” said NZF chief executive Andrew Pragnell.

“We have a significant leadership role to play in football development across the Asia Pacific region and we are stronger together through our continued partnership and alignment.”

All Whites head coach Darren Bazeley said “this game continues the high-quality fixtures we are scheduling every window to really challenge the team leading into the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign.”

-RNZ