All Whites to play Australia for historic Soccer Ashes trophy

The recently rediscovered Soccer Ashes will be up for grabs when the All Whites next play the Socceroos.

New Zealand Football have locked in another international friendly match against trans-Tasman rivals Australia, to be played at a yet to be confirmed venue in London on October 17.

Adding extra significance to the occasion, the All Whites and Socceroos will play for the historic Soccer Ashes trophy for the first time since 1954.

The trophy contains the ashes of cigars smoked by New Zealand captain George Campbell and Australian captain Alex Gibb following the first meeting between the two nations in June 1923.

Built by New Zealand trophy maker Harry Mayer in 1932, 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.

The Soccer Ashes trophy had been missing for 69 years until it was recovered in April by the family of Football Australia hall of fame member Sydney Storey, who served as an administrator between 1922 and his death in 1966.

NZ Football hope the Soccer Ashes will become a regular fixture on the international calendar.

“We know how much football fans on both sides of the Tasman want to see this fixture, and with the rediscovery of the Soccer Ashes trophy, this match has more relevance than ever,” NZ Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell said.

“This is a truly historic trophy, and it will be brilliant to see it played for this year, and in future years, for the first time since the 1950s.

“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.

“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.”

Newly-appointed All Whites coach Darren Bazeley said he was excited to play the Socceroos for such an historic prize.

The All Whites and Socceroos rekindled their rivalry with two matches last September which marked the 100-year anniversary of the first A international between New Zealand and Australia.

It was the first time they had played in 11 years and the Socceroos won both fixtures; 1-0 in Brisbane and 2-0 in Auckland.

“Playing Australia is always special but with this trophy on the line for the first time in nearly 70 years, this will be a really historic moment,” 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.

“We look forward to seeing all of the Kiwis in London this October.”

The match will be played in London four days after the Socceroos play England at Wembley Stadium.

NZ Football is still weighing up whether to arrange a friendly of their own for the first half of the October window.

The All Whites have not played since their controversial clash with Qatar in Austria in June, which was abandoned following claims defender Michael Boxall was racially abused by an opposition player.