# Socceroos Face Security Concerns Ahead of Jordan Friendly Match Football Australia evaluates safety risks for upcoming international friendlies in the Middle East. - **Source:** [ABC Australia – Sport](https://www.abc.net.au/news/sport) - **Published:** 2026-11-07 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/22a5c5e8-5b0d-48e3-a5dd-c1a67a4cd7f9 ## Security Assessment Ongoing Football Australia is actively monitoring the security environment before the Socceroos travel to Amman, Jordan. While the match remains scheduled for November 16, officials are conducting ongoing risk assessments. This follows recent decisions by other national teams, such as Indonesia, to cancel their own planned friendly fixtures in the region due to safety. ## Player Safety Concerns Professional Footballers Australia, representing the players, has urged the governing body to relocate or reschedule the Jordan match. Many athletes have expressed significant apprehension regarding their safety in the current climate. Football Australia maintains that the wellbeing of staff and players remains the absolute highest priority during these upcoming international window preparations. ## Squad Selection Changes Coach Tony Popovic announced an inexperienced squad featuring seven uncapped players for the upcoming Middle East tour. Notable veterans including captain Maty Ryan, Jackson Irvine, and Milos Degenek were omitted from the roster. It remains unclear if these absences are directly linked to the security concerns surrounding the scheduled matches in Jordan. ## New Talent Integration The squad includes several fresh faces such as Central Coast defender Diesel Herrington, Portsmouth striker Thomas Waddingham, and FC St. Pauli midfielder Sam Klein. These call-ups represent eight changes from the September roster. Popovic aims to utilize this camp to evaluate new talent and integrate them into the team's long-term tactical framework. ## Strategic Development Goals Despite the uncertainty, coach Tony Popovic emphasized the importance of the international window for team cohesion. With limited opportunities to gather, every training camp is vital for evolving the squad. The team is currently building toward the 2030 World Cup qualifying campaign and the rescheduled Asian Cup, which is now set for late 2027. ## Asian Cup Postponement The Asian Cup, originally slated for January, has been pushed back to December 2027. This delay was primarily driven by security concerns within the host nation, Saudi Arabia. The shift in the tournament schedule has forced national teams to recalibrate their preparation timelines and focus on maintaining squad fitness through these friendlies. ## Return of Experienced Players Attacker Daniel Arzani returns to the national setup following a strong run of form at Ferencvaros. Defender Gianni Stensness, who recently scored against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, has also been recalled. Their inclusion provides necessary experience to balance the seven uncapped players currently participating in the upcoming Middle East training camp. ## Future Outlook Football Australia continues to provide players with timely updates and comprehensive safety advice as the match date approaches. The organization must balance competitive sporting requirements with the volatile regional security landscape. Observers are now watching for any potential last-minute changes to the Amman fixture, similar to recent cancellations by other international football associations. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-08/socceroos-monitoring-security-ahead-of-friendlies/107360560 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._