Australia’s soccer team will play Argentina in a friendly in China. Watch the Subway Socceroos vs Argentina on Thursday, 15 June from 2130 AEST live and free on 10 Play.
On June 15, when an Australian national sporting team makes a rare visit on Chinese territory, the Socceroos and Argentina will resume their recent rivalry in a friendly match to be played in Beijing.
At the World Cup in Qatar last year, Lionel Messi scored as he led his team to a 2-1 victory over the Socceroos, helping the South Americans win the tournament for a third time.
A second match has long been rumored to occur. Coach Graham Arnold expressed his wish for the game to proceed last month, saying he had “goosebumps” simply thinking about the possibility.
Why is the Australia vs Argentina game being held in China?
According to a statement from Football Australia, a number of Chinese businesspeople are providing financial assistance for the game.
This match was made possible, according to a statement, by the event’s organizers, China Rainbow International Investment Co. Ltd, with assistance from the Beijing Football Association, Beijing Yiyang Gengyun Sports Culture Co. Ltd, and Shanxi Provincial Sports Industry Group Co. Ltd.
Johnson, the CEO of Football Australia, previously stated in The Australian that the plan is compatible with the Australian government’s strategy to maintain good relations with China.