Australia 1-1 Brazil — Irankunda's free-kick stunner cancelled out by Rayan in the 95th minute as Ancelotti's rebuild starts with a struggle [International Friendly]

2026-09-25

Australia

HOME

1-1

Brazil

AWAY

Australia: Nestory Irankunda 68'

Brazil: Rayan 95'

International Friendly: Australia hosted Brazil and the game finished 1-1.

Brazil's first match since their World Cup exit ended in a 1-1 draw in Townsville. Nestory Irankunda's 20-metre free kick put Australia ahead, and only Rayan's header in the fifth minute of stoppage time spared Carlo Ancelotti's side a defeat.

Australia and Brazil draw 1-1 as Rayan denies the Socceroos in the 95th minute

Australia and Brazil drew 1-1 in an international friendly at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. It was Brazil's first match since losing to Norway in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, and Carlo Ancelotti's rebuilding side were pressed high and harried for most of the night. Nestory Irankunda's free kick put the Socceroos ahead on 68 minutes, and Brazil found nothing until substitute Rayan headed in five minutes into stoppage time. Australia were seconds away from only their second ever win over Brazil, the first having come at the 2001 Confederations Cup. The match was a 25,440 sell-out.

Line-ups — Australia in a 3-4-2-1, Brazil with Vinícius, Raphinha and Estêvão behind Endrick

Australia started Patrick Beach in goal behind a back three of Lucas Herrington, Harry Souttar and Alessandro Circati. Aziz Behich, Jackson Irvine, Paul Okon-Engstler and Jacob Italiano made up the midfield four, with Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe behind Tete Yengi, the FC Machida Zelvia striker. Tony Popovic picked a young side, with the 19-year-old Herrington and 21-year-old Okon-Engstler both starting. Brazil lined up in a 4-2-3-1: Hugo Souza in goal, Douglas Santos, Vitor Reis, Marquinhos and Matheuzinho across the back, Danilo Santos and Bruno Guimarães in the double pivot, Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha and Estêvão behind Endrick.

First half — Australia on top, Estêvão's goal ruled out by VAR

The home side set the tone from the start, pressing high and forcing Brazil into mistakes and rushed passes. In the seventh minute Irankunda drove a shot from 20 metres that Hugo Souza did well to keep out. Italiano needed treatment on nine minutes but played on. Brazil kept the ball without creating much against the Australian back three. In first-half stoppage time Estêvão put the ball in the net, but VAR ruled that Bruno Guimarães had grabbed Souttar's leg in the build-up and the goal was disallowed. Brazil also appealed for a penalty when Herrington appeared to pull Endrick's shirt, but nothing was given, and it was goalless at the break.

68 minutes — Irankunda's free kick clears the wall and dips into the top corner

Beach made a fine save early in the second half to keep it level, and Ancelotti reacted by sending on Douglas Luiz for Bruno Guimarães on 62 minutes, then Samuel Lino and Pedro for Vinícius and Endrick three minutes later. It was Australia who struck first. On 68 minutes Irankunda stood over a free kick 20 metres out, just left of centre, and whipped it with his right foot over the four-man wall. The ball dipped viciously into the top left corner and Hugo Souza did not move. The 20-year-old Sporting CP forward celebrated with his trademark backflip.

90+5 — Rayan heads in from Raphinha's cross to rescue Brazil

Souttar needed treatment on 72 minutes but stayed on, and he and Herrington threw themselves in front of shot after shot as Brazil pushed for an equaliser. Ancelotti made a triple change on 76 minutes, bringing on Jair, Mauro Júnior and Rayan, and Popovic answered with Marcus Younis, Jason Geria and Aiden O'Neill on 84. Younis, the 21-year-old Brøndby forward, was making his debut. Brazil still found a way. Five minutes into stoppage time, with a corner recycled, Raphinha delivered a right-footed cross and Rayan met it in the middle of the box; the header came off Beach, hit the crossbar and crossed the line. The 20-year-old Bournemouth forward had spared Brazil a defeat.

Brazil had the numbers, Australia had the performance

Brazil finished with 65% of the ball and 16 shots to seven, five of them on target to Australia's two. Australia won more corners, nine to eight, and Beach made four saves. The numbers flattered Brazil: Bruno Guimarães said afterwards that the team should be performing much, much better, while Ancelotti complained that the pitch was not good enough to play good football on. For Popovic, controlling long spells of a match against a five-time world champion with a young line-up was the biggest positive of the night.

Next up — the rematch in Brisbane on 29 September

The two sides meet again on 29 September at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The questions are whether Australia can repeat the high press that unsettled Brazil, and how Ancelotti fixes the problems exposed in his first match since the World Cup. Whether he starts Raphinha and Vinícius again or turns to the younger players left on the bench will be the main point of interest.

See the Australia vs Brazil predicted lineups for 29 September