The Socceroos have had something of a rivalry with Japan since Australia moved into the AFC after the 2006 World Cup.

With the two countries being among the top competitors in the continent and also within East Asia, the two sides have clashed countless times over the years in important games.

It hasn’t always been a happy fixture for the Socceroos, with multiple managers being tested by the Samurai Blue in recent times.

But when is the last time the Socceroos beat Japan? The Sporting News looks at the head-to-head stats between the two countries.

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Socceroos vs Japan head-to-head record, stats

• Matches: 28
• Socceroos wins: 7
• Draws: 10
• Japan wins: 11

Japan sits ahead on the overall head-to-head rankings between the two sides with 11 wins to Australia’s seven, though draws have been common, with nine occurring between the sides since the first meeting way back in the 1956 Olympics.

However, dig deeper and you’ll find the Socceroos have had a tough time against Japan lately.

They haven’t been able to defeat Japan in the last nine meetings, with Japan winning six of them and the rest being drawn.

Australia has also been unable to win consecutive games over Japan, and has never won in Japan in nine attempts dating back to 1994.

Japan has also beaten the Socceroos twice at the Asian Cup, eliminating them in the quarter-finals in 2007, and beating them in the final four years later.

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When was the last time the Socceroos beat Japan?

The last time the Socceroos beat Japan was in 2009, when they secured a 1-0 win at the MCG in the qualification campaign for the 2010 World Cup.

Two goals from Tim Cahill in the second half helped Australia to a come from behind 2-1 win after Japan had taken the lead in the first half.

It is one of just two wins the Socceroos have over Japan this century, thought the other one lives in Australian football folklore.

The sides met in the opening match of group stage of the 2006 World Cup, which was Australia’s first at the tournament in 32 years.

Japan controversially took the lead in the first half through Shunsuke Nakamura, but Australia’s Golden Generation wouldn’t lie down.

Tim Cahill scored two goals in five minutes, before John Aloisi scored the clincher in stoppage time to secure a 3-1 win, Australia’s first ever at the World Cup; in the words of Simon Hill, it certainly was “a wonderful moment in Kaiserslautern.”

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When do the Socceroos and Japan play next?

As has become something of an unintentional tradition, the two countries have once again been drawn to face each other in 2026 World Cup qualification.

The next meeting will be in Australia and is scheduled for June 5th, 2025.