The Soccer Ashes is an association football trophy contested by Australia and New Zealand. It was initially held between the 1920s and 1950s before the trophy was lost. The trophy was found in 2023, and a renewal was held in London in October.
History The concept of awarding a trophy made of ashes was inspired by the Ashes urn awarded to the winner of series between Australia and England in cricket.
The Soccer Ashes were created in 1923 after New Zealand had defeated Australia in the inaugural series in 1922. The ashes consisted of the remains of cigars smoked by the two captains, Alec Gibb (Australia) and George Campbell (New Zealand), after the first match between the two teams on Australian soil in June 1923. The ashes were encased in a razor case used by Australian soldier, William Fisher during the Gallipoli campaign during World War I. Fisher was also the secretary of the Queensland Football Association.Houston, J., (1952) Association football in New Zealand, Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed, p. 50. The case was then set in a box made of wood from both countries.
The whereabouts of the trophy were not known from the mid-1950s until it was found in 2023 at the estate of former Australian Soccer Football Association chairman Sydney Storey by his grandchildren. Upon the recovery of the trophy, the first edition of the match since 1954 was scheduled for October. It was played in London, with Australia winning the series.
The All Whites and Socceroos played a two-match series in September 2025. Australia won the first match 1–0 in Canberra and the second match 3–1 in Auckland, thereby securing the Soccer Ashes trophy.
List of Soccer Ashes series S Years Host M D Result 1 1922 3 0 2 1 2 1923 3 1 2 0 3 1933 3 3 0 0 4 1936 3 3 0 0 5 1948 3 3 0 0 6 1954 3 2 1 0 7 2023 1 1 0 0 8 2025 , 2 2 0 0
Editions 1922
New Zealand won 2−1–0 on series.
1923
New Zealand won 2−0–1 on series.
1933
Australia won 3−0–0 on series.
1936
Australia won 3−0–0 on series.
1948
Australia won 3−0–0 on series.
1954
Australia won 2−0–1 on series.
2023
GK 1 Mathew Ryan (c)RB17 Lewis Miller CB19 Harry SouttarCB23 Alessandro CircatiLB5 Jordan Bos DM20 Keanu BaccusRM6 Martin Boyle CM21 Massimo Luongo CM8 Connor Metcalfe LM16 Aziz BehichCF15 Mitchell Duke Substitutions:DF 13Ryan Strain FW 9Brandon Borrello FW 10Craig Goodwin MF 22Jackson Irvine MF 14Aiden O'Neill FW 7Samuel Silvera Manager:Graham Arnold GK 22 Michael WoudCB 5 Michael Boxall CB 6Bill Tuiloma CB 4Nando PijnakerRM 20Callum McCowattCM 7 Matthew GarbettCM 8Marko StamenićLM 13 Liberato CacaceRF 16Elijah Just CF 9Chris Wood (c) LF 17Alex Greive Substitutions:FW 14Joe Champness FW 19Ben Waine DF 2Niko Kirwan FW 21Max Mata DF 18Tyler Bindon Manager: Darren Bazeley
Assistant referees: Simon Bennett (England) Lee Betts (England) Fourth official: Darren England (England)
2025
Australia won 4–1 on aggregate.
Performances . + Overall Match Results: Matches played wins wins Draws 21 15 5 1
+ Overall Series Results: Series played wins wins Draws 8 6 2 0
Statistics Goalscorers
See also Trans-Tasman Cup Australia–New Zealand soccer rivalry
References