6 matches to watch over October's international window
Back by (un)popular demand, here's one match per day for you to watch over October's feast of international football
October is one of my favourite international windows, mostly because those who only watch the Premier League are still recovering from September’s, are seething that there is another right now and are in tears that there is another coming up in November!
But, dear reader, you are much more cultured and sensible than that and instead are trying to decide which matches you will be watching over the next few days.
That is where this guide comes in, as I pick out one match per day for you to get comfy on the sofa for, or at least have playing on a well-disguised tab on your browser as you pretend to work.
I did the same for the September edition and the best pick was surely San Marino vs Liechtenstein!
So, with that tough act to follow, here are my picks for the six days of international football this month!
(Using the local kick-off time for all matches)
Thursday 10th: Australia vs China
(20:00 ACDT)
Group C in the AFC Third Round of 2026 World Cup qualifying was meant to be a three-horse race for the top two places, but one of the horses is yet to get out the starting gates.
Australia suffered a 1-0 home loss to Bahrain to get their campaign off to a stinker, before being held to a goalless draw by Indonesia, leaving them fifth on one point. Those results proved to be the end of the road for manager Graham Arnold, who resigned soon after.
They trail fellow big-hitters Japan and Saudi Arabia by five and three points, respectively, and can feel fortunate that the Saudis also dropped points to Indonesia.
Now, the meeting with China in Adelaide already feels like a must-win for the Socceroos if they are to continue their run of qualifying for every World Cup since switching to the AFC.
The pressure is very much on new coach Tony Popovic to get off to a good start and, on paper, he looks to have been handed the easiest fixture possible as China sit bottom with two defeats. They began with a humbling 7-0 loss to Japan, however, they were minutes away from a point against Saudi Arabia, only to lose 2-1 late on.
If Japan can continue their brilliant start (two wins from two, 12 scored, 0 conceded) they should be too strong for Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, meaning a win will take Australia level on points with the Green Falcons, but both teams will be staring up and the winner of Bahrain vs Indonesia, who meet in Riffa.
Things don’t get any easier for the Aussies, as on the 15th it is their turn to take on Japan.
Friday 11th: Cameroon vs Kenya
(17:00 WAST)
On Friday we head to Africa for 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, specifically to Group J where five-time champions Cameroon welcome Kenya to Douala.
The two sit first and second in the four-team group with four points from two matches, with the Kenyans leading the way on goals scored.
Qualifying for the next AFCON will be vital for Kenya, whose 2019 group stage exit remains their only participation since 2004, but co-hosting the 2027 edition with Tanzania and Uganda means they will be desperate to test themselves against Africa’s best in Morocco in 2025, as they build a team to compete on home soil.
This match will be a stern test for the Harambee Stars, who are in good form with only one loss in their last 10. Cameroon are always a tough opponent and defeat away or in the “home” fixture in Uganda on the 14th October will leave the door ajar for Zimbabwe and Namibia to claim one of the top two berths.
Saturday 12th: United States vs Panama
(21:00 CDT)
I don’t usually preview international friendlies in this newsletter, but I have to make an exception here!
Maintaining the focus on nations gearing up to host tournaments, they don’t come any bigger than the United States and where they are in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
The USMNT lost to Canada and drew with New Zealand in September, adding more disappointment to a poor Copa América on and off the field for the USA.
But optimism - or at least interest - is high again, as former Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino takes the hotseat for the first time.
US Soccer’s man to lead them into their co-hosted World Cup in a little over 18 months is looking to end their four-match winless run in Austin, Texas on Saturday against Panama, the team whom the run began against in the Copa in the summer.
Pochettino’s selection has been hampered by injuries to Timothy Weah, Folarin Balogun, Gio Reyna and others, while the intensity of his training sessions appears to have been a culture shock for those selected.
Nonetheless, everyone connected to the Stars and Stripes will be hoping that intensity pays off against a Panama team who will be confident of another upset on American soil, despite Los Canaleros not playing in September.
Sunday 13th: Greece vs Ireland
(21:45 EEST)
Sunday offers the slimmest of pickings over this window, with just a handful of matches in UEFA Nations Leagues B, C and D and one AFCON qualifier.
I have chosen Greece vs Ireland as not only have Greece got off to a great start in League B Group 2, but this will be the Greek’s first home match since the tragic passing of George Baldock yesterday.
He played alongside and crossed paths with much of the Irish squad, too, thus it will - sadly - been a very emotional night in Piraeus.
Monday 14th: Germany vs Netherlands
(20:45 CEST)
The reverse fixture in Amsterdam in September made my shortlist but not the final cut, and there was no way I was going to overlook one of the biggest derbies in international football twice!
2-2 on Dutch soil, another exciting encounter between these two old rivals will be ideal Monday night viewing for the neutral, as Germany and the Netherlands meet in Munich.
Both sides romped past Hungary and Bosnia & Herzegovina, respectively, on matchday one, and will be expected to remain unbeaten before this clash.
Germany’s extra-time loss to eventual winners Spain at Euro 2024 is their only defeat of the calendar year, while the Dutch have lost three matches in that time, including in March to Germany in a friendly.
The absence of Kai Havertz and Niclas Füllkrug in attack will be a big loss, but the biggest question mark for Germany will be in goal, as Julian Nagelsmann has called up three uncapped goalkeepers; Alexander Nübel, Oliver Baumann and Janis Blaswich.
Whoever gets the nod will have Cody Gakpo to deal with, but the Oranje also have a depleted attack; they are without Memphis Depay and Wout Weghorst.
Tuesday 15th: Paraguay vs Venezuela
(20:00 PYST)
With many hours separating the AFC and CONMEBOL qualifiers for the World Cup on the 15th, you could easily fit in half a dozen games to end the international window with a bang!
But as I started with Asia, I’ll go for a real six-pointer in South America to finish.
Having looked in such a good place to qualify for a maiden World Cup, Venezuela suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat to Bolivia in El Alto on matchday seven, then somewhat saved face with a goalless draw against Uruguay.
Those results and others going against them means they are now in sixth place, one point clear of Paraguay, who currently occupy the play-off spot in seventh, but will be full of belief having beaten Brazil 1-0 in September.
With Venezuela hosting Argentina on matchday nine, La Vinotinto could well find themselves outside even the play-off place come their meeting in Asunción, depending on how Paraguay get on away in Ecuador and how Colombia deal with the altitude in El Alto against Bolivia.
But whatever those results, this fixture will be huge for the qualification prospects of both teams, as a real tussle for the top six - which Ecuador and Brazil are still very much part of - continues.
Which matches are you most looking forward to this week? Let me know in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe!
Anthony Tomas is a football writer and commentator, who writes for Flashscore and World Soccer Magazine.