Australia – Socceroos

World Cup Appearances: 1974, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026

Highest Finish: Round of 16 in 2006 and 2022

On 11 April 2001, Australia and American Samoa met in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match that would rewrite football’s record books. Australia won 31–0, the largest victory ever recorded in a senior men’s international match. Yet the day is equally remembered for the extraordinary performance of Australian striker Archie Thompson.

Thompson scored an astonishing 13 goals in the match, setting the record for the most goals ever scored by one player. His achievement surpassed records that had stood for nearly a century and remains one of football’s most remarkable individual performances.

While the match highlighted a significant imbalance between the two teams, Thompson’s feat remains a unique piece of football history. In a sport where even one goal can decide a championship, scoring thirteen stands as a nearly unimaginable accomplishment.