Mexico handed Australia a narrow 1-0 defeat in their final friendly fixture ahead of the FIFA World Cup, leaving Socceroos coach Tony Popovic with plenty to consider before naming his squad.

The result means Australia head into the tournament's preparatory phase without a confidence-boosting win, as Mexico — one of the co-hosts of the upcoming World Cup — made their home advantage count.

Popovic now faces the decisive task of selecting his final squad, with this defeat serving as the last competitive reference point before the curtain rises on the global tournament.