With a little over a week to go before Australia coach Tony Popovic names his 26-player squad for the 2026 World Cup, the anticipation is building. The Socceroos will officially announce their squad on 1 June, with several players vying for spots in a team that has undergone significant transformation since the 2022 tournament.
The Locks
Goalkeeper Mat Ryan is the safest selection of all. The 34-year-old has enjoyed a solid season with Levante in La Liga, and he is one of only two starters from the round of 16 defeat against Argentina in Qatar four years ago who are expected to feature in the starting XI against Turkey. The other is Riley McGree, who has a chance to win promotion to the Premier League this weekend in the Championship playoff final with Middlesbrough.
Since that heartbreaking 2022 defeat against the eventual champions, the Socceroos have undergone a radical transformation. World Cup rookies now form the core of the side: left-back Jordy Bos, central defender Alessandro Circati, and forwards Mo Toure and Nestory Irankunda—even if these electric attacking talents are deployed off the bench. At 30, central defender Cam Burgess will also be going to his first World Cup, having proven himself as a reliable performer in the Championship for Swansea, playing every minute of all 46 league matches.
The Likelies
Veterans Jackson Irvine and Harry Souttar have had to overcome injuries this season, but they will be included if they can prove their fitness. Irvine's club-mate at St Pauli, Connor Metcalfe, is also expected to be named, especially given his versatility across midfield. He was a late cull by Graham Arnold in 2022.
Aziz Behich, who started against Argentina in 2022, now plays back in the A-League for Melbourne City, but he is deeply respected and in line to deputise for Bos at left-back. Another 2022 hero, Mat Leckie, has found fitness just at the right time and was singled out for praise by Popovic two weeks ago after his performance in Melbourne City's elimination final defeat against Auckland. From being on the bubble of the squad a month ago, the 35-year-old is now a good chance of going to his fourth World Cup as an option in the front five.
New York City midfielder Aiden O'Neill, another eyeing his first World Cup, injured his ankle earlier this month, but he has joined the pre-World Cup camp and, if fit, will be named, having become one of Popovic's go-to players at the base of midfield. Defenders Kai Trewin and Lucas Herrington have proved effective in MLS this season and are now likely inclusions after strong showings in the Socceroos' final preparation friendlies in March.
Veteran attacking trio Martin Boyle, Awer Mabil, and Ajdin Hrustic look to have done enough, while midfielder Cammy Devlin has catapulted himself into contention after his fine season for Scottish Premier League runners-up Hearts, given the fitness concerns for other central midfielders. Austria-based Jacob Italiano has become Popovic's preferred option at right-back after the injury to Lewis Miller, with solid performances since his Socceroos debut last year, including a starring role against Cameroon in March.
The Bubble
Another MLS-based midfielder, Patrick Yazbek, suffered what looked like a serious quad injury early in May. From being a likely inclusion, he is now in a race to prove his fitness. Beneficiaries of his possible absence are Cardiff midfielder Alex Robertson and Sydney FC's Paul Okon-Engstler. Kye Rowles, who played every match in Qatar, was a surprise omission from Popovic's initial squad during the March window. He did ultimately receive a call-up but has fallen down the pecking order in central defence and may now rely on his ability to play full-back to earn a place, in a similar outlook to Milos Degenek.
On the right side of defence, there is genuine competition to deputise for Italiano. Fran Karacic and Jason Geria appear to be the leading contenders. It would not be a surprise to see any of the above—or Trewin, who played against Curaçao—starting against Turkey in the key right wing-back role. Three goalkeepers—Patrick Beach, Joe Gauci, and Paul Izzo—will become two as back-ups for Ryan, while winger Nishan Velupillay will hope he has done enough in camp to prove he remains the player who was so effective for the Socceroos in 2024 and 2025.
But no position offers greater selection intrigue than the forward line, where Popovic must choose between recent call-ups Ante Šuto and Deni Juric, veteran Mitch Duke, or one of the other A-League Men players who have spent the past two weeks in training camp. If Toure is deemed better deployed off the bench, the Socceroos' starting spearhead is anyone's guess.
The Long Shots
Winger Garang Kuol, who was the source of much excitement among Australian supporters in 2022, has struggled to find his level in Europe. He is now playing regularly for Sparta Prague, but a late call-up three years after his last Socceroos appearance is all but inconceivable. Already in the training group are emerging players Daniel Bennie from QPR and Raphael Borges Rodrigues, who played last season at Wigan. Sammy Silvera, another wide player who has played alongside McGree at Middlesbrough this year, has recently been injured but has not formally been ruled out of the World Cup.
Central defenders Gianni Stensness from Viking in Norway and 19-year-old Dylan Leonard, who played only twice for Schalke in Germany this season due to injury, are also in camp. Then there is the A-League Men contingent, including forwards Brandon Borrello and Nick D'Agostino, and midfielder Anthony Caceres, who will see Popovic's affection for the domestic-based trio of Behich, Leckie, and Velupillay and hope it extends to them.
