Australia World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
The Australia World Cup Squad 2026 has cleared the group stage. Tony Popovic’s Socceroos finished second in Group D and set up a Round of 32 tie with Egypt on July 3 (July 4 AEST). A 2-0 win over Turkey, a 2-0 loss to hosts USA, and a battling 0-0 draw with Paraguay carried Australia into the knockout bracket for a second straight World Cup.
Popovic named his 26 man roster on June 1. The headline was Cristian Volpato, a Sydney born forward who switched allegiance from Italy days before the deadline. Mathew Ryan captains the side at his fourth World Cup, equalling the Australian record held by Tim Cahill and Mark Milligan.
Seventeen first time World Cup players feature in the group, alongside five A-League names and a core of European based talent. Ranked 27th in the world, the Socceroos now chase the first knockout win in their World Cup history.
Your full Australia squad list, group results, key players, and Round of 32 fixture for the 2026 World Cup.
Australia World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
| Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Mathew Ryan (C) | Levante UD (Spain) | 34 | 104 | 0 |
| GK | Paul Izzo | Randers FC (Denmark) | 31 | 4 | 0 |
| GK | Patrick Beach | Melbourne City (Australia) | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | Aziz Behich | Melbourne City (Australia) | 35 | 83 | 3 |
| DF | Jordan Bos | Feyenoord (Netherlands) | 23 | 26 | 4 |
| DF | Cameron Burgess | Swansea City (England) | 30 | 26 | 0 |
| DF | Alessandro Circati | Parma (Italy) | 22 | 12 | 1 |
| DF | Milos Degenek | APOEL FC (Cyprus) | 32 | 56 | 1 |
| DF | Jason Geria | Albirex Niigata (Japan) | 33 | 13 | 0 |
| DF | Lucas Herrington | Colorado Rapids (USA) | 18 | 3 | 0 |
| DF | Jacob Italiano | Grazer AK (Austria) | 24 | 4 | 0 |
| DF | Harry Souttar | Leicester City (England) | 27 | 37 | 11 |
| DF | Kai Trewin | New York City FC (USA) | 25 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | Cameron Devlin | Hearts (Scotland) | 28 | 4 | 0 |
| MF | Ajdin Hrustić | Heracles Almelo (Netherlands) | 29 | 37 | 4 |
| MF | Jackson Irvine | FC St. Pauli (Germany) | 33 | 81 | 14 |
| MF | Connor Metcalfe | FC St. Pauli (Germany) | 26 | 35 | 1 |
| MF | Paul Okon-Engstler | Sydney FC (Australia) | 21 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | Aiden O’Neill | New York City FC (USA) | 27 | 30 | 0 |
| FW | Nestory Irankunda | Watford (England) | 20 | 14 | 5 |
| FW | Mathew Leckie | Melbourne City (Australia) | 35 | 80 | 14 |
| FW | Awer Mabil | CD Castellón (Spain) | 30 | 38 | 10 |
| FW | Mohamed Touré | Norwich City (England) | 22 | 9 | 2 |
| FW | Nishan Velupillay | Melbourne Victory (Australia) | 25 | 7 | 3 |
| FW | Cristian Volpato | Sassuolo (Italy) | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| FW | Tete Yengi | Machida Zelvia (Japan) | 25 | 0 | 0 |
For all 48 teams’ final squad lists, see our World Cup 2026 squads page.
Quick Stats
- Average age: 26.9 years
- Most-capped player: Mathew Ryan (104 caps)
- Joint top scorers in the squad: Jackson Irvine and Mathew Leckie (14 international goals each)
- Youngest player: Lucas Herrington (18)
- Oldest players: Aziz Behich and Mathew Leckie (35)
- A-League players: 5 (Beach, Behich, Leckie, Okon-Engstler, Velupillay)
- World Cup debutants: 17 first-time players
Australia World Cup 2026 Results and Group Standing
Australia collected 4 points from their three Group D matches to finish second behind the United States. Here is how the group stage played out.
| Date | Match | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 13, 2026 | Australia vs Turkey | BC Place, Vancouver | Won 2-0 |
| Jun 19, 2026 | USA vs Australia | Lumen Field, Seattle | Lost 0-2 |
| Jun 25, 2026 | Paraguay vs Australia | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara | Drew 0-0 |
The opener in Vancouver was Australia’s best performance. Nestory Irankunda struck in the 27th minute to become Australia’s youngest World Cup scorer, Connor Metcalfe added a second late on, and debutant goalkeeper Patrick Beach made eight saves in a clean sheet.
Against the hosts in Seattle, an early Cameron Burgess own goal and an Alex Freeman header settled a 2-0 defeat. A disciplined goalless draw with Paraguay then sealed second place on goal difference.
| Group D | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 6 |
| Australia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Paraguay | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Turkey | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
Australia’s Round of 32 Fixture vs Egypt
Australia meet Egypt in the Round of 32, with the winner reaching the last 16. It is a golden chance for the Socceroos to record the first World Cup knockout win in their history.
| Round | Match | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (AEST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round of 32 | Australia vs Egypt | AT&T Stadium, Arlington | Fri Jul 3, 2:00 PM | Sat Jul 4, 4:00 AM |
Egypt qualified by finishing second in Group G and reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. Their talisman Mohamed Salah is racing to be fit, and his availability could shape the tie.
Popovic reports no major injury concerns, so Australia can name a near full-strength side. See the full 2026 World Cup schedule for all knockout fixtures and times.
Key Players to Watch
Nestory Irankunda | Watford
At 20, Irankunda is already the Socceroos’ breakout star of the tournament. His 27th minute strike against Turkey made him Australia’s youngest ever World Cup scorer. Born in Tanzania to Burundian refugee parents and raised in Adelaide, the winger gives Popovic pace and directness that few defences enjoy facing.
Mathew Ryan (C) | Levante UD
Ryan captains Australia at his fourth World Cup, matching the Australian record. His 104 caps lead the squad by a distance, and his organisation and shot-stopping remain the base Popovic builds around in the knockout rounds.
Patrick Beach | Melbourne City
The 22-year-old goalkeeper seized his surprise start against Turkey with an eight-save clean sheet on his competitive debut. He has emerged as a genuine talking point of Australia’s campaign and pushes Ryan for minutes.
Harry Souttar | Leicester City
Souttar anchors Australia’s back three and is a set-piece weapon, with 11 goals in 37 caps. His aerial dominance at both ends gave the Socceroos their defensive structure through the group stage.
Mathew Leckie | Melbourne City
Leckie is also at his fourth World Cup, matching Ryan and Cahill’s mark. The scorer of the decisive goal against Denmark in 2022, his running remains Australia’s outlet on the counter.
How Australia Qualified for World Cup 2026
Australia came through the AFC third round in Group C alongside Japan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, China, and Bahrain. The decisive result came in Riyadh on June 10, 2025, when a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia through Connor Metcalfe and Mitch Duke confirmed the Socceroos as Group C runners-up on 19 points from a 5-4-1 record.
It was Australia’s first direct qualification since 2014, with no playoff required. The full results sit on the AFC qualifying record page.
Head Coach: Tony Popovic
Tony Popovic, 52, took charge in September 2024, replacing Graham Arnold. A former centre-back with 58 caps who played at the 2006 World Cup, he returns to the tournament as a coach 20 years on.
He led Western Sydney Wanderers to the 2014 AFC Champions League, the first Australian club to win it, and rebuilt the national side quickly, securing direct qualification for the first time since 2014.
His preferred shape is a 3-4-2-1. The back three lets the wing-backs push on, Irvine and Metcalfe screen midfield, and Hrustić links play higher up. Mohamed Touré or Leckie leads the line, with Irankunda stretching defences from wide.
FAQ About Australia World Cup Squad 2026
Did Australia reach the World Cup 2026 knockout stage?
Yes. Australia finished second in Group D with 4 points, beating Turkey 2-0, losing 2-0 to hosts USA, and drawing 0-0 with Paraguay. They advanced to the Round of 32, where they face Egypt.
Who do Australia play in the Round of 32?
Australia face Egypt in the Round of 32 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Kick-off is Friday, July 3 at 2:00 PM ET, which is Saturday, July 4 at 4:00 AM AEST. The winner advances to the Round of 16, and it is Australia’s chance at a first ever World Cup knockout win.
Who is captain of the Australia World Cup Squad 2026?
Mathew Ryan captains the Socceroos at his fourth World Cup, equalling the Australian record held by Tim Cahill and Mark Milligan. The 34-year-old goalkeeper is the most-capped player in the squad with 104 caps.
Who is Australia’s all-time top scorer, and is he in the 2026 squad?
Tim Cahill remains Australia’s all-time top scorer with 50 goals in 108 caps. He retired in 2018 and is not in the 2026 squad. Jackson Irvine and Mathew Leckie are the squad’s joint top scorers with 14 international goals each.
Where can Australian fans watch the 2026 World Cup?
SBS and SBS On Demand hold the free-to-air broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Australia. Every Socceroos match, including the Round of 32 tie with Egypt, is available live and free without a paid subscription.
Australia World Cup Squad 2026: Knockout Hopes
The Australia World Cup Squad 2026 has already delivered on its group stage brief, blending experienced leaders in Ryan, Irvine, and Leckie with the energy of 17 first-time World Cup players. Irankunda’s breakout, Beach’s emergence in goal, and Souttar’s set-piece threat give Popovic’s Socceroos a clear identity in the 3-4-2-1.
Now comes the biggest test. Egypt in the Round of 32 offers Australia a shot at the first World Cup knockout win in the nation’s history.
If Salah is short of full fitness, the door opens further. Popovic has earned trust, and the Socceroos arrive in the last 32 believing they belong.
