Tony Popovic named Australia’s 26-man squad on June 1, and the biggest story was the selection bombshell buried in the final cut. Cristian Volpato, a Sydney-born forward of Italian descent who represented Italy at youth level, declared his allegiance to the Socceroos just days before the deadline and earned the final attacking slot.
Martin Boyle, the most experienced winger left out, misses his chance. Mathew Ryan captains the side into his fourth World Cup, tying the Australian record held by Tim Cahill and Mark Milligan.
The Australia World Cup Squad 2026 sends 17 first-time World Cup players into Group D alongside host nation USA, Turkey, and Paraguay. Jackson Irvine and Mathew Leckie each carry 14 international goals into the tournament.
Five A-League players feature in the 26-man group. Ranked 27th by FIFA as of April 1, 2026, the Socceroos arrive in North America with their best mix of European depth and home-grown talent yet.
This is your full Australia squad list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Australia 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| 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
Here’s the number breakdown behind Popovic’s Australia World Cup Squad 2026.
- 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 players making their first World Cup appearance
Key Players to Watch
Nestory Irankunda | Watford
Irankunda is 20 years old and the most explosive attacking talent Australia has had in years. The Watford forward has pace that defenders at Championship level struggle to handle, and five goals in 14 Socceroos appearances show he converts chances too. Born in Kigoma, Tanzania to Burundian refugee parents and raised in Adelaide, he gives Popovic a live-wire option off the bench or as a starter. He’s the player opposing teams will plan for.
Mathew Ryan (C) | Levante UD
Ryan is 34 and earns his fourth World Cup, equalling the Australian record held by Tim Cahill and Mark Milligan. His 104 caps are the most in the squad by a wide margin. The Levante goalkeeper has been Australia’s first choice for over a decade, and his ability to organise a defence and perform under pressure in knockout football remains the foundation Popovic builds everything around.
Mathew Leckie | Melbourne City
Leckie is 35 and arrives at his fourth World Cup alongside Ryan, both men matching Cahill’s mark. His 14 international goals and 80 caps represent a career built on direct running and intelligent wide play. He scored the decisive goal against Denmark in the 2022 Round of 16. Australia’s threat on the counter-attack runs through him, and Popovic will look to Leckie to deliver one more iconic moment.
Harry Souttar | Leicester City
Souttar is a commanding presence at the heart of Australia’s back three. The 27-year-old has scored 11 goals in 37 appearances, a return that makes him one of the most dangerous set-piece threats in the squad despite playing centre-back. Scottish-born but committed to Australia through his roots, he gave Popovic aerial dominance and defensive structure throughout qualifying. His 2025-26 Championship season with Leicester City, before the club’s relegation to League One, kept him in competitive form leading into the tournament.
Cristian Volpato | Sassuolo
Volpato is the most debated name in the squad. The 22-year-old Serie A forward came through Italy’s youth system before declaring his allegiance to Australia just days before the cut. He arrives uncapped at senior level but brings technical quality and creativity that Popovic doesn’t get from anyone else in the group. His debut will draw attention from both countries. The only question is whether the pressure arrives too early.
Australia World Cup 2026 Schedule
Australia play all three group matches across North America. Kick-off times are listed in both Eastern Time (ET) and Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) for fans watching at home.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (AEST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 13, 2026 | vs Turkey | Vancouver Stadium (BC Place), Vancouver | Jun 14, 12:00 AM | Jun 14, 2:00 PM |
| Jun 19, 2026 | vs USA | Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field), Seattle | 3:00 PM | Jun 20, 5:00 AM |
| Jun 25, 2026 | vs Paraguay | San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium), Santa Clara | 10:00 PM | Jun 26, 12:00 PM |
Australia open with a pre-tournament friendly against Switzerland on June 6 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego before flying north for the group stage. See the full 2026 World Cup schedule for all knockout-stage fixtures and times.
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. They entered the group after winning all six matches in the second round against Palestine, Lebanon, and Bangladesh with a goal difference of 22-0. The third round was harder. Australia dropped their opening match 1-0 to Bahrain at the Gold Coast, then drew with Indonesia in the second game before finding their first win against China at home.
A run of three consecutive draws stalled momentum. Japan pulled clear at the top of the group. Australia responded with back-to-back wins against Indonesia and China, then secured a pivotal 1-0 victory over Japan at home to keep the direct qualification spot in sight. The decisive match came in Riyadh on June 10, 2025. Australia won 2-1 at Saudi Arabia, with Connor Metcalfe and Mitch Duke scoring. It confirmed the Socceroos as Group C runners-up on 19 points, five wins from a 5-4-1 record.
It was the first time Australia qualified directly since 2014, without needing a playoff. The full results are archived on the AFC qualifying record page. Popovic took over when qualification looked uncertain and guided the team through without dropping a knockout round of games.
Head Coach: Tony Popovic
Tony Popovic is 52 years old and became Australia’s head coach in September 2024, replacing Graham Arnold. He played as a centre-back and earned 58 caps for Australia across a career that included a Premier League stint at Crystal Palace. His playing peak came at the 2006 World Cup. He returns to the tournament as a coach 20 years later.
Popovic’s domestic coaching record is the most decorated of any Australian manager in recent history. He led Western Sydney Wanderers to the 2014 AFC Champions League title, the first Australian club to win the competition. He claimed A-League Premiership titles with Western Sydney Wanderers and Perth Glory, and won the Australia Cup with Melbourne Victory in 2022. His transformation of the national side after taking over was rapid. Australia went eight matches unbeaten under him from the start of his tenure, securing direct World Cup qualification for the first time since 2014.
His preferred setup is a 3-4-2-1. The back three gives the wing-backs freedom to push forward while maintaining central cover. Irvine and Metcalfe anchor the midfield base, with Hrustić operating higher up as the creative link. Mohamed Touré or Leckie leads the line, with Irankunda available to stretch defences from the wide channels.
Group D at a Glance
Australia are in Group D. Here’s where each team stands going into the tournament.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | WC Appearances (pre-2026) | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 16th | 11 (1930-2022) | Third place (1930) |
| Turkey | 22nd | 2 (1954, 2002) | Third place (2002) |
| Australia | 27th | 6 (1974-2022) | Round of 16 (2006, 2022) |
| Paraguay | 39th | 8 | Quarterfinals (2010) |
FIFA rankings are from the April 1, 2026 official update (next update: June 9, 2026). WC appearances are pre-2026 figures only.
USA are the co-hosts and the group’s heavy favourites at 16th in the world. Their home crowd in Seattle will make that second match particularly demanding for Australia. Turkey return to the World Cup for the first time in 24 years and arrive as the unknown quantity. Vincenzo Montella’s side are organised and defensively solid.
The United States beat Australia 2-1 in a 2025 friendly, the most recent meeting between the two sides. Paraguay are the lowest-ranked team in the group but carry tournament experience. For the full breakdown of every group, check the 2026 World Cup groups hub.
FAQ About Australia World Cup Squad 2026
What is Australia’s nickname at the World Cup?
Australia’s national football team is the Socceroos. The name blends the Australian term for football with “kangaroo,” a reference to the national animal. It became the official team nickname in the 1960s and remains inseparable from the team’s identity. The side wears green and gold, Australia’s national sporting colours.
What is Australia’s overall World Cup record?
Australia have played 20 World Cup matches across six previous appearances, winning four, drawing four, and losing 12. Their goal difference stands at minus 20. Both of their Round of 16 exits came against the eventual tournament winners: Italy in 2006 and Argentina in 2022, which is a measure of how far they travelled in those two tournaments.
Who is Australia’s all-time top scorer, and is he in the 2026 squad?
Tim Cahill is Australia’s all-time top scorer with 50 goals in 108 international appearances. Cahill retired from international football in 2018 and is not in the 2026 squad. Jackson Irvine and Mathew Leckie are the squad’s joint top scorers, each arriving at the tournament with 14 international goals.
Where can Australian fans watch the 2026 World Cup?
SBS and SBS On Demand hold the official broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Australia. All three of Australia’s group stage matches air live and free-to-air, making every Socceroos game in Group D accessible to fans across the country without a paid subscription.
Have Australia and Turkey ever met at a World Cup before?
Australia and Turkey have never faced each other at a FIFA World Cup. Turkey’s previous appearances came in 1954 and 2002, while Australia’s six prior tournaments ran from 1974 through to 2022. Their paths never crossed in a group stage or knockout round. The June 13 opener in Vancouver is the first meeting between the two sides on the World Cup stage.
Australia’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The Australia World Cup Squad 2026 blends experienced veterans with 17 first-time World Cup players, giving Popovic both leadership and energy. Ryan, Irvine, and Leckie have been here before and know what tournament football demands. Irankunda, Volpato, and Touré carry the potential to surprise. Souttar’s aerial dominance at the back and the pace of the forward line give Australia a clear identity under Popovic’s 3-4-2-1.
The Round of 32 is the realistic target. A result against Turkey in the opener would transform the group stage outlook. USA at home will be the hardest task. Paraguay in the final match could decide everything. Australia don’t need to beat the hosts to advance. They need points, and this squad has the tools to earn them. Popovic has earned trust. The Socceroos don’t arrive here to make up numbers.
