Australia head coach Tony Popovic has made several changes to his squad ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. In a move signaling a blend of youth and experience, Popovic has dropped teenager Nestory Irankunda and recalled seasoned internationals Rhyan Grant, Milos Degenek, and Martin Boyle.
Irankunda, a promising talent from Bayern Munich, had started in Australia’s 3-1 win over China and was on the bench for the 1-1 draw against Japan last month. Despite his potential, Popovic has opted for more experienced players to bolster the squad. With these results, Australia currently sits in second place in Group C, behind Japan. The team is now looking to solidify that position in their upcoming matches: against third-place Saudi Arabia in Melbourne on Thursday and fourth-place Bahrain in Riffa five days later.
Notable exclusions from the squad include defensive midfielder Keanu Baccus and 18-year-old Irankunda. Meanwhile, 33-year-old right-back Grant, 31-year-old winger Boyle, and 30-year-old defender Degenek are among the eight fresh faces in the squad. Grant, who last played for the Socceroos in 2022, expressed his excitement at the call-up: “I honestly didn’t see this coming, but I’m absolutely delighted,” he said. “I’m ready to fight tooth and nail, if called upon, to ensure Australia is in a fantastic qualification position following these two games.”
The squad also sees the return of Boyle, who missed the 2022 World Cup due to a knee injury, and midfielder Anthony Caceres, who earns his first call-up at the age of 32.
The top two teams from Group C will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup in North America, while the third and fourth-placed teams will progress to the next round of qualifying.
“We’re in the early stages of this journey as a group, and we’ll continue to implement the style of play that will form the foundation of our success throughout this cycle,” Popovic said.
Australia’s Squad for World Cup Qualifiers:
| Position | Player | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Maty Ryan | 31 |
| Goalkeeper | Joe Gauci | 24 |
| Goalkeeper | Paul Izzo | 28 |
| Defender | Aziz Behich | 32 |
| Defender | Jordy Bos | 22 |
| Defender | Cameron Burgess | 25 |
| Defender | Milos Degenek | 30 |
| Defender | Jason Geria | 29 |
| Defender | Rhyan Grant | 33 |
| Defender | Hayden Matthews | 21 |
| Defender | Lewis Miller | 26 |
| Defender | Kye Rowles | 25 |
| Defender | Harry Souttar | 26 |
| Midfielder | Max Balard | 20 |
| Midfielder | Anthony Caceres | 32 |
| Midfielder | Ajdin Hrustic | 27 |
| Midfielder | Jackson Irvine | 31 |
| Midfielder | Riley McGree | 25 |
| Midfielder | Aiden O’Neill | 26 |
| Midfielder | Patrick Yazbek | 22 |
| Forward | Brandon Borrello | 29 |
| Forward | Martin Boyle | 31 |
| Forward | Mitchell Duke | 32 |
| Forward | Craig Goodwin | 31 |
| Forward | Nishan Velupillay | 22 |
| Forward | Kusini Yengi | 23 |
The Socceroos will be hoping that these changes strengthen their chances of securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
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