Australia manager Tony Popovic has finalized his 26-player CommBank Socceroos squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, unveiling a roster that balances fresh tactical options with iconic international stalwarts. Highlighting the selection are uncapped forward prospects Cristian Volpato and Tete Yengi, both of whom have played their way into contention for a potential senior international debut on the world stage.
In a clear sign of a new cycle taking shape for Australian football, 17 players on the list have earned their very first selection to a FIFA World Cup. Popovic has also retained a distinct local flavor within the traveling party, selecting five current A-League Men based stars: Patrick Beach, Aziz Behich, Mathew Leckie, Paul Okon-Engstler, and Nishan Velupillay.
At the same time, the tournament will serve as a historic milestone for the country’s most decorated active veterans. Long-serving goalkeeper Mat Ryan and explosive winger Mathew Leckie are poised to match the all-time Australian record held by legends Tim Cahill and Mark Milligan by participating in their fourth consecutive FIFA World Cup.
The leadership spine remains incredibly robust, with defensive cornerstones Aziz Behich and Milos Degenek, along with midfield commander Jackson Irvine, preparing to feature in their third World Cup finals. Meanwhile, Cameron Devlin, Ajdin Hrustic, Awer Mabil, and towering center-back Harry Souttar have each locked in their second appearance at the tournament.
Popovic Applauds Squad Work Ethic After Trimming Roster
Reflecting on the final selection process, Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic acknowledged the complexity of distilling his options down to the mandatory 26-player limit.
“We are delighted to finally announce the 26 players who will represent the Socceroos at the FIFA World Cup 2026. A range of factors has gone into selecting this final World Cup squad. Some difficult decisions had to be made, as that is simply the nature of major tournaments.
“But it is also a credit to all the players involved over the past few weeks who worked extremely hard during an extended and challenging pre-camp. I would like to acknowledge the players who contributed to our direct World Cup qualification but are not part of this squad. Their contribution should not be forgotten. Our focus now completely shifts to finalizing our preparations for the upcoming friendly against Switzerland and for our World Cup group matches.”
Complete CommBank Socceroos World Cup Roster
The final 26-player squad contains an eclectic mix of top-tier European talent, Asian league standouts, MLS performers, and domestic league stalwarts.
Goalkeepers
- Patrick Beach (Melbourne City, Australia)
- Paul Izzo (Randers FC, Denmark)
- Mat Ryan (Levante UD, Spain)
Defenders
- Aziz Behich (Melbourne City, Australia)
- Jordan Bos (Feyenoord, Netherlands)
- Cameron Burgess (Swansea City, Wales)
- Alessandro Circati (Parma Calcio 1913, Italy)
- Milos Degenek (Apoel FC, Cyprus)
- Jason Geria (Albirex Niigata, Japan)
- Harry Souttar (Leicester City, England)
- Kai Trewin (New York City, USA)
Midfielders
- Cameron Devlin (Hearts, Scotland)
- Ajdin Hrustic (Heracles Almelo, Netherlands)
- Jackson Irvine (St Pauli, Germany)
- Jacob Italiano (Grazer AK, Austria)
- Connor Metcalfe (St Pauli FC, Germany)
- Aiden O’Neill (New York City, USA)
- Paul Okon-Engstler (Sydney FC, Australia)
Forwards
- Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids, USA)
- Nestory Irankunda (Watford, England)
- Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City, Australia)
- Awer Mabil (CD Castellón, Spain)
- Mohamed Toure (Norwich City, England)
- Nishan Velupillay (Melbourne Victory, Australia)
- Cristian Volpato (Sassuolo, Italy)
- Tete Yengi (Machida Zelvia, Japan)
Pre-Tournament Warm-up and Group D Match Schedule
Before launching into their competitive schedule, the Socceroos will tackle a vital warm-up fixture against Switzerland on June 6 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California.
Once tournament play officially begins, Australia will embark on an intense Group D campaign spanning premium venues across Canada and the United States. All matches will be broadcast across Australia live on SBS and on-demand via SBS On Demand.
Match 1: Australia v Türkiye
- Date: Saturday, 13 June
- Venue: BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
- Kick-off: 9:00pm local time (2:00pm AEST, Sunday, 14 June)
Match 2: USA v Australia
- Date: Friday, 19 June
- Venue: Seattle Stadium, Seattle, USA
- Kick-off: 12:00pm local time (5:00am AEST, Saturday, 20 June)
Match 3: Paraguay v Australia
- Date: Thursday, 25 June
- Venue: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, USA
- Kick-off: 7:00pm local time (12:00pm AEST, Friday, 26 June)