2026 World Cup Squad

[JS96]

Those replacements make sense.

 

[NicCarBel]

Those replacements make sense.

I've still got one spot left though.. at the moment it's Lewis Miller, but given the squad breakdown, I'm leaning towards a forward. Sapsford perhaps, but even tempted to switch Volpato for a laugh

 

[JS96]

I've still got one spot left though.. at the moment it's Lewis Miller, but given the squad breakdown, I'm leaning towards a forward. Sapsford perhaps, but even tempted to switch Volpato for a laugh

Surely it's Duke then.

 

[NicCarBel]

Surely it's Duke then.

I completely forgot about him - all the talk has been about new blood. Good choice. Consider it sold

Full squad for when I do the "Post Playoffs" Simulation (I'm waiting until I have all squads announced - will be doing as close to as possible for March squads for all national teams):

** = not in current squad, replacing the players listed at the end as "Not in Squad"

GOALKEEPERS
Paul Izzo
Mathew Ryan
Patrick Beach

DEFENDERS
Alessandro Circati
Harry Souttar **
Milos Degenek
Kye Rowles **
Cameron Burgess
Jordan Bos
Aziz Behich
Fran Karacic
Jason Geria

MIDFIELDERS
Cameron Devlin **
Aiden O'Neill
Connor Metcalfe
Max Ballard **
Ajdin Hrustic
Jackson Irvine **
Riley McGree

FORWARDS
Awer Mabil
Nestory Irankunda
Deni Juric
Martin Boyle
Mo Toure **
Mitchell Duke **

NOT IN SQUAD
Nishan Velupillay
Ante Šuto
Alexander Robertson
Paul Okon-Engstler
Kai Trewin
Jacob Italiano
Lucas Herrington

 

[melbcityguy]

Has there ever been a player that performed better for national team the club career? Only one I can think is milligan

 

[Quicky]

Has there ever been a player that performed better for national team the club career? Only one I can think is milligan

Goodwin.

 

[grazorblade]

Goodwin.

David Carney is another? Mitchell Duke? Probably Kusini Yengi works too

 

[HonestSpursFan]

Has there ever been a player that performed better for national team the club career? Only one I can think is milligan

Women’s player but Hayley Raso is notorious for this.

 

[grazorblade]

behich had an ok club career, but probably better for the NT?

 

[grazorblade]

Looks like poppa went on suited and booted and we have an episode coming up?

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

behich had an ok club career, but probably better for the NT?

I think Aziz Behich is better for the Socceroos compared to his career playing for Melbourne City as he hasn't really had consistent form this season despite starting every game for them as captain whereas in the national team setup he's performed much better.

 

[patjennings]

These are essentially "farewell" home games — fan-focused, low-stakes, with home crowds and no travel grind. Popovic called them "last matches before our World Cup pre-camp" and emphasized WC-impact players, but the selection (veteran-heavy, surprises like uncapped Suto/Herrington but no big energy pushes) suggests caution over revolution. The real tests come later: May 30 Mexico friendly in LA (proper opposition, away vibe) and Florida pre-camp (intense training + potential tune-ups).

The problem is that he did not pick WC-impact players. We should win these games - but so what. Does that vindicate the lack of imagination. If we win easily he will go in with basically this uninspiring squad in May with a couple of injury returns. If we struggle and play haramball and have a small win, draw or loss then he will say it is too late to experiment and double down on the same squad. We will need impact players - where are they?

 

[NicCarBel]

hese are essentially "farewell" home games — fan-focused, low-stakes, with home crowds and no trav

I completely forgot about him - all the talk has been about new blood. Good choice. Consider it sold

Full squad for when I do the "Post Playoffs" Simulation (I'm waiting until I have all squads announced - will be doing as close to as possible for March squads for all national teams):

** = not in current squad, replacing the players listed at the end as "Not in Squad"

GOALKEEPERS
Paul Izzo
Mathew Ryan
Patrick Beach

DEFENDERS
Alessandro Circati
Harry Souttar **
Milos Degenek
Kye Rowles **
Cameron Burgess
Jordan Bos
Aziz Behich
Fran Karacic
Jason Geria

MIDFIELDERS
Cameron Devlin **
Aiden O'Neill
Connor Metcalfe
Max Ballard **
Ajdin Hrustic
Jackson Irvine **
Riley McGree

FORWARDS
Awer Mabil
Nestory Irankunda
Deni Juric
Martin Boyle
Mo Toure **
Mitchell Duke **

NOT IN SQUAD
Nishan Velupillay
Ante Šuto
Alexander Robertson
Paul Okon-Engstler
Kai Trewin
Jacob Italiano
Lucas Herrington

Update - I found Robertson in the Free Agents - he was still listed as English. I did a deep dive for all 7 non-listed players and found him. So, I have now included him in place of Devlin (as Devlin is out injured, whereas Ballard and Irvine are not)

 

[JS96]

Last night made me feel confident that we had such quality wing backs. Both played with a lot of fire.

The main areas to work on are to have defensive mods facing and passing forward. Our inner forwards were alright in link up play and versatile. Boyle was actually alright upon studying the first half. The lull from 25 to 35min saw no one do anything

Up top should be OK once Toure is back but we missed a chance to try others this window.

 

[melbcityguy]

For being a bundi player you'd think metcalfe would stick out more

 

[JS96]

For being a bundi player you'd think metcalfe would stick out more

He's being played out of position and isn't that confident. He's got to be further up or wider. I think he's best from the bench now.

 

[JM47]

My squad for June if everyone is fit:

Ryan
Izzo
Gauci

Circati
Burgess
Souttar
Herrington
Degenek
Italiano
Karacic/Bennie/Geria/Strain
Bos
Behich

Irvine
O'Neill
Robertson
Yazbek
Metcalfe
Trewin

McGree
Irankunda
Hrustic
Mabil
Boyle

Toure
Suto
D.Juric

Beach, Rowles, Devlin, Balard, Okon-Engstler, Velupillay, Sapsford to be part of a train on squad.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

Is Ashley Maynard-Brewer in the mix or nah?

 

[Quicky]

Is Ashley Maynard-Brewer in the mix or nah?

If injuries happen.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

If injuries happen.

So not over Joe Gauci?