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2026 World Cup Squad

What’s our pool looking like? Any surprises or hot takes?
I might make a list of who's in the pool on my PES 2025/26 season mod (as it includes the following leagues, plus the base Socceroos) - noting that the pool will include base players over the past 5 years that may have retired since the original game release that can't be removed (I'll do my best not to include those players):
  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • Ligue 1
  • Ligue 2
  • Serie A
  • Serie B
  • Eredivisie
  • Portugal
  • Russia
  • Scotland
  • La Liga
  • La Liga 2
  • Greece
  • Turkey
  • Bundesliga
  • Argentina
  • Brazil Serie A
  • Brazil Serie B
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • 20 teams from MLS
  • China
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Japan
  • Range of South American, European and Asian teams (that compete primarily in the Libertadores and Champions League and Champions League Elite)
  • Free agents in some circumstances - mostly seems to be players who were competing for A-League clubs in Asia that they've left in the database
Ok, so here's the pool - positions are based off what this PES says, so may not be entirely accurate (noting that there is an update I haven't applied)

GOALKEEPERS
  • Paul Izzo
  • Joe Gauci
  • Mathew Ryan
  • Dylan Peraic-Cullen
  • Maynard-Brewer
  • Devenish-Meares
  • Gus Hoefsloot
  • Anthony Pavlesic
  • Jacob Chapman
  • Jai Ajanovic
  • Andrew Redmayne
  • Nieuwenhuizen
  • Patrick Beach
  • Nick Suman
  • Tom Glover
DEFENDERS
  • Alessandro Circati
  • Harry Souttar
  • Milos Degenek
  • Kye Rowles
  • Cameron Burgess
  • Jordan Bos
  • Aziz Behich
  • Lewis Miller
  • Jason Geria
  • Oliver Jones
  • Tyler Williams
  • Hayden Matthews
  • Nathan Paull
  • Alexandar Popovic
  • Aidan Coyne
  • Sebastian Esposito
  • Harrison Delbridge
  • Jack Iredale
  • Aaron Gurd
  • Thomas Deng
  • Alex Grant
  • Diesel Herrington
  • James Donachie
  • Steven Havales
  • Aspropotamitis (Pohang Steelers)
  • Shane Lowry
  • Bailey Wright
  • Trent Sainsbury
  • Ryan McGowan
  • Curtis Good
  • Will Kennedy
  • Jacob Farrell
  • Harry Politidis
  • J. Courtney-Perkins
  • Joel King
  • Callum Elder
  • Lucas Mauragis
  • Brad Smith
  • Alex Gersbach
  • Kasey Bos
  • Jason Davidson
  • Zac de Jesis
  • John Koutroumbis
  • Giuseppe Bovalina
  • Peter Antoniou
  • Harrison Shillington
  • Nathaniel Atkinson
  • Ryan Strain
  • Fran Karacic
  • Callum Talbor
  • Rhyan Grant
  • Matthew Millar
MIDFIELDERS
  • Cameron Devlin
  • Aiden O'Neill
  • Max Balard
  • Patrick Yazbek
  • Ajdin Hrustic
  • Jackson Irvine
  • Riley McGree
  • Connor Metcalfe
  • Steven Ugarkovic
  • Nectarios Triantis
  • Corey Hollman
  • Paula Retre
  • Keanu Baccus
  • Ryan Teague
  • Callum Nieuwenhof
  • Kenny Dougall
  • James Jeggo
  • Massimo Luongo
  • Lachlan Middleton
  • Wataru Kamijo
  • Bradley Tapp
  • Haine Eames
  • Harrison Steele
  • Joshua Nisbet
  • Zane Schreiber
  • Oscar Priestman
  • Brandon O'Neill
  • Emin Durakovic
  • Max Burgess
  • Miguel Di Pizio
  • Daniel Bennie
  • Andrew Nabbout
  • Anthony Caceres
  • Jaylan Pearman
  • Denis Genreau
  • Alessandro Lopane
  • Zak Gilsenan
  • Dimitri Petratos
  • Anthony Kalik
  • Nickolas Alfaro
  • Cameron Peupion
FORWARDS
  • Craig Goodwin
  • Martin Boyle
  • Nestory Irankunda
  • Brandon Borrello
  • Mohamed Toure
  • Mitchell Duke
  • Nicolas Milanovic
  • Joseph Lacey
  • Marin France
  • Sam Silvera
  • Christian Theoharous
  • Awer Mabil
  • Mathew Leckie
  • Thymos Caroutas
  • Garang Kuol
  • Adrian Segecic
  • Daniel Arzani
  • Marco Tilio
  • Thomas Waddingham
  • Rhys Youlley
  • Arthur De Lima
  • MAthias Macallister
  • Tiago Quintal
  • Nicholas Duarte
  • Bailey Brandtman
  • A. Stamatelopoulos
  • Musa Toure
  • Al Hassan Toure
  • Tete Yengi
  • Medin Memeti
  • Kusini Yengi
  • John Iredale
  • Benjamin Mazzeo
  • Jahce Novello
  • Zachary Sapsford
  • Jaiden Kucharski
  • Arion Sulemani
  • Max Caputo
  • Deni Juric
  • Patrick Wood
  • Raphael B. Rodrigues
  • Charles Lokolingoy
  • Anthony Carter
  • Jason Cummings
  • Jamie Maclaren
  • Adam Taggart
 
Another article with Popovic discussing the potential March squad. He touches on Volpato, Arena, Herrington, Suto.

Popovic said he may play a false 9 using an existing wide player. Sounds like Boyle to me. Or maybe Volpato. I always wanted to see Kalik in that role.

 
Sounds like Segecic. I'd play Metcalfe at wing back now Millers out. It's the only way I can see us balancing that right side.
I don't necessarily disagree but there's consistently a lot of talk even before Miller's injury about Metcalfe being deployed at RWB - I think he may have played there very sparingly off the bench last season for St Pauli, but has he ever actually played there for the NT?

I just don't see it happening at the WC or before.
 
I don't necessarily disagree but there's consistently a lot of talk even before Miller's injury about Metcalfe being deployed at RWB - I think he may have played there very sparingly off the bench last season for St Pauli, but has he ever actually played there for the NT?

I just don't see it happening at the WC or before.
I don't think Metcalfe has played there for the national team. I also doubt Popovic is thinking that way. All I'm saying is what I would do. I reckon Popovic will use Italiano and bring in Strain to get a look at him.
 
Yes please!

Few random thoughts:
12 more Colorado Rapids games before the May 30 squad deadline. If Herrington keeps starting he’s got to be on the plane. Definitely before Degenek and Souttar.

I wonder if RBR is in the frame given the consistency of games and left/right versatility, especially if Silvera is injured.

Metcalfe has all the tools to play LWB but unfortunately has never played there.

I watched several Feyenoord games since the new year and I think Bos is going to be our absolute star. He will be so essential to progressing the ball with our defensive midfield. Hopefully McGree will be fit and firing too.
 
Few random thoughts:
12 more Colorado Rapids games before the May 30 squad deadline. If Herrington keeps starting he’s got to be on the plane. Definitely before Degenek and Souttar.

I wonder if RBR is in the frame given the consistency of games and left/right versatility, especially if Silvera is injured.

Metcalfe has all the tools to play LWB but unfortunately has never played there.

I watched several Feyenoord games since the new year and I think Bos is going to be our absolute star. He will be so essential to progressing the ball with our defensive midfield. Hopefully McGree will be fit and firing too.
Borges-Rodrigues is a great shout. Playing consistently and in a RWB role with a back 3. Very similar to the national team. That familiarity has got to be valuable. Also League One (RBR) v Scotland (Strain) v Austria (Italiano) are somewhat analogous.
 
My early Feb squad. How things have changed! Injured or potentially out, nationality changes.

Ryan, Gauci, Izzo

Miller, Geria, Souttar, Circati, Burgess, Degenek, Rowles, Bos, Elder

Irvine, Metcalfe, Balard, O'Neill, Yazbek, Hrustic, Robertson

Goodwin, McGree, Boyle, Irankunda, Toure, Segecic, Sapsford

The squad is creeping closer to picking itself. I think Yazbek and probably Elder will just be overlooked. There's no way Degenek will be dropped for Trewin or Stensness but you could do that and omit Yazbek and then add Kuol or Silvera as a wildcard. Go Volpato for Segecic.

March update:

Ryan, Gauci, Izzo

Italiano, Geria, Souttar, Circati, Burgess, Trewin, Bos, Elder

Irvine, Metcalfe, Balard, O'Neill, Hrustic, Robertson

McGree, Boyle, Irankunda, Toure, Volpato Velupillay, Sapsford, T Yengi

It's comforting that we have Matthews and Herrington in case Souttar doesn't make it. Geria, Rowles, Trewin and Stensness could save a lot of wedge issues freeing up space elsewhere.

Looking at our players, most can play in multiple positions. I think O'Neill, Burgess and Toure are the only ones rotted to one spot.
 
My early Feb squad. How things have changed! Injured or potentially out, nationality changes.

Ryan, Gauci, Izzo

Miller, Geria, Souttar, Circati, Burgess, Degenek, Rowles, Bos, Elder

Irvine, Metcalfe, Balard, O'Neill, Yazbek, Hrustic, Robertson

Goodwin, McGree, Boyle, Irankunda, Toure, Segecic, Sapsford

The squad is creeping closer to picking itself. I think Yazbek and probably Elder will just be overlooked. There's no way Degenek will be dropped for Trewin or Stensness but you could do that and omit Yazbek and then add Kuol or Silvera as a wildcard. Go Volpato for Segecic.

March update:

Ryan, Gauci, Izzo

Italiano, Geria, Souttar, Circati, Burgess, Trewin, Bos, Elder

Irvine, Metcalfe, Balard, O'Neill, Hrustic, Robertson

McGree, Boyle, Irankunda, Toure, Volpato Velupillay, Sapsford, T Yengi

It's comforting that we have Matthews and Herrington in case Souttar doesn't make it. Geria, Rowles, Trewin and Stensness could save a lot of wedge issues freeing up space elsewhere.

Looking at our players, most can play in multiple positions. I think O'Neill, Burgess and Toure are the only ones rotted to one spot.
Tete Yengi is certainly a surprise!
 
These injuries remove one headache but the replacements create brand new ones. We can't write Karacic off yet either. Popovic is going to be so enigmatic here. Let's not forget the Okon and Teague love but Genreau is a smart player too. What I don't like is that some of these exciting fringe players will be named and they won't see a minute.

We saw the benefits of playing Bozanic and despite his age, McKay's smarts in 2014 were great.
 
Oh yeah I forgot about Deni Jurić. Could he be in the mix? I’ve seen polarising takes: some say we should give him a go, others are saying he shouldn’t be anywhere near us.
He's in form and got a call up so he's in the mix. It was about 5 years ago that he was really hot but we kept picking others and struggling up top.
 
My early Feb squad. How things have changed! Injured or potentially out, nationality changes.

Ryan, Gauci, Izzo

Miller, Geria, Souttar, Circati, Burgess, Degenek, Rowles, Bos, Elder

Irvine, Metcalfe, Balard, O'Neill, Yazbek, Hrustic, Robertson

Goodwin, McGree, Boyle, Irankunda, Toure, Segecic, Sapsford

The squad is creeping closer to picking itself. I think Yazbek and probably Elder will just be overlooked. There's no way Degenek will be dropped for Trewin or Stensness but you could do that and omit Yazbek and then add Kuol or Silvera as a wildcard. Go Volpato for Segecic.

March update:

Ryan, Gauci, Izzo

Italiano, Geria, Souttar, Circati, Burgess, Trewin, Bos, Elder

Irvine, Metcalfe, Balard, O'Neill, Hrustic, Robertson

McGree, Boyle, Irankunda, Toure, Volpato Velupillay, Sapsford, T Yengi

It's comforting that we have Matthews and Herrington in case Souttar doesn't make it. Geria, Rowles, Trewin and Stensness could save a lot of wedge issues freeing up space elsewhere.

Looking at our players, most can play in multiple positions. I think O'Neill, Burgess and Toure are the only ones rotted to one spot.
I reckon Yazbek is pretty good odds to get picked. He's had 8+ caps under Popovic and he's in career best form. Had a phenomenal game defending Messi recently and been contributing forward with assists. I think he has the hard working box-to-box profile that Popovic wants.

I'd love to see us pull the trigger on Bennie the right wing back. Give him the games Miller has had and we'd have some player imo. But Bennies comments are disheartening and Popovic is too conservative.

Herrington should beat out all of Rowles, Degenek and Geria on merit imo. He's young but so talented.

We need to get eyes on T. Yengi to see what he offers. He has a profile Popovic said he wants and we lack, as a 9 who can hold the ball up.
 
Last edited:

 
I hate it how our squads are released alphabetically. For the 2022 world cup it started scrolling and I was glad to see Souttar then read the text list and realised Sainsbury was omitted.
 
I might make a list of who's in the pool on my PES 2025/26 season mod (as it includes the following leagues, plus the base Socceroos) - noting that the pool will include base players over the past 5 years that may have retired since the original game release that can't be removed (I'll do my best not to include those players):
  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • Ligue 1
  • Ligue 2
  • Serie A
  • Serie B
  • Eredivisie
  • Portugal
  • Russia
  • Scotland
  • La Liga
  • La Liga 2
  • Greece
  • Turkey
  • Bundesliga
  • Argentina
  • Brazil Serie A
  • Brazil Serie B
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • 20 teams from MLS
  • China
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Japan
  • Range of South American, European and Asian teams (that compete primarily in the Libertadores and Champions League and Champions League Elite)
  • Free agents in some circumstances - mostly seems to be players who were competing for A-League clubs in Asia that they've left in the database
Ok, so here's the pool - positions are based off what this PES says, so may not be entirely accurate (noting that there is an update I haven't applied)

GOALKEEPERS
  • Paul Izzo
  • Joe Gauci
  • Mathew Ryan
  • Dylan Peraic-Cullen
  • Maynard-Brewer
  • Devenish-Meares
  • Gus Hoefsloot
  • Anthony Pavlesic
  • Jacob Chapman
  • Jai Ajanovic
  • Andrew Redmayne
  • Nieuwenhuizen
  • Patrick Beach
  • Nick Suman
  • Tom Glover
DEFENDERS
  • Alessandro Circati
  • Harry Souttar
  • Milos Degenek
  • Kye Rowles
  • Cameron Burgess
  • Jordan Bos
  • Aziz Behich
  • Lewis Miller
  • Jason Geria
  • Oliver Jones
  • Tyler Williams
  • Hayden Matthews
  • Nathan Paull
  • Alexandar Popovic
  • Aidan Coyne
  • Sebastian Esposito
  • Harrison Delbridge
  • Jack Iredale
  • Aaron Gurd
  • Thomas Deng
  • Alex Grant
  • Diesel Herrington
  • James Donachie
  • Steven Havales
  • Aspropotamitis (Pohang Steelers)
  • Shane Lowry
  • Bailey Wright
  • Trent Sainsbury
  • Ryan McGowan
  • Curtis Good
  • Will Kennedy
  • Jacob Farrell
  • Harry Politidis
  • J. Courtney-Perkins
  • Joel King
  • Callum Elder
  • Lucas Mauragis
  • Brad Smith
  • Alex Gersbach
  • Kasey Bos
  • Jason Davidson
  • Zac de Jesis
  • John Koutroumbis
  • Giuseppe Bovalina
  • Peter Antoniou
  • Harrison Shillington
  • Nathaniel Atkinson
  • Ryan Strain
  • Fran Karacic
  • Callum Talbor
  • Rhyan Grant
  • Matthew Millar
MIDFIELDERS
  • Cameron Devlin
  • Aiden O'Neill
  • Max Balard
  • Patrick Yazbek
  • Ajdin Hrustic
  • Jackson Irvine
  • Riley McGree
  • Connor Metcalfe
  • Steven Ugarkovic
  • Nectarios Triantis
  • Corey Hollman
  • Paula Retre
  • Keanu Baccus
  • Ryan Teague
  • Callum Nieuwenhof
  • Kenny Dougall
  • James Jeggo
  • Massimo Luongo
  • Lachlan Middleton
  • Wataru Kamijo
  • Bradley Tapp
  • Haine Eames
  • Harrison Steele
  • Joshua Nisbet
  • Zane Schreiber
  • Oscar Priestman
  • Brandon O'Neill
  • Emin Durakovic
  • Max Burgess
  • Miguel Di Pizio
  • Daniel Bennie
  • Andrew Nabbout
  • Anthony Caceres
  • Jaylan Pearman
  • Denis Genreau
  • Alessandro Lopane
  • Zak Gilsenan
  • Dimitri Petratos
  • Anthony Kalik
  • Nickolas Alfaro
  • Cameron Peupion
FORWARDS
  • Craig Goodwin
  • Martin Boyle
  • Nestory Irankunda
  • Brandon Borrello
  • Mohamed Toure
  • Mitchell Duke
  • Nicolas Milanovic
  • Joseph Lacey
  • Marin France
  • Sam Silvera
  • Christian Theoharous
  • Awer Mabil
  • Mathew Leckie
  • Thymos Caroutas
  • Garang Kuol
  • Adrian Segecic
  • Daniel Arzani
  • Marco Tilio
  • Thomas Waddingham
  • Rhys Youlley
  • Arthur De Lima
  • MAthias Macallister
  • Tiago Quintal
  • Nicholas Duarte
  • Bailey Brandtman
  • A. Stamatelopoulos
  • Musa Toure
  • Al Hassan Toure
  • Tete Yengi
  • Medin Memeti
  • Kusini Yengi
  • John Iredale
  • Benjamin Mazzeo
  • Jahce Novello
  • Zachary Sapsford
  • Jaiden Kucharski
  • Arion Sulemani
  • Max Caputo
  • Deni Juric
  • Patrick Wood
  • Raphael B. Rodrigues
  • Charles Lokolingoy
  • Anthony Carter
  • Jason Cummings
  • Jamie Maclaren
  • Adam Taggart
Ok, so given today's squad announcement, I'm putting together squads for the Simulations. I think including players that are injured now, but expected to recover for the tournament is ok.

These are the players that are not in the mod, so will need to be replaced:

Nishan Velupillay
Ante Šuto
Alexander Robertson
Paul Okon-Engstler
Kai Trewin
Jacob Italiano
Lucas Herrington

Who should take their spots? I've had a go (** = not in current squad, replacing the players above). Essentially, those without the ** are locked in for this.

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 **

1 spot left
 
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