2026 World Cup Squad

[socceroosmad]

If McGree is out, he’s gonna play Hrustic, I’m sure of it.

This WC is gonna be an all-time hate watch.

If McGree is out our chances of being in top 2 of Group D are out as well. He's our only genuine no.10

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

If McGree is out our chances of being in top 2 of Group D are out as well. He's our only genuine no.10

Awer Mabil can step in as another option to fill the number 10 role in the absence of Riley McGree though.

 

[socceroosmad]

AI says he’d hypothetically look like this:

View attachment 7056

Love the new Croatian kit. Reminds me of ours ...

 

[JS96]

Awer Mabil can step in as another option to fill the number 10 role in the absence of Riley McGree though.

Mabil is a winger but that's not to say he isn't tricky when roaming across and then being dead ahead of goal. The trouble with formation charts is people think the player will be rooted to the spot when there's just so much movement that a 10 may hang wide or vice versa.

 

[socceroosmad]

Nick D'Agostino has previously suffered from leg injuries though so this latest one may well be a recurrence of an existing injury.

All respect to D'Agostino but he's not a WC level player. Works his a*** off, great commitment, but goal shy

 

[JS96]

Some comments that our camp is very long. This the same as 2018 when we spent weeks in Turkey and then had a fortnight of games. I don't think it risks burnout but Irvine didn't get a 5 day European holiday. I think it's vital for some to have a little rest after an intensive season.

 

[JS96]

All respect to D'Agostino but he's not a WC level player. Works his a*** off, great commitment, but goal shy

We've known about Tete for ages and wasted a start against the USA with D'Agostino. In hindsight a lot of the friendly minutes were wasted on some.

 

[NicCarBel]

Have done a bit of sleuthing on the 31 currently announced for camp re: squad numbers - this is the updates I've got from images, and I did notice something a little interesting.....

1. ??
2. Milos Degenek
3. ??
4. ??
5. Jordy Bos
6. Martin Boyle
7. Mat Leckie
8. Connor Metcalfe
9. Mo Toure
10. Ajdin Hrustic
11. Nestory Irankunda
12. Paul Izzo
13. Aiden O'Neill
14. ??
15. Mitch Duke
16. Aziz Behich
17. Cameron Devlin
18. Joe Gauci
19. Harry Souttar
20. ??
21. Cameron Burgess
22. Jackson Irvine
23. Jacob Italiano
24. Alex Robertson
25. Jason Geria
26. Gianni Stensness
27. Raphael Borges Rodriguez
28. Patrick Beach
29. Anthony Caceres
30. Daniel Bennie
31. Ante Suto
32. Nick D'Agostino (withdrawn injured)
33. Brandon Borrello
34. Nishan Velupillay
35. Dylan Leonard

My most ikely players to fill the slots (assuming we have maxed out at 35)

• Mat Ryan
• Kye Rowles
• Alessandro Circati
• Riley McGree
• Hayden Matthews (already withdrawn injured - I'm assuming he was #20)

Looks like a possible switch to #3 for Circati

 

[JS96]

Lynch says news from camp is around half a dozen will be confirmed to come into camp tomorrow.

Ryan, Circati, Trewin, Herrington, Rowles, Okon (McGree). Lynch also listed Juric, Mabil and Karacic just for a mention but those 3 surely aren't coming.

I keep forgetting the MLS guys haven't been released yet.

 

[JS96]

Have done a bit of sleuthing on the 31 currently announced for camp re: squad numbers - this is the updates I've got from images, and I did notice something a little interesting.....

1. ??
2. Milos Degenek
3. ??
4. ??
5. Jordy Bos
6. Martin Boyle
7. Mat Leckie
8. Connor Metcalfe
9. Mo Toure
10. Ajdin Hrustic
11. Nestory Irankunda
12. Paul Izzo
13. Aiden O'Neill
14. ??
15. Mitch Duke
16. Aziz Behich
17. Cameron Devlin
18. Joe Gauci
19. Harry Souttar
20. ??
21. Cameron Burgess
22. Jackson Irvine
23. Jacob Italiano
24. Alex Robertson
25. Jason Geria
26. Gianni Stensness
27. Raphael Borges Rodriguez
28. Patrick Beach
29. Anthony Caceres
30. Daniel Bennie
31. Ante Suto
32. Nick D'Agostino (withdrawn injured)
33. Brandon Borrello
34. Nishan Velupillay
35. Dylan Leonard

My most ikely players to fill the slots (assuming we have maxed out at 35)

• Mat Ryan
• Kye Rowles
• Alessandro Circati
• Riley McGree
• Hayden Matthews (already withdrawn injured - I'm assuming he was #20)

Looks like a possible switch to #3 for Circati

Those training numbers are somewhat indicative. Don't tell me Circati is changing his number after I got him in 23. Italiano played in 3 last time so hopefully he's just minding it. Rowles has played in 4 at a world cup and numerous occasions while also having different numbers depending on availability.

Irankunda switches to 11 given Leckie's return and Mabil has 11 last window. By no means are these numbers set for who's getting in but I have a suspicion you can see it forming very strongly for a majority. Leckie gets his 7 right back. Why not 31 and show he's not exactly right back in?

 

[socceroosmad]

Assuming mcgree isnt injured that looks likely. Okon might compliment irvine more but not sure if he has been tested at a high enough level

I Heven't got BeIN so haven't seen much of Devlin. For those on here that have, how would he go against USA, Turkey and Paraguay, either starting or as a sub? Better defensively than O'Neill? Love the look of him in the odd highlight I've seen.

 

[JS96]

I Heven't got BeIN so haven't seen much of Devlin. For those on here that have, how would he go against USA, Turkey and Paraguay, either starting or as a sub? Better defensively than O'Neill? Love the look of him in the odd highlight I've seen.

The software might have pipped him on the final day but he was the highest rated player in the league for the season. That's massive given his position where the algorithm can be skewed towards goalscorers.

 

[NicCarBel]

Those training numbers are somewhat indicative. Don't tell me Circati is changing his number after I got him in 23. Italiano played in 3 last time so hopefully he's just minding it. Rowles has played in 4 at a world cup and numerous occasions while also having different numbers depending on availability.

Irankunda switches to 11 given Leckie's return and Mabil has 11 last window. By no means are these numbers set for who's getting in but I have a suspicion you can see it forming very strongly for a majority. Leckie gets his 7 right back. Why not 31 and show he's not exactly right back in?

Yes this is my thinking as well

thankfully I did not get the current jersey with any actual player names, just my own! So my Circati 23 Zig Zag is still accurate for the times at least. It's apparently arriving tomorrow

 

[socceroosmad]

Those training numbers are somewhat indicative. Don't tell me Circati is changing his number after I got him in 23. Italiano played in 3 last time so hopefully he's just minding it. Rowles has played in 4 at a world cup and numerous occasions while also having different numbers depending on availability.

Irankunda switches to 11 given Leckie's return and Mabil has 11 last window. By no means are these numbers set for who's getting in but I have a suspicion you can see it forming very strongly for a majority. Leckie gets his 7 right back. Why not 31 and show he's not exactly right back in?

I'd like it if shirt numbers equated with position. We talk about someone being a good/bad no. 9 or no.10, no. 8, no. 6 etc.

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/24/riley-mcgree-injury-socceroos-world-cup-blow

"McGree briefly played on before being substituted, leaving the 27-year-old to watch on from the bench as his team conceded deep in injury time to shatter their dreams of reaching the Premier League – and set the alarm bells ringing for Socceroos coach Tony Popovic."

It's possible he felt it a couple of minutes before going down.

 

[JS96]

It's possible he felt it a couple of minutes before going down.

Going to watch my recording right now.

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

I Heven't got BeIN so haven't seen much of Devlin. For those on here that have, how would he go against USA, Turkey and Paraguay, either starting or as a sub? Better defensively than O'Neill? Love the look of him in the odd highlight I've seen.

Devlin had a brilliant season - has improved out of sight.

I'd rather have Balard as one of the 6s but if he's out, Devlin all the way. Brilliant screener and ball winner but has a yellow in him.

 

[JS96]

From the 64min McGree was moving naturally and there was a drinks break when Hackney come on and he was fine there. Perhaps he noticed a slight tightness but then tracking back where the injury happened was an all or nothing risk.

 

[socceroosmad]

We've known about Tete for ages and wasted a start against the USA with D'Agostino. In hindsight a lot of the friendly minutes were wasted on some.

I got confused between Kusini and Tete:

Kusini Yengi

• Playing Style: A tall, powerful, and physically imposing striker who is known for his strength and ability to hold up the ball.
• Highest Achievement: Kusini represents the Australian senior national team (the Socceroos), where he has established himself as a reliable goalscorer.
• Career Path: After gaining prominence in the A-League, he moved to the UK to help Portsmouth win the League One title. Following a challenging stint at Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership, he transferred to Cerezo Osaka in Japan's J1 League to find his form. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• Tete Yengi
  • Playing Style: Even taller than his older brother (standing nearly 1.95m), Tete is a heavy, physical target man who has developed a sharper eye for goal in recent seasons.
  • Recent Form: While Kusini has had a slump in Europe, Tete's consistent performances in the Scottish Championship and his subsequent move to FC Machida Zelvia in the J1 League have earned him significant praise. He is also highly sought after by the South Sudan national team. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

 

[JS96]

Any reference to Yengi here should currently refer to Tete and Kusini is out. I think we should just call him Tete. I feel for Kusini because he contributed well before moving to an anti football league and we've got enough case studies and evidence that one player's style simply doesn't fit that type. The reason Japanese players are successful in Scotland is because they're at the top two clubs and the opponents are traffic cones.