AUS
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · GROUP D · POT 3

Australia
World Cup 26-man squad

Manager Tony Popovic · Australian head coach since September 2024 (former international, 58 caps, 8 goals). Of Croatian heritage — coached Western Sydney Wanderers, Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory in the A-League, plus stints in Türkiye (Karabükspor) and Greece (Xanthi). As a player he featured at the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.
MD1 Jun 13 vs Türkiye MD2 Jun 19 vs USA MD3 Jun 25 vs Paraguay
6th World Cup appearance · best finish: Round of 16 (2006, 2022)
26
Squad size
26.9
Avg. age
21 / 26
Overseas-based
9 / 17
WC veterans / Debutants
TEAM STORY

Tony Popovic's Australia announced their final 26 on May 31. This is their sixth consecutive World Cup (7th overall) — and the target is to surpass their two Round-of-16 runs (2006 Germany and 2022 Qatar) and reach a first-ever quarter-final. Veteran Mat Leckie (35) is in line for a fourth World Cup, with Aziz Behich (35) at his third.

Spine: captain Mathew Ryan (Levante, 104 caps) + Harry Souttar (Leicester, 1.98m centre-back) + Jackson Irvine (FC St. Pauli) + Mat Leckie (Melbourne City, 2022 R16-clinching scorer). 20-year-old Nestory Irankunda (Watford) and 18-year-old Lucas Herrington (MLS) provide generational range.

Group D opponents: Türkiye, USA, Paraguay. June 13 vs TUR (BC Place Vancouver) → June 19 vs USA (Seattle Stadium) → June 25 vs PAR (San Francisco Bay Area Stadium). The realistic target: bettering their two previous R16 runs and reaching a first-ever quarter-final.

PREDICTED XI

LIKELY 4-3-3.

Popovic's preferred 4-3-3. Mohamed Touré at No.9, Mabil left, veteran Leckie right. O'Neill anchors with Irvine + Metcalfe as 8s. CB pair: Souttar (Leicester) + Circati. Behich (LB) + Trewin (RB). Captain Ryan in goal.

4-3-3 (predicted)
KEY PLAYERS

KEY PLAYERS.

The five players who set the tone in the group stage — by role and trait.

1
GK · GK
Mathew Ryan
Levante · 34 · La Liga
104 caps · 0G WC: 2014, 2018, 2022
Captain & 104-cap keeper
CAPTAIN
19
CB · DF
Harry Souttar
Leicester City · 27
38 caps · 11G WC: 2022
1.98m goalscoring CB
ACE
22
CM · MF
Jackson Irvine
FC St. Pauli · 33 · Bundesliga
81 caps · 14G WC: 2018, 2022
Bundesliga midfield ace
7
RW · FW
Mathew Leckie
Melbourne City · 35
80 caps · 14G WC: 2014, 2018, 2022
2022 R16-clinching goalscorer
17
RW · FW
Nestory Irankunda
Watford · 20
15 caps · 5G WC debut
20yo Watford prospect
SQUAD

SQUAD 26.

GK GOALKEEPERS 3
DF DEFENDERS 10
MF MIDFIELDERS 5
FW FORWARDS 8
GROUP D

GROUP D.

USA
USA
POT 1
PAR
Paraguay
POT 2
AUS
Australia
POT 3
TUR
Türkiye
POT 4
Sat, Jun 13
Türkiye vs Australia
BC Place Vancouver · Vancouver
Australia's sixth consecutive World Cup opens vs Pot 4 Türkiye in Vancouver. Containing Çalhanoğlu and Güler tests the Irvine/Metcalfe midfield.
View lineups →
MD1
Fri, Jun 19
USA vs Australia
Seattle Stadium · Seattle, WA
Seattle showdown vs hosts USA. Containing Pulisic and Pepi falls on 1.98m Souttar's aerial duels.
View lineups →
MD2
Thu, Jun 25
Paraguay vs Australia
San Francisco Bay Area Stadium · Santa Clara, CA
Group decider vs Paraguay. Australia eyes a repeat of their 2006 and 2022 R16 runs — three points are essential.
View lineups →
MD3

Road to the final

Spoiler-free: the potential bracket route by final group position. No results shown.

Win Group D
  1. Round of 32 Jul 01 · Santa Clara vs 3rd place (B/E/F/I/J)
  2. Round of 16 Jul 06 · Seattle vs Winner of Match 82
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 10 · Inglewood vs Winner of Match 93
  4. Semi-finals Jul 14 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 97
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 102
Runners-up, Group D
  1. Round of 32 Jul 03 · Arlington vs Runners-up Group G
  2. Round of 16 Jul 07 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 86
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 11 · Kansas City vs Winner of Match 96
  4. Semi-finals Jul 15 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 99
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 101
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