The CommBank Young Socceroos are back on the big stage at long last, having failed to qualify for the past four Under-20 World Cups.
This supremely talented squad of young talents ended the 12-year drought by becoming the first-ever Australian youth side to win an AFC Under-20 Asian Cup.
Led by head coach Trevor Morgan, this Young Socceroos squad, featuring 15 Isuzu UTE A-League players, is eager to build off the moment of their historic feat in Asia to challenge Australia’s best-ever Under-20 World Cup result: a fourth-place finish in both 1991 and 1993.
As Morgan’s talent-laden squad prepares to take on the world in Chile, aleagues.com.au analyses how this group of Young Socceroos can draw inspiration from the strength of generations past to break new ground, three decades on from Australia’s most successful period of Under-20 World Cup performances.
How to watch the Under-20 World Cup
Every Young Socceroos U20s game, both semi-finals and the final of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup will be broadcast LIVE and FREE across SBS and SBS On Demand.
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FULL SQUAD: 15 Isuzu UTE A-League talents leading Young Socceroos’ title pursuit
MEET THE STARS: ‘Massive’ reason behind young duo’s return to Australian football
The 15 Isuzu UTE A-League-based players selected for the FIFA U20 World Cup:
Adelaide United: Luka Jovanovic, Pangiotis Kikianis, Jonny Yull, Fabian Talladira
Brisbane Roar: Lucas Herrington
Macarthur Bulls: Alexander Robinson
Melbourne City: Max Caputo, Liam Bonetig
Melbourne Victory: Josh Inserra, Sebastian Esposito, Daniel Graskoski
Newcastle Jets: Alex Badolato
Sydney FC: Paul Okon-Engstler, Rhys Youlley, Tiago Quintal
FULL SQUAD: 15 Isuzu UTE A-League talents leading Young Socceroos’ title pursuit
Australia’s Under-20 World Cup history
The Young Socceroos have been to 15 FIFA Under-20 World Cups but have failed to progress past the group stage in their last four visits to the major tournament.
The last time an Australian side reached the knockouts was in 2003 with a Round-of-16 finish. Australia have reached the quarter-finals twice in 1981 and 1995 with the latter of the two coming at the end of a golden cycle.
The 1995 quarter-final performance came after back-to-back fourth-place finishes in 1991 and 1993 – Australia’s best-ever results at an Under-20 Men’s World Cup.
That three-tournament stretch began an impressive 22-year stretch in which Australia failed to qualify for just one Under-20 Men’s World Cup (2007) and made it out of the group stage on six out of 11 occasions, ending with a group-stage exit at the 2013 edition of the tournament.
Australia haven’t returned to the Under-20 Men’s World Cup since – but now, the nation’s return to the big stage comes off the back of an unprecedented AFC Under-20 Asian Cup triumph – a title that’s lifted the expectations of what this special squad can achieve in Chile this October.
Fifteen return from Asian Cup triumph
Twenty-three young Australians went to China for the 2025 AFC Under-20 Asian Cup and returned as champions of Asia.
Sixteen of those trophy winners have been picked to return to Young Socceroos duty in Chile, with five newcomers in the mix to make head coach Morgan’s final 22-player squad.
Of the 23 Asian champions, Isuzu UTE A-League sextet Dean Bosnjak, Adam Bugarija, Frans Deli, Gus Hoefsloot, Medin Memeti, Zach Lisolajski and Oliver Randazzo have all dropped out of Morgan’s squad with James Overy, Alex Bonetig, Max Caputo, Daniel Graskoski and Rhys Youlley coming into the World Cup squad to take the final squad number to 21 players.
Five of the six newcomers are signed to Isuzu UTE A-League clubs while Overy, formerly of Perth Glory, will join the Young Socceroos from English giants Manchester United.
Head coach Morgan’s squad selection was made all the more difficult by the fact that the Under-20 World Cup takes place outside of a FIFA international window, meaning club action does not pause to ensure the availability of all players for selection.
It means Australian football fans can only dream of the prospect of what Adelaide United product and CommBank Socceroos star Nestory Irankunda could have done if picked to compete on the World Cup stage.
SOCCEROOS: An image made in the A-Leagues shows the Socceroos’ next gen are here!
But that’s not to say Australia’s selected 22-player squad doesn’t boast the kind of talent needed to make a splash at the major tournament.
Newcastle Jets creator Alexander Badolato returns to the international scene having been named most valuable player in the 2025 Under-20 Asian Cup, while Sebastian Esposito – who starred in central defence during Australia’s Asian Cup triumph, returns to solidify Young Socceroos’ backline following an off-season move from US Lecce to Melbourne Victory.
And watch out for classy midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler, who has the chance to make history in Chile.
After a three-year stint at Portuguese powerhouse Benfica, Okon-Engstler signed for Sydney FC after a superb Under-20 Asian Cup campaign in China. When he inevitably makes his Under-20 World Cup debut in Chile, Okon-Engstler can replicate the journey of his father- Socceroos legend Paul Okon (1991) – and represent Australia at an Under-20 World Cup.
Should Okon-Engstler take to the field for the Young Socceroos, he and his father will become the first father-son duo to play for Australia at the Under-20 World Cup.
Australia have twice finished fourth at the major tournament but have failed to replicate the same success in the 32 years since.
But one thing is for certain heading into the 2025 edition of the tournament: this current crop of Young Socceroos have achieved what no edition of the youth international squad has ever achieved before, with a trophy lift in Asia inspiring the belief that this special group of young players could continue its trajectory and return Australia to the top table of youth international football.
MATCH SCHEDULE – FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP CHILE 2025
Italy v Australia
Date: Sunday, 28 September 2025 / Monday, 29 September 2025 (AUS)
Time: 5.00pm (local) / 6.00am (AEST)
Venue: Estadio ElÃas Figueroa Brander, ValparaÃso, Chile
Broadcast: Live on SBS and SBS On Demand
Argentina v Australia
Date: Wednesday, 1 October 2025 / Thursday, 2 October 2025 (AUS)
Time: 8.00pm (local) / 9.00am (AEST)
Venue: Estadio ElÃas Figueroa Brander, ValparaÃso, Chile
Broadcast: Live on SBS and SBS On Demand
Australia v Cuba
Date: Saturday, 4 October 2025 / Sunday, 5 October 2025 (AUS)
Time: 8.00pm (local) / 10.00am (AEST)
Venue: Estadio Nacional Julio MartÃnez Prádanos, Santiago, Chile
Broadcast: Live on SBS and SBS On Demand
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