World Cup squad finalised: 15 Isuzu UTE A-League talents leading Young Socceroos’ title pursuit

Australia have finalised their squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

The CommBank Young Socceroos’ roster for the showpiece tournament in Chile has been whittled down from 23 to 21 players, with 15 of those talents coming from the Isuzu UTE A-League.

Australia booked their spot at the World Cup thanks to their historic AFC U20 Asian Cup triumph earlier this year and will go head-to-head with international heavyweights Italy and Argentina in Group D as well as Cuba.

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The Young Socceroos will kick-off their campaign against giants Italy on Monday (AEST), with Sydney FC sensation Paul Okon-Engstler set to make history.

He could follow in the footsteps of his father and current Socceroos assistant Paul, who represented Australia in their fourth-place finish at the 1991 U20 World Cup in Portugal. They could become the first father-son duo to play for Australia in the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

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

As for the overseas contingent joining up with the Young Socceroos, Manchester United youngster James Overy is in Trevor Morgan’s squad, as are fellow Perth Glory academy graduates Daniel Bennie and Jaylan Pearman, who both currently play for QPR in England.

Former Adelaide United youngster Musa Toure is also set to feature at the World Cup, along with Italy-based midfielder Louis Agosti.

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Match Schedule

Italy v Australia 
Date: Sunday, 28 September 2025 / Monday, 29 September 2025 (AUS) 
Time: 5.00pm (local) / 6.00am (AEST)
Venue: Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander, Valparaíso, 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 Elías Figueroa Brander, Valparaíso, 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 (AEDT)
Venue: Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago, Chile
Broadcast: Live on SBS and SBS On Demand

Young Socceroos’ World Cup squad

Name	Position	Current Club	Junior Club/Member Federation/Country
Louis AGOSTI	Midfielder	SSD Dolomiti Bellunesi, Italy	Five Dock FC / Football NSW
Alexander BADOLATO	Midfielder	Newcastle Jets, Australia	Sylvania Heights FC / Football NSW
Daniel BENNIE	Midfielder	Queens Park Rangers, England	Sorrento FC / Football West
Liam BONETIG	Defender	Melbourne City, Australia	Shellharbour Junior FC / Football NSW
Max CAPUTO	Forward	Melbourne City, Australia	Essendon Royals SC / Football VIC
Sebastian ESPOSITO	Defender	Melbourne Victory, Australia	Brunswick City SC / Football VIC
Daniel GRASKOSKI	Goalkeeper	Melbourne Victory, Australia	Northcote City FC / Football VIC
Steven HALL	Goalkeeper	Brighton & Hove Albion, England	Para Hills Junior SC / Football SA
Lucas HERRINGTON	Defender	Brisbane Roar, Australia	Toowong FC / Football QLD
Joshua INSERRA	Defender	Melbourne Victory, Australia	Fawkner SC / Football VIC
Luka JOVANOVIC	Forward	Adelaide United, Australia	Fk Beograd / Football SA
Panagiotis KIKIANIS	Defender	Adelaide United, Australia	Fulham United FC / Football SA
Paul OKON-ENGSTLER	Midfielder	Sydney FC, Australia	Marconi Stallions / Football NSW
James OVERY	Defender	Manchester United, England	Joondalup City FC / Football West
Jaylan PEARMAN	Midfielder	Queens Park Rangers, England	Sorrento FC / Football West
Tiago QUINTAL	Forward	Sydney FC, Australia	Baulkham Hills FC / Football NSW
Alexander ROBINSON	Goalkeeper	Macarthur Bulls, Australia	Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC / Football NSW
Fabian TALLADIRA	Defender	Adelaide United, Australia	Adelaide City FC / Football SA
Musa TOURE	Forward	Randers FC, Denmark	Croydon FC / Football SA
Rhys YOULLEY	Midfielder	Sydney FC, Australia	Marconi Stallions / Football NSW
Jonny YULL	Midfielder	Adelaide United, Australia	West Torrens Birkalla SC / Football SA