Australia’s squad bound for next month’s AFC U23 Asian Cup has been revealed, with more than half of the 23-player squad currently plying their trade in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
A total of 14 A-Leagues up-and-comers will depart for Uzbekistan as part of the Olyroos’ squad for the tournament, with Australia in Group B alongside Kuwait, Iraq, and Jordan.
The group fixtures will take place between June 1 and 7, with all of the Olyroos’ fixtures at the tournament broadcast live in Australia on Paramount+.
Adelaide United have a total of five players included in the squad, the most of any individual club, with Central Coast Mariners’ three the next best. Melbourne City, Brisbane Roar, Perth Glory, Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers are also contributing players to the 22-player squad.
A-Leagues’ representation in the Olyroos squad
- Lachlan Brook – Adelaide United
- Louis D’Arrigo – Adelaide United
- Joe Gauci – Adelaide United
- Bernardo Oliveira – Adelaide United
- Kusini Yengi – Adelaide United
- Kai Trewin – Brisbane Roar
- Lewis Miller – Central Coast Mariners
- Jacob Farrell – Central Coast Mariners
- Josh Nisbet – Central Coast Mariners
- Jordan Bos – Melbourne City
- Josh Rawlins – Perth Glory
- Patrick Wood- Sydney FC
- Patrick Yazbek – Sydney FC
- Ramy Najjarine – Western Sydney Wanderers
Players currently competing in the A-League Men’s finals (from Adelaide United and Melbourne City), and those with potential to represent the A-Leagues All Stars against Barcelona on Wednesday, May 25 will travel to Uzbekistan following the completion of their domestic commitments.
The remainder of the squad will assemble in Uzbekistan on Monday, May 23 for a pre-tournament training camp.
It was announced last week that former Socceroo Tony Vidmar would take charge of the U23 men’s program, once the Socceroos’ qualification run for the FIFA 2022 World Cup is complete. In the meantime, Trevor Morgan will coach the Olyroos through the Asian Cup. Former Perth Glory head coach Richard Garcia will assist the mission in Uzbekistan.
With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on the horizon, Morgan says next month’s Asian Cup provides an important moment in the development of a squad eager to show its wares against the best U23 sides in the world in the current cycle.
“We have assembled a strong squad of young Australian talent to compete at the upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup, with one additional player to be added in the coming days,” Morgan said in a statement from Football Australia.
“The players in the squad are making an impact in senior football, and with many age-eligible for Paris 2024 this tournament will provide an important moment in their development. While some players won’t be eligible for the next Olympic cycle, the opportunity for them to go to a high-level international competition will assist them in their careers, and help to create further depth for the Socceroos.”
Australia U23 Squad (one player to be added) | AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2022
Supplied by Football Australia
| Name | Club, Country | Junior Club (Member Federation) |
| Hosine BILITY | Fram Reykjavik, Iceland | Croydon Kings FC (Football South Australia) |
| Nicholas BILOKAPIC (Gk) | Hartlepool United, England | Sydney United 58 FC (Football NSW) |
| Jordan BOS | Melbourne City FC, Australia | Hoppers Crossing SC (Football Victoria) |
| Lachlan BROOK | Adelaide United FC, Australia | Gawler Eagles FC (Football South Australia) |
| Jacob CHAPMAN (Gk) | Huddersfield Town AFC, England | Epping Eastwood Tigers FC (Football NSW) |
| Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS | Rakow Czestochowa, Poland | Newmarket SFC (Football Queensland) |
| Louis D’ARRIGO | Adelaide United FC, Australia | West Torrens Birkalla SC (Football South Australia) |
| Jacob FARRELL | Central Coast Mariners FC, Australia | Wyoming FC (Football NSW) |
| Tyrese FRANCOIS | Fulham FC, England | Campbelltown Uniting Church SC (Football NSW) |
| Joe GAUCI (Gk) | Adelaide United FC, Australia | Cumberland United FC (Football South Australia) |
| Tristan HAMMOND | FK Austria Wien II, Austria | Fairfield Hotspurs SC (Football NSW) |
| Alou KUOL | SV Sandhausen, Germany | Shepparton SC (Football Victoria) |
| Lewis MILLER | Central Coast Mariners FC, Australia | Pittwater RSL FC (Football NSW) |
| Ramy NAJJARINE | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | Mounties Wanderers FC (Football NSW) |
| Joshua NISBET | Central Coast Mariners FC, Australia | St Marys FC (Football NSW) |
| Bernardo Oliveira (BERNARDO) | Adelaide United FC, Australia | Port Adelaide Pirates SC (Football SA) |
| Cameron PEUPION | Brighton Hove & Albion FC, England | Wakehurst FC (Football NSW) |
| Joshua RAWLINS | Perth Glory FC, Australia | Dianella SC (Football West) |
| Jay RICH-BAGHUELOU | Accrington Stanley FC, England | Palm Beach SC (Football Queensland) |
| Kai TREWIN | Brisbane Roar FC, Australia | Gungahlin United FC (Capital Football) |
| Patrick WOOD | Sydney FC, Australia | Collaroy Cromer Strikers FC (Football NSW) |
| Patrick YAZBEK | Sydney FC, Australia | Austral Soccer Club (Football NSW) |
| Kusini YENGI | Adelaide United FC, Australia | Fulham United FC (Football South Australia) |
Match Schedule | Australia U23 | AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2022
Matchday 1: Australia U23 v Kuwait U23
Date: Wednesday, 1 June 2022
Venue: Markaziy Stadium, Qarshi, Uzbekistan
Kick-off: 6pm (local); 11pm (AEST)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on Paramount+
Matchday 2: Iraq U23 v Australia U23
Date: Saturday, 4 June 2022
Venue: Markaziy Stadium, Qarshi, Uzbekistan
Kick-off: 6pm (local); 11pm (AEST)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on Paramount+
Matchday 3: Australia U23 v Jordan U23
Date: Wednesday, 1 June 2022
Venue: Lokomotiv Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Kick-off: 6pm (local); 11pm (AEST)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on Paramount+
