Sydney FC head coach Ufuk Talay says marquee star Douglas Costa’s return to the club for pre-season training has been delayed by personal issues in Brazil.
The former Bayern Munich and Juventus winger joined Sydney FC on a two-year deal in 2024 and made 16 league appearances for the Sky Blues in his first season Down Under.
Sydney’s 2025-26 campaign officially gets underway on Tuesday night, with a Hahn Australia Cup clash against Western United, the first competitive fixture on the club’s schedule for the new term.
Speaking ahead of the clash at Ironbark Fields in Tarneit, Talay confirmed Costa’s absence from the travelling squad.
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“Douglas is still in Brazil and his personal issues are taking a little longer than expected to sort out,” Talay said.
“However, we have still been in constant communication with him and we expect him to be back in Sydney this week.”
Talay also revealed goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares, who made the club’s No.1 role his own in 2024-25, would miss the Round of 32 clash with an ankle injury picked up in training.
Centre-back Alex Grant, meanwhile, will return to the squad and push for minutes against Western United after recovering from a calf issue.
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On the selection front, Sydney could blood three of their new recruits in Tarneit on Tuesday night, with Paul Okon-Engstler, Al Hassan Toure and Rhys Youlley all available for selection.
“Paul and Al Hassan have both integrated really well into the group this past week and they are in the travelling squad for this clash,” Talay said.
“Rhys has been here since the start of pre-season and fans have seen a glimpse of him against Wrexham however he is also in line to make his debut in this game.
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“A number of the players who featured in the Wrexham game are still within the squad and will also be part of the side travelling down to Tarneit for this one and we will look to utilise them throughout the game.”
Sydney take on Western United at Ironbark Fields at 7.30pm AEST on Tuesday night, for aplace in the Round of 16.
The all-Isuzu UTE A-League clash is one of four Australia Cup fixtures on the Tuesday night agenda; defending champions Macarthur Bulls begin their title defence against SD Raiders in a knockout clash that presents Bulls signing Anthony Caceres the opportunity to make his competitive debut for Mile Sterjovski’s side.
Melbourne Victory, meanwhile, travel to face NPL WA side Olympic Kingsway in Perth.
Victory made last year’s Australia Cup final but tasted defeat to Macarthur in the title decider – a familiar theme for a Victory side that also reached the Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final but fell short at the final hurdle against Melbourne City.
Returning for 2025-26, Victory have confirmed new squad numbers for the upcoming campaign. Zinedine Machach has swapped his number eight for the club’s number 10 shirt (with Bruno Fornaroli currently uncontracted). Jordi Valadon has claimed the recently vacated number eight.
Reno Piscopo will wear the number seven at Victory this season after Daniel Arzani’s departure to Hungarian champions Ferencvarosi TC.
Full list of Victory squad numbers: 3. Adama TRAORE, 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 5. Brendan HAMILL, 7. Reno PISCOPO, 8. Jordi VALADON, 9. Nikos VERGOS, 10. Zinédine MACHACH, 11. SANTOS, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 18. Franco LINO, 19. Jing REEC, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 26. Luka KOLIC, 27. Louis D’ARRIGO, 28. Kayne RAZMOVSKI, 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI
And at long last, Auckland FC will take on NPL Queensland side Gold Coast Knights in the Black Knights’ first-ever Australia Cup fixture.
Auckland come into their inaugural Australia Cup tie off the back of a 5-0 friendly win over New Zealand Northern League side West Coast Rangers. A Jesse Randall brace and goals to Logan Rogerson, Marlee Francois and Cameron Howieson saw Steve Corica’s side cruise to victory in an ideal tune-up for the trip to face Gold Coast Knights.
Match Details: Australia Cup, Tuesday July 29
SD Raiders v Macarthur FC
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEST
Venue: Fairfield Showground
Broadcast: 10Play / Football Australia YouTube Channel
Gold Coast Knights v Auckland FC
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEST
Venue: Croatian Sports Centre, Gold Coast
Broadcast: Paramount+
Western United v Sydney FC
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEST
Venue: Ironbark Fields, Tarneit
Broadcast: 10Play / Football Australia YouTube Channel
Tickets
Olympic Kingsway v Melbourne Victory
Kick-off: 7pm AWST (local), 9pm AEST
Venue: Olympic Stadium
Broadcast: 10Play / Football Australia YouTube Channel
Tickets
