A-Leagues alumni dominate the Subway Socceroos squad for the upcoming two-game international series against New Zealand, with reigning Isuzu UTE A-League Golden Boot winner Adrian Segecic and 2024-25 Johnny Warren Medallist Nicolas Milanovic headlining the inclusions.
Former Sydney FC star Segecic and ex-Western Sydney Wanderers sensation Milanovic are among four uncapped players named by Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic in the 25-player squad that will face the All Whites in Canberra on September 5 before the return friendly in Auckland four days later.
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Western United graduate Noah Botic and Anthony Kalik, who previously played for Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC, have also been called up for the first time as Australia prepare for next year’s FIFA Men’s World Cup.
Segecic has hit the ground running at Portsmouth in the EFL Championship after sharing the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League Golden Boot with Archie Goodwin. Meanwhile, Milanovic now calls Aberdeen home on the back of his Johnny Warren Medal-winning exploits in Western Sydney last season.
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There is also a first senior selection for ex-Western United marskman Botic, who swapped Australia for Austrian giants Austria Vienna having scored 16 goals in 29 matches for the Green and Black in 2024-25. As for Kalik, he has been starring for Croatian powerhouse Hajduk Split.
Aussie sensation Nestory Irankunda (Watford) has earned a re-call after standing out for Championship side Watford following his transfer from Bayern Munich, as have Jordy Bos (Feyenoord), Max Balard (NAC Breda), Hayden Matthews (Portsmouth), Tom Glover, Sam Silvera (both Middlesbrough), Ajdin Hrustic (Heracles) and Fran Karacic (Hajduk Split).
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There are 20 players in the Soccer Ashes squad who have come through the A-Leagues, either via an academy or the first team:
| Name | Current club | A-Leagues club/s |
| Max Balard | NAC Breda, Netherlands | Central Coast Mariners |
| Jordy Bos | Feyenoord, Netherlands | Melbourne City |
| Noah Botic | Austria Vienna, Austria | Western United |
| Alessandro Circati | Parma, Italy | Perth Glory (academy) |
| Joe Gauci (GK) | Port Vale, England | Central Coast Mariners, Melbourne City, Adelaide United |
| Tom Glover (GK) | Middlesbrough, England | Central Coast Mariners, Melbourne City |
| Nestory Irankunda | Watford, England | Adelaide United |
| Paul Izzo | Randers, Denmark | Adelaide United, Central Coast Mariners, Melbourne Victory |
| Anthony Kalik | Hajduk Split, Croatia | Central Coast Mariners, Sydney FC |
| Hayden Matthews | Portsmouth, England | Sydney FC |
| Connor Metcalfe | St Pauli, Germany | Melbourne City |
| Nicolas Milanovic | Aberdeen, Scotland | Western United, Western Sydney Wanderers |
| Lewis Miller | Blackburn Rovers, England | Central Coast Mariners |
| Aiden O’Neill | New York City FC, USA | Brisbane Roar, Melbourne City |
| Kye Rowles | FC United, USA | Brisbane Roar, Central Coast Mariners |
| Adrian Segecic | Portsmouth, England | Sydney FC |
| Samuel Silvera | Middlesbrough, England | Central Coast Mariners, Newcastle Jets |
| Ryan Teague | KV Mechelen, Belgium | Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory |
| Mohamed Toure | Randers, Denmark | Adelaide United |
| Patrick Yazbek | Nashville SC, USA | Sydney FC |
“I always had faith and confidence in our ability to not only qualify for the World Cup but continue growing as a team. The players have done an outstanding job in securing World Cup qualification, and now the focus on 2026 begins,” Popovic said.
“We’re in the early stages of this journey, but all our energies are now focused on continuing to drive the elite standards that we aspire to and achieving our best result at a World Cup. We want to do something special and make our nation proud.
“We’re excited to be back in camp for the first time after qualifying for the World Cup and we’re looking forward to testing ourselves against another team that’s qualified for the World Cup, in New Zealand.”
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Match Schedule
Socceroos v New Zealand
Friday, 5 September
GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 7.45pm AEST
Broadcast: 10, 10 Play and Paramount+
New Zealand v Socceroos
Tuesday, 9 September
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Kick-off: 7.00pm local / 5.00pm AEST
Broadcast: Paramount+
