Subway Socceroos boss Tony Popovic has named 10 Isuzu UTE A-League stars in his latest squad for crucial upcoming 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China.
Sydney FC defender Alex Grant, Melbourne Victory midfielder Ryan Teague and Melbourne City’s Kai Trewin are all in line to win their first senior caps for the national team, whilst Isuzu UTE A-League champion and former Central Coast defender Nectarios Triantis has also earned a maiden call-up.
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Perth Glory captain Adam Taggart makes a welcome return to the squad as does Melbourne City winger Marco Tilio, who has hit the ground running since returning from a hamstring injury.
Western Sydney Wanderers forward Brandon Borrello and Sydney FC’s Anthony Caceres have also been named as have Melbourne Victory duo Nishan Velupillay and Daniel Arzani.
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Meanwhile Melbourne City captain Aziz Behich has been included in the squad as has young City teammate Patrick Beach, however the 21-year-old goalkeeper will join the camp as part of a development opportunity as opposed to being named in the full senior squad.
“It was a whirlwind start to the beginning of my tenure with the national team, and since November we’ve had the chance to review and assess all facets of our program ahead of these Qualifiers,”
Subway Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic
“We understand the importance of these upcoming games and are excited by the opportunity to further cement our position in the group’s automatic qualifying positions.
He added: “I’m looking forward to seeing the players and getting the squad together on the pitch in preparation for what will be a great occasion at the Sydney Football Stadium.”
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Meanwhile, former Western Sydney Wanderers and current Portsmouth striker Kusini Yengi has been named in place of veteran forward Mitchell Duke whilst ex-Melbourne Victory defender Jason Davidson and A-Leagues champion Tom Glover also return to the squad.
Currently occupying second place in World Cup qualifying Group B, the Socceroos face Indonesia at Allianz Stadium on March 20 before taking on China in Hangzhou on March 25.
Popovic’s side will then play Japan in June at Perth’s Optus Stadium before rounding out what they hope will be a successful FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in Saudi Arabia on June 10.
Socceroos squad
| Name | Current Club, Country | ‘A’ Caps (Goals) | Junior Club (Member Federation/Country) |
| Daniel ARZANI | Melbourne Victory, Australia | 7 (1) | Coogee United FC / Football NSW |
| Aziz BEHICH | Melbourne City, Australia | 77 (2) | Meadow Park SC / Football VIC |
| Brandon BORRELLO | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | 13 (2) | Modbury Jets SC / Football SA |
| Martin BOYLE | Hibernian FC, Scotland | 30 (9) | Lewis United FC / Montrose FC (Scotland) |
| Cameron BURGESS | Ipswich Town, England | 13 (0) | ECU Joondalup / Football West |
| Anthony CACERES | Sydney FC, Australia | 2 (0) | Marconi Stallions / Football NSW |
| Jason DAVIDSON | Panserraikos F.C., Greece | 23 (1) | Hume City FC / Football VIC |
| Miloš DEGENEK | FK TSC Bačka Topola, Serbia | 45 (1) | Blacktown City FC / Football NSW |
| Jason GERIA | Albirex Niigata, Japan | 3 (0) | Weston Molonglo Football Club / Capital Football |
| Thomas GLOVER (GK) | Middlesborough FC, England | 0 | Menai Hawks / Football NSW |
| Craig GOODWIN | Al Wehda, Saudi Arabia | 30 (7) | Munno Para City FC / Football SA |
| Alex GRANT | Sydney FC, Australia | 0 | ECU Joondalup / Football West |
| Jackson IRVINE | St Pauli, Germany | 76 (11) | Ringwood City SC / Football VIC |
| Paul IZZO (Gk) | Randers, Denmark | 0 | Campbelltown City SC / Football SA |
| Fran KARAČIĆ | NK Lokomotiva, Croatia | 13 (1) | NK Lokomotiva / Croatia |
| Lewis MILLER | Hibernian FC, Scotland | 9 (1) | Pittwater RSL FC / Football NSW |
| Aiden O’NEILL | Standard de Liège, Belgium | 17 (0) | University of Queensland Football Club / Football QLD |
| Kye ROWLES | D.C. United, United States | 24 (1) | Palm Beach SC / Football QLD |
| Mat RYAN (GK) | RC Lens, France | 96 (0) | Blacktown City FC / Football NSW |
| Adam TAGGART | Perth Glory FC, Australia | 21 (7) | ECU Joondalup / Football West |
| Ryan TEAGUE | Melbourne Victory FC, Australia | 0 | Maroubra United FC / Football NSW |
| Marco TILIO | Melbourne City FC, Australia | 9 (0) | APIA Leichhardt FC & Sydney Olympic FC / Football NSW |
| Nectarios TRIANTIS | Hibernian FC, Scotland | 0 | Canterbury Junior FC / Football NSW |
| Kai TREWIN | Melbourne City FC, Australia | 0 | Gungahlin United FC / Capital Football |
| Nishan VELUPILLAY | Melbourne Victory, Australia | 2 (1) | Endeavour United SC / Football Victoria |
| Kusini YENGI | Portsmouth FC, England | 12 (6) | Fulham United FC / Football SA |
