Australia enter the 2026 World Cup with a renewed sense of belief after a Round of 16 run in Qatar where they pushed Argentina to the limit.
The Socceroos have been given no chance by bookmakers, but they relish as underdogs and will be keen to prove that their consistency on the world stage is no fluke.
World Cup History
Australia have qualified for the previous five World Cups, reaching the Round of 16 on two occasions. They went out to Italy in 2006 and Argentina in 2022.
| Year | Host | Stage Reached |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | West Germany | Group Stage |
| 2006 | Germany | Round of 16 |
| 2010 | South Africa | Group Stage |
| 2014 | Brazil | Group Stage |
| 2018 | Russia | Group Stage |
| 2022 | Qatar | Round of 16 |
The Road to 2026 - Popovic Steadies the Ship
Australia won all six games in the second round but hit a roadblock at the start of the third round, beaten 1-0 by Bahrain before a 0-0 draw in Indonesia.
Long-time manager Graham Arnold stepped down and was replaced by Tony Popovic. Results immediately improved, the Socceroos finishing the campaign to finish second in Group C.
A 2-1 comeback victory in Saudi Arabia on the final matchday sealed their direct ticket to the World Cup.
The Manager - Tony Popovic
Popovic was a centre-back who played over 400 games at club level. He was a part of Crystal Palace's team that competed in the 2004-05 Premier League.
The 52-year-old represented Australia on 58 occasions and played one match at the 2006 World Cup.
He had a successful managerial career at club level, guiding Western Sydney Wanderers to a historic AFC Champions League title in 2014 and winning A-League premierships with the Wanderers and Perth Glory.
Popovic has brought a disciplined, no-nonsense philosophy to a squad that desperately needed structure.
The Squad - Youngsters Coming Through
Australia's squad features the experienced Mathew Ryan, Aziz Behich, Jackson Irvine and Mathew Leckie.
There are plenty of youngsters coming through including centre-backs Alessandro Circati, Lucas Herrington and Feyenoord left-back Jordan Bos.
Cristian Volpato has been getting game time at Sassuolu and has been called up to make his debut.
Two attackers that have been competing in the English Championship are likely to see plenty of playing time, Nestory Irankunda and Mohamed Toure.
| Pos | Player | Age | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Mathew Ryan | 34 | Levante |
| GK | Paul Izzo | 31 | Randers |
| GK | Patrick Beach | 22 | Melbourne City |
| DF | Milos Degenek | 32 | APOEL |
| DF | Alessandro Circati | 22 | Parma |
| DF | Jacob Italiano | 24 | Grazer AK |
| DF | Jordan Bos | 23 | Feyenoord |
| DF | Jason Geria | 33 | Albirex Niigata |
| DF | Kai Trewin | 25 | New York City |
| DF | Aziz Behich | 35 | Melbourne City |
| DF | Harry Souttar | 27 | Leicester City |
| DF | Cameron Burgess | 30 | Swansea City |
| DF | Lucas Herrington | 18 | Colorado Rapids |
| MF | Connor Metcalfe | 26 | St. Pauli |
| MF | Ajdin Hrustic | 29 | Heracles Almelo |
| MF | Aiden O'Neill | 27 | New York City |
| MF | Cammy Devlin | 27 | Hearts |
| MF | Jackson Irvine | 33 | St. Pauli |
| MF | Paul Okon-Engstler | 21 | Sydney FC |
| FW | Mathew Leckie | 35 | Melbourne City |
| FW | Mohamed Toure | 22 | Norwich City |
| FW | Awer Mabil | 30 | Castellon |
| FW | Nestory Irankunda | 20 | Watford |
| FW | Cristian Volpato | 22 | Sassuolo |
| FW | Nishan Velupillay | 25 | Melbourne Victory |
| FW | Tete Yengi | 25 | Machida Zelvia |
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Mathew Ryan; Jacob Italiano, Alessandro Circati, Harry Souttar, Jordan Bos; Jackson Irvine, Aiden O'Neill, Connor Metcalfe; Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure, Awer Mabil
Players to Watch
Harry Souttar: The Leicester City center-back is a 6'7" monster who anchors the defensive line. He has an impressive international scoring record, bagging 11 goals in 37 caps which makes him a weapon on offensive set pieces.
Alessandro Circati: The 22-year-old enjoyed a brilliant club campaign at Parma to help the side stay in Serie A. He has been a captain for club and country and is set to stay in Australia's backline for years to come.
Jackson Irvine: The St. Pauli captain provides leadership and experience in the center of the park. He is a threat in the final third and his club connection with Connor Metcalfe adds another dimension to Australia's engine room.
Nestory Irankunda: Irankunda made 42 appearances for Watford, playing up front and out wide which makes him a versatile attacker. After a stint at Bayern Munich, the 20-year-old adds a touch of class alongside raw pace and shooting ability.
Mohamed Toure: The 22-year-old striker was a huge improver at Norwich last season, scoring 10 goals in 12 appearances for the Canaries. His pace and power in front of goal gives Australia a threat they have been missing in recent years.
Group D Schedule and Knockout Opponents
Australia make their way down the west coast, starting with Turkey in Vancouver followed by the United States in Seattle. They end the group stage in San Francisco where they will face Paraguay.
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| June 13 | Turkey | BC Place, Vancouver |
| June 19 | United States | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| June 25 | Paraguay | Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara |
Topping Group D will see the Socceroos face a third placed team in the Round of 32 before taking on the Group G winners, expected to be Belgium.
Finishing second could see Australia meet Egypt before a Round of 16 match against the Group H winner, likely to be Spain.
Qualifying as a third placed team would see Tony Popovic's side meet a group winner which could be Germany, France, Portugal or Colombia.
2026 World Cup Winner Odds
Australia's chances of winning the World Cup is slim which is reflected in the 500/1 odds.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Spain | 5.50 |
| France | 6.00 |
| England | 7.00 |
| Brazil | 9.00 |
| Argentina | 9.00 |
| Portugal | 11.00 |
| Germany | 15.00 |
| Netherlands | 21.00 |
| Norway | 26.00 |
| Belgium | 34.00 |
| Colombia | 34.00 |
| Japan | 51.00 |
| Morocco | 51.00 |
| USA | 67.00 |
| Uruguay | 67.00 |
| Switzerland | 81.00 |
| Mexico | 81.00 |
| Turkey | 81.00 |
| Croatia | 81.00 |
| Ecuador | 101.00 |
| Senegal | 126.00 |
| Sweden | 126.00 |
| Austria | 151.00 |
| Paraguay | 151.00 |
| Canada | 151.00 |
| Scotland | 251.00 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 251.00 |
| Ivory Coast | 301.00 |
| Egypt | 301.00 |
| Czech Republic | 301.00 |
| Ghana | 401.00 |
| Algeria | 401.00 |
| South Korea | 501.00 |
| Australia | 501.00 |
| Tunisia | 501.00 |
| Iran | 501.00 |
| DR Congo | 751.00 |
| Saudi Arabia | 1001.00 |
| South Africa | 1001.00 |
| New Zealand | 1501.00 |
| Panama | 1501.00 |
| Iraq | 1501.00 |
| Uzbekistan | 1501.00 |
| Qatar | 2001.00 |
| Cape Verde | 2001.00 |
| Jordan | 2501.00 |
| Haiti | 3001.00 |
| Curacao | 3501.00 |
Group D Winner Odds
Australia are long shots to top Group D with the United States and Turkey topping of the market.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| United States | 2.35 |
| Turkey | 2.75 |
| Paraguay | 4.75 |
| Australia | 8.00 |
Australia Stage of Elimination Odds
The Socceroos are being given little chance of getting past the group stage. If they do, it is likely to be as a third placed team which would see them meet a big gun in the Round of 32.
| Stage | Odds |
|---|---|
| Group Stage |
1.80 |
| Round of 32 |
3.00 |
| Round of 16 |
5.50 |
| Quarter-Final |
17.00 |
| Semi-Final |
51.00 |
| Runner-Up |
201.00 |
| Winner |
501.00 |