in brief
Seventeen Australians are making their FIFA World Cup debut at this tournament.
Here's who they are, how to watch them, and what their chances of success look like.
Football's biggest show is underway in North America, and Australia's Socceroos are competing in their sixth consecutive FIFA World Cup.
The 26-man squad takes on Türkiye in Vancouver on 14 June for Australian viewers for the first group-stage game, and will then play co-hosts the United States in Seattle on 20 June and Paraguay on 26 June in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Here's who they are, how to watch them, and what their chances of success look like during the group stage.
Who are the Socceroos?
The Socceroos are Australia's men's national football team. After making their World Cup debut in 1974, Australia endured a 32-year wait before returning to the tournament in 2006. Australia has qualified for every World Cup since, making the 2026 tournament its sixth consecutive appearance.
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This year's team features 17 players making their World Cup debut, including 18-year-old defender Lucas Herrington, Sydney-born, Italy-based attacker Cristian Volpato — who made a last minute switch in nationality from Italy to Australia — and 25-year-old uncapped striker Tete Yengi.
At the other end of the scale, captain and goalkeeper Mat Ryan and veteran forward Mathew Leckie head to a fourth World Cup.
You can find the names of the entire squad here .
Who is the coach?
Tony Popovic played more than 50 matches for the Socceroos and was a member of the team that reached the second round of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
He retired two years later and immediately changed gears to take up coaching, seeing success at a string of domestic clubs.
He was appointed to coach the Socceroos following the departure of Graham Arnold in 2024, and becomes one of only a handful of people to have both played and coached at a World Cup.
Which players should fans watch?
Nestory Irankunda is considered one of the most exciting young talents in the team. The 20-year-old's speed and attacking flair have made him a rising star of Australian football.
In 2024, he signed for German giant Bayern Munich from Adelaide United under a record A-League transfer fee, believed to be worth $5.5 million.
He joined English Championship side Watford last year, scoring four goals in his debut season.
Mohamed "Mo" Touré is regarded as one of Australia's brightest forward prospects. The young striker plays for English Championship side Norwich City, scoring 10 goals across 12 games in a breakout 2025/26 season.
Volpato was one of the most talked-about selections in the squad. The Sydney-born midfielder represented Italy at youth level before committing to the Socceroos this year, after declining previous approaches.
Jordan "Jordy" Bos has emerged as a promising and versatile young defender, enjoying a breakout season in the Netherlands last year.
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When the Socceroos matches start
Standing at nearly 2m tall, Harry Souttar is a dominant force for the team's defence, who has only just become fit after a serious Achilles injury that saw him unable to play for nearly 500 days.
He was a top performer at the last World Cup, making a critical 86th-minute slide tackle against Tunisia that secured the Socceroos' win and saw them progress to the Round of 16.
How did Australia qualify?
To qualify for the World Cup, Australia had to compete in eight matches played over almost two years and finish near the top of their Asian qualifying group.
Drawing their first game against Japan, the Socceroos remained undefeated and officially booked their place in the tournament by finishing second behind Japan, after a 2-1 comeback win against Saudia Arabia last June.
Which group are they in?
Australia has been drawn into Group D, alongside Paraguay, Türkiye and tournament co-host the United States.
The Socceroos will play each of those teams during the group stage. The top two teams in each group will automatically progress to the knockout rounds, while the eight best third-place teams will also advance.
What are Australia's chances?
Australia has advanced past the group stage twice, in 2006 and 2022.
In 2006, the team progressed from a group featuring Brazil, Croatia and Japan.
They were knocked out by Italy, who went on to win the tournament, in the Round of 16 in a 1-0 loss.
The Socceroos again reached the Round of 16 in 2022.
They were eliminated by a 2-1 defeat to eventual champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi.
While the Socceroos are not considered among the favourites to win the World Cup, Australia's recent World Cup performances suggest reaching the knockout rounds is a realisti…
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