<p>Manchester United academy prospect James Overy is being seriously considered for Australia's World Cup squad next summer, with Socceroos boss Tony Popovic revealing the 18-year-old defender is firmly in his plans for the tournament in North America.</p> <p>Overy has been named in an experimental squad for Australia's upcoming friendlies against Venezuela and Colombia in the United States, marking his first senior international call-up. But Popovic has made it clear this is about more than just a look at the teenager – he's a genuine contender for World Cup selection.</p> <p>"He's worth having a look at," Popovic said this week. "I'm very open-minded about what that looks like for the immediate future and long term. Watching him closely in Chile, I was impressed."</p> <p>The former Crystal Palace defender was referring to Overy's performances at the recent Under-20 World Cup, where the right-back caught the eye despite Australia's early exit from the tournament. The Socceroos placed third in their group behind eventual finalists Argentina and Italy, but Overy's individual displays convinced Popovic he deserves a chance at senior level.</p> <h2>Who is James Overy?</h2> <p>The Perth-born defender began his career with Perth Glory and featured in a friendly against West Ham before relocating to the UK with his family. After a stint with Devon-based non-league side Newton Abbot Spurs, Overy joined Manchester United's academy in May 2024 and signed his first professional contract this summer.</p> <p>The 18-year-old right-back has yet to make his senior debut for United under new manager Ruben Amorim, though he trains regularly with the first team at Carrington and features for the club's under-18s and under-21s sides. His progress was temporarily halted by a long-term Achilles injury that sidelined him for eight months, but he has since returned to full fitness.</p> <h2>Popovic Tracking Overy's Manchester United Progress</h2> <p>Popovic has been keeping close tabs on Overy through direct contacts at Manchester United, monitoring his development as he edges closer to potential first-team involvement at Old Trafford.</p> <p>"We have good contacts at Man U, so we know what he's doing at training, we know how much he trains with the first team," Popovic explained. "He's getting games with the under-18s, the under-21s, and he's in the process where he's getting called up a lot more often."</p> <p>Born in Australia, Overy is also eligible for Scotland and previously represented their U19 side before switching his allegiance back to the green and gold.</p> <h2>World Cup 2026 Ambitions</h2> <p>The Socceroos qualified for their sixth consecutive World Cup finals in June with a dramatic 2-1 comeback win in Saudi Arabia, and have shown significant improvement under Popovic since he replaced Graham Arnold following the former coach's shock resignation last year.</p> <p>If Overy makes the final squad for the 2026 World Cup, he would achieve the rare distinction of representing his country on football's biggest stage before making his senior club debut – and would become one of the youngest Australians to feature at a World Cup in recent memory.</p> <p>With Australia facing a challenging group at the tournament, Popovic is clearly looking to inject fresh energy into his squad, and the teenage defender from Perth could be set for a fairytale homecoming on the world stage.</p>