The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is on and here at the Huddle we’ll be covering all things Australia in the lead up.
Arguably the biggest question when it comes to the national team at the moment is: who will make our World Cup squad?
Head coach Tony Popovic will ultimately select 26 players to don the Green and Gold and represent everyone Down Under in American, Canada and Mexico.
Australia’s World Cup campaign doesn’t kick-off until June 14, so there’s plenty of time for every eligible player to throw their proverbial hat in the ring and put together a plethora of powerhouse performances and earn selection.
While anyone can go on a heater and force their way into the final 26-man setup, you’d think certain players have already booked their seat on Air Popovic, with injury (touch wood) being the only thing that can stop them from making Australia’s final World Cup squad.
These players are what we like to call “locks”, but who will end up joining them in the final squad? Below we’ve outlined all the locks, shocks and bolters that are currently in the shop window.
We’ve also put together our predicted Australian World Cup squad based on form, availability and pure x-factor.
Goalkeepers
Locks
Mat Ryan (Levante, La Liga, Spain), Paul Izzo (Randers FC, SuperLiga, Denmark)
Bolters
Joe Gauci (Port Vale, League One, England), Patrick Beach (Melbourne City, A-League, Australia)
Shocks
Tom Glover (RB Omiya, J2, Japan)
Defenders
Locks
Harry Souttar (Leicester City, Championship, England), Jordan Bos (Feyenoord, Eredivisie, Netherlands), Alessandro Circati (Parma, Serie A, Italy), Cameron Burgess (Swansea City, Championship, England), Lewis Miller (Blackburn Rovers, Championship, England), Aziz Behich (Melbourne City, A-League, Australia).
Bolters
Sammy Silvera (Middlesbrough, Championship, England), Jason Geria (Albirex Niigata, J2, Japan), Callum Elder (Derby, Championship, England), Jacob Italiano (Grazer AK, Austrian Bundesliga, Austria), Milos Degenek (APOEL, Cypriot First Division, Cyprus), Kye Rowles (DC United, MLS, America)
Shocks
Ryan Strain (Dundee United, Scottish Premiership, Scotland), Kasey Bos (Mainz 05, Bundesliga, Germany), Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids MLS, America), James Overy (Manchester United, English Premier League, England).
Midfielders
Locks
Jackson Irvine (St. Pauli, Bundesliga, Germany), Max Balard (NAC Breda, Eredivisie, Netherlands), Aiden O’Neill, (New York City FC, MLS, America), Cameron Devlin (Hearts, Scottish Premiership, Scotland), Connor Metcalfe (St Pauli FC, Bundesliga, Germany).
Bolters
Keanu Baccus (St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Scotland), Alex Robertson (Cardiff, League One, England).
Shocks
Paul Okon-Engstler (Sydney FC, A-League, Australia),
Forwards
Locks
Riley McGree (Middlesborough, Championship, England), Nestory Irankunda (Watford, Championship, England), Mohamed Toure (Randers FC, Superliga, Denmark), Ajdin Hrustic (Heracles Almelo, Eredivisie, Netherlands).
Bolters
Zac Sapsford (Dundee United, Scottish Premiership, Scotland), Martin Boyle (Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Scotland), Craig Goodwin (Adelaide United, A-League, Australia), Mitchell Duke (Macarthur FC, A-League, Australia), Adrian Segecic (Portsmouth, Championship, England).
Shocks
Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City, A-League, Australia), Cristian Volpato (Sassuolo, Serie A, Italy), Antonio Arena (Roma, Serie A, Italy), Daniel Arzani (Melbourne City, A-League, Australia).
Australia's Predicted World Cup Squad
1. Mat Ryan
2. Alessandro Circati
3. Cameron Burgess
4. Jordan Bos
5. Jackson Irvine
6. Aziz Behich
7. Paul Izzo
8. Lewis Miller
9. Aiden O’Neil
10. Nestory Irankunda
11. Mohamed Toure
12. Riley McGree
13. Harry Souttar
14. Patrick Beach
15. Milos Degenek
16. Sammy Silvera
17. Cameron Devlin
18. Max Balard
19.Connor Metcalfe
20. Ajdin Hrustic
21. Zac Sapsford
22. Adrian Segacic
23. Craig Goodwin
24. Paul Okon-Engstler
25. James Overy
26. Cristian Volpato