<p>The countdown to<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/world-cup/mens-world-cup/fifa-world-cup-2026-outrights-7009197"> the 2026 FIFA World Cup</a> is on and here at the Huddle we’ll be covering all things Socceroos in the lead up.</p> <p>Arguably the biggest question when it comes to the national team at the moment is: who will make the Socceroos World Cup squad?</p> <p>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.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/world-cup/mens-world-cup/fifa-world-cup-2026-group-d-usa-par-aus-tbc-9910481">Australia’s World Cup campaign</a> 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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>We’ve also put together our predicted Socceroos World Cup squad based on form, availability and pure x-factor.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Goalkeepers</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Locks</h3> <p>Mat Ryan (Levante, La Liga, Spain), Paul Izzo (Randers FC, SuperLiga, Denmark)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Bolters</h3> <p>Joe Gauci (Port Vale, League One, England), Patrick Beach (Melbourne City, A-League, Australia)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Shocks</h3> <p>Tom Glover (RB Omiya, J2, Japan)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Defenders</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Locks</h3> <p>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).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Bolters</h3> <p>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)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Shocks</h3> <p>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).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Midfielders</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Locks</h3> <p>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).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Bolters</h3> <p>Keanu Baccus (St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Scotland), Alex Robertson (Cardiff, League One, England).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Shocks</h3> <p>Paul Okon-Engstler (Sydney FC, A-League, Australia),</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Forwards</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Locks</h3> <p>Riley McGree (Middlesborough, Championship, England), Nestory Irankunda (Watford, Championship, England), Mohamed Toure (Randers FC, Superliga, Denmark), Ajdin Hrustic (Heracles Almelo, Eredivisie, Netherlands).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Bolters</h3> <p>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).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Shocks</h3> <p>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).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Socceroos Predicted World Cup Squad</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>1. Mat Ryan</p> <p>2. Alessandro Circati</p> <p>3. Cameron Burgess</p> <p>4. Jordan Bos</p> <p>5. Jackson Irvine</p> <p>6. Aziz Behich</p> <p>7. Paul Izzo</p> <p>8. Lewis Miller</p> <p>9. Aiden O’Neil</p> <p>10. Nestory Irankunda</p> <p>11. Mohamed Toure</p> <p>12. Riley McGree</p> <p>13. Harry Souttar</p> <p>14. Patrick Beach</p> <p>15. Milos Degenek</p> <p>16. Sammy Silvera</p> <p>17. Cameron Devlin</p> <p>18. Max Balard</p> <p>19.Connor Metcalfe</p> <p>20. Ajdin Hrustic</p> <p>21. Zac Sapsford</p> <p>22. Adrian Segacic</p> <p>23. Craig Goodwin</p> <p>24. Paul Okon-Engstler</p> <p>25. James Overy</p> <p>26. Cristian Volpato&nbsp;</p>