Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has announced a 26-player squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup AFC Asian qualifiers against Indonesia and China PR, notably welcoming attacker Daniel Arzani back into the fold. The international window will kick off with a home match against Indonesia at the Sydney Football Stadium on Thursday, followed by an away game against China PR at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium on March 25.
Currently, Australia is positioned second in Group C with four matches remaining in the qualifying stage, following two draws last November: a 0-0 against Saudi Arabia and a 2-2 against Bahrain. Since the previous matches, Popovic has made significant adjustments to the squad, with over a third of the players changed due to injuries impacting key figures like Harry Souttar, Riley McGree, and Jordy Bos.
To address these injuries, Popovic has reintroduced several familiar players, including Perth Glory striker Adam Taggart, 2015 AFC Asian Cup champion Jason Davidson, and Fran Karacic, who participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. However, Arzani’s selection is particularly surprising as Popovic had publicly critiqued the player’s performance in October, expressing doubts about his commitment and training intensity.
Arzani will rejoin the squad despite not having a significant impact since those comments. His inclusion comes at the expense of experienced Socceroo Mathew Leckie and young talent Nestory Irankunda. The current squad also features six uncapped players, including A-League talents Alex Grant, Ryan Teague, and Kai Trewin, alongside rising Hibernian midfielder Nectarios Triantis.
For the Socceroos, winning both upcoming matches is crucial for their qualification chances. The top two teams from each of the three groups will secure a direct ticket to the 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Additionally, the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams offers two more AFC spots through playoff matches in the fourth round.
Popovic reflected on the whirlwind start of his tenure since taking over from Graham Arnold last September, stating that he is looking forward to refining the team’s approach ahead of these critical qualifiers. He emphasised the importance of the upcoming games and expressed enthusiasm for the team’s preparations, especially as the match against Indonesia will be the first at the newly reconstructed Sydney Football Stadium in eight years.