Never before will we have seen a tournament quite so large as the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Each country can expect to have two representatives competing on their home soil, making it a truly international event. Canada, Mexico, and the USA are set to be the three host nations participating in this year’s tournament. With a total of 48 teams participating in 104 matches across 16 cities during the tournament, this will be the largest event ever held in terms of player and fan attendance. The tournament will also give Australian soccer opportunities to create pathways for their youth through this expansion of the tournament in terms of numbers of teams to participate.
For the Socceroos, it is not as simple as going to another World Cup; this is now their seventh World Cup qualification tournament since they have gone through six consecutive World Cup qualification tournaments and have continued to show how both continuous and evolving soccer has worked in Australia. A great example of this is the fact that of the 26 players selected for the Socceroos, there are 17 players who will be going to their first World Cup, and Mat Ryan and Mathew Leckie could be matching their record of 4 World Cup appearances for the national team.
There is an immediate positive aspect to Australia, as they have yet to be allocated into a group (Group D) of any previous World Champion’s teams in any World Cups (which has previously never happened to the Socceroos at the tournament group stage). This means they will play teams who have previously been competitive (the United States, Paraguay, and Turkey) relative to the strength and quality of their previous opponents (Brazil, Germany, Spain, and France) in WC history.
Looking further at how closely contested will be the matches in Group D, as shown by FIFA’s rankings as stated herein (US – 17th; Turkey – 22nd; Australia – 27th; Paraguay – 41st), it can be assumed that an overall competitive group with no front-runners will mean that discipline, control of the game, and an individual game-changing event will ultimately determine the teams moving into the Round of 32, of which two (2) per group and the eight (8) best third-place group finishers will qualify to compete for the WC Championship. Thus, with all the previous comments, it is now easier for Australia as a ‘first-time’ confederation competitor (AFC) to progress into the Round of 32.
This is important for Australia, which has already proven it can rise in this area. The Socceroos have reached the round of 16 on two occasions—in 2006 and again in 2022—which still remains their highest World Cup result. Australia not only needs to participate this time but also to excel.
Tony Popovic’s team will likely use a similar formula with a compact structure, defensive discipline, and quick counter-attacking play. This style of football might not always maintain possession but can still be uncomfortable for opponents when it comes to knockout-style football.
The squad also contains a unique combination of experienced players and young and raw, unpredictable players. Experienced players such as Mat Ryan, Jackson Irvine, and Aziz Behich provide the team with the necessary experience for a tournament that could punish talented players who hesitate. On the other hand, younger players such as Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure, and Cristian Volpato add speed, creativity, and the type of fearlessness that could make an organized team very dangerous.
Football Australia has also named five Australian-based players in the squad, indicating that the domestic game is playing an increasingly valuable role in providing talent to the national team.
Australia’s story is intriguing because they want to shape the World Cup, not just be in it. With the tournament having grown to an even greater size than before and the knockout road being slightly easier to navigate, the Socceroos are now positioned at a unique crossroad of history and opportunity. Australia has always had to do more than just “show up” to play at the world level of football, so the message is clear: the Socceroos can gain more from this World Cup than just the “experience” of competing at the world level; they can rewrite history.
