The three big decisions Popovic must make to finalise Australia’s World Cup squad |
The three big decisions Popovic must make to finalise Australia’s World Cup squad
May 26, 2026 — 11:41am
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For the past few weeks, coach Tony Popovic has been unveiling the names of players who have been invited to Australia’s pre-World Cup training camp in Florida in batches, as if he were a music festival promoter drip-feeding the line-up to stimulate ticket sales.
Well, the final line-up has landed. Almost. The last release of names on Tuesday morning (AEST) has narrowed those in contention for the Socceroos’ 26-man squad to just 29, with less than a week to go until Popovic has to submit his final list to FIFA.
As always, there are surprises. It wouldn’t be a Popovic announcement without them. But the picture he has been working towards - the one in his head, which the rest of us don’t get to see - is now clear, leaving him with just three decisions left to make.
First, though, let’s spare a thought for two players who almost certainly would have made the squad if it weren’t for badly timed injuries.
Riley McGree wasn’t even supposed to be playing in the English Championship’s play-off final, but Middlesbrough earned a late reprieve because of Southampton’s expulsion due to the Spygate 2.0 scandal.
Famously injury-prone, McGree came off with 15 minutes to go with a hamstring injury, which has ruled him out of contention. Within a few hours, he went from dreaming of playing in the Premier League and World Cup to having both ambitions dashed.
BREAKING DOWN THE SOCCEROOS’ WORLD CUP SQUAD PUZZLE
CURRENT SQUAD (29, to be cut........