Australia
AUS · AFC
Head Coach
Tony Popovic
Tony Popovic leads Australia into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, tasked with guiding the squad through a competitive Group D and beyond. The coaching staff has been preparing tactical approaches tailored to the expanded 48-team tournament format.
Group Stage Venue
New York/New Jersey
Australia will play their group stage matches in New York/New Jersey. The 2026 World Cup is the first to be hosted across three nations — the United States, Mexico, and Canada — with matches spread across 16 world-class venues.
Squad (23 players)
Goalkeepers
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
Recent Form & Current State
Australia qualified through AFC qualification under Tony Popovic. The Socceroos have been rebuilding after their 2022 World Cup Round of 16 run. They feature a mix of experienced campaigners and younger players emerging from European leagues.
Form heading into a major tournament is often a key indicator of how far a team can progress. Australia, currently ranked #27 in the FIFA World Rankings, will look to carry momentum from their recent qualifying and friendly campaigns into the group stage. Consistency in results and squad cohesion built during the qualification cycle will be vital assets. The AFCrepresentatives will be eager to demonstrate their quality on the world's biggest stage in 2026.
World Cup History
Australia have appeared in six World Cups. Their best finish was the Round of 16 in 2022, where they were beaten by eventual champions Argentina. They also reached the Round of 16 in 2006 in their first World Cup under the AFC banner.
The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of international football, and Australia's history in the competition provides important context for their 2026 campaign. With the tournament expanding to 48 teams for the first time, every nation faces both new opportunities and new challenges in the revamped group stage format featuring groups of four with the top two advancing to a 32-team knockout round. Australia will aim to write a new chapter in their World Cup story at this historic edition of the tournament.
Group D Opponents
Australia faces United States and Turkey and Paraguay in Group D. The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 32. Group dynamics, head-to-head records, and tactical matchups will all play a role in determining which teams progress from this stage.