Australia beat Turkey 2-0 in their group stage opener. That's not a fluke result — it's a statement from a Socceroos side that has been quietly assembling one of the more complete squads they've sent to a World Cup.
Tony Popovic's men sit in Group D alongside Paraguay, Turkey and the United States. The goal isn't just to qualify. It's to reach the knockout stages for the second consecutive tournament — something no previous Australian generation managed to do.
The players who make this team tick
Nestory Irankunda is the name to know. The 20-year-old Watford attacker scored against Turkey and has the kind of direct, fast-twitch game that defences at this level genuinely struggle to contain. At his age, this World Cup could define the next decade of his career — and for anyone tracking his trajectory, his odds to score again in the group stage look worth a second look.
Mohamed Toure is another. Nine goals in 11 Championship appearances for Norwich after joining in February 2026 is a ridiculous return by any standard, and he'll be tested at a completely different level here. Christian Volpato adds craft from his Serie A time at Sassuolo, while the St. Pauli engine room of Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe provides the graft to let the attackers do their thing.
Harry Souttar anchors the backline. The Leicester City centre-back is physically imposing and has been one of the more reliable defenders in the squad — opposition set-pieces against Australia carry genuine risk when he's around.
Captain Mathew Ryan has made stops at Club Brugge, Valencia, Brighton, Arsenal and Lens across a career spanning well over a decade at European level. He's the kind of goalkeeper who doesn't faze easily, which matters in a knockout environment.
Popovic has earned this moment
The coach's record speaks for itself: 11 wins, 4 draws, 4 losses across 19 matches since taking the job in September 2024. Before Australia, Popovic built his reputation at Western Sydney Wanderers — winning the A-League title in his first season, then the AFC Champions League in his second, beating Al-Hilal in the final. That's not a soft CV.
The Socceroos have appeared at seven World Cups. Their best finishes — Round of 16 in 2006 and 2022 — are the ceiling they're now trying to make a floor. With this squad's attacking depth and a manager who's proven he can win things under pressure, matching that record is the minimum expectation. Going further isn't out of the question.
