
Australia
Qualified directly
Australia’s 2026 World Cup Campaign So Far
Australia has made a confident start in the World Cup 2026, sitting second in Group D after their opening match. They secured a 2-0 victory at home, showcasing solid defence with a clean sheet and a sharp attack that found the net twice. This win has set a positive tone, giving them three points from one game.
Their season form in the tournament is spotless so far, with one win, no draws or losses, and a goal difference of +2. The Aussie squad, comprising 26 players, has demonstrated resilience and efficiency, especially in this high-stakes environment. Their defensive organisation and goal-scoring ability will be crucial as they prepare to face the USA away in their next group stage clash.
Looking ahead, Australia will aim to build on this promising start, hoping to match or better their best World Cup finishes in the Round of 16. The journey is long, but with this solid foundation, they have every reason to be quietly optimistic.
Squad pedigree
7 of 21 squad players (33%) play club football in a top-5 European league.
Spotlight
League position
Position 24Points trajectory
Rank 24FIFA world ranking
#26
Manager
T. Popović
Australia
Season at a glance
Streaks
Last result
Australia’s World Cup 2026 Campaign: A Promising Start
Australia have kicked off their World Cup 2026 group stage with a solid win, topping their group standings after a 2-0 victory. Their record in this competition so far is impeccable, with no draws or defeats, showcasing a clean sheet and a positive goal difference.
Their form this season is equally consistent, boasting a perfect record with one win and no losses or draws. Points have been secured by winning matches rather than sharing spoils, indicating a side that prefers to take all three points rather than settle for a stalemate. The absence of a notable winning streak suggests each victory is earned afresh, rather than riding a wave of momentum.
With six prior World Cup appearances and best finishes reaching the Round of 16 in 2006 and 2022, Australia will be looking to build on their current momentum as they prepare to face the USA away in their next group match.
Statistics
Home / Away splits
Week-by-week trends
team vs league avg (dashed)Australia's Home and Away Form
Australia's performances in the World Cup 2026 so far show a clear contrast between home and away displays. At home, they've been quite the fortress, scoring two goals and keeping a clean sheet, highlighting a strong defensive and attacking balance. Away from home, however, they have yet to find the net or keep a clean sheet, indicating a more cautious or less effective approach on the road.
This split suggests Australia thrives with home advantage, making the most of familiar surroundings and support. Their upcoming away fixture against the USA will test whether they can translate their home solidity into a road-worthy performance or if the home-away divide will continue to shape their campaign.
Fipster's Record with Australia
Fipster has dipped its toes into predictions for Australia just once this World Cup 2026 campaign, scoring a miss rather than a star or tick. So, it’s fair to say the model is still building its record on the Socceroos. With only one graded fixture in the bag, the crystal ball is still a bit cloudy when it comes to this squad's World Cup prospects.
Squad
| # | Player | Pos | Club | League | Apps | G | A | Mins | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goalkeeper | 9 | 0 | 0 | 810 | 7.08 | |||
| 12 | Goalkeeper | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 18 | Goalkeeper | 7 | 0 | 0 | 630 | 6.65 | |||
| 2 | Defender | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 | Defender | 3 | 0 | 0 | 170 | 6.90 | |||
| 4 | Defender | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 6 | Defender | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 15 | Defender | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1275 | 6.99 | |||
| 19 | Defender | 5 | 1 | 0 | 178 | 8.20 | |||
| 21 | Defender | 46 | 0 | 0 | 4140 | 7.00 | |||
| 25 | Defender | 18 | 1 | 1 | 1559 | 7.12 | |||
| 5 | Midfielder | 29 | 4 | 7 | 2060 | 7.24 | |||
| 7 | Midfielder | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 8 | Midfielder | 26 | 0 | 2 | 600 | 6.67 | |||
| 10 | Midfielder | 27 | 1 | 6 | 2222 | 6.86 | |||
| 11 | Midfielder | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 13 | Midfielder | 18 | 0 | 1 | 1367 | 6.97 | |||
| 14 | Midfielder | 6 | 0 | 0 | 335 | 6.78 | |||
| 16 | Midfielder | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 17 | Midfielder | 6 | 0 | 1 | 205 | 6.82 | |||
| 22 | Midfielder | 26 | 0 | 1 | 1632 | 6.75 | |||
| 23 | Midfielder | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 24 | Midfielder | 4 | 0 | 0 | 133 | 6.57 | |||
| 9 | Attacker | 7 | 5 | 0 | 456 | 7.37 | |||
| 20 | Attacker | 4 | 1 | 0 | 193 | 5.59 | |||
| 26 | Attacker | 19 | 2 | 0 | 985 | 6.82 |
Fixtures
Latest News
Headlines link to the publisher
A-Leagues look past Manchester City distraction to ‘showpiece’ Melbourne derby
The Premier League scandal may have gripped English football but the A-League club is ‘critical’ to football’s presence and new strategy in Australia Sign up for Football Desk Australia: our newsletter from Jonathan Wilson In Australia’s most populous city, the A-Leagues derby between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City will have more than a tinge of Manchester on Saturday night. Former United…

Football Australia chair Anter Isaac dismisses recent Fifa ructions as ‘growing pains’
Isaac appears to back current direction of world governing body But ‘premature’ to talk about support for Gianni Infantino Football Australia chair Anter Isaac has played down concerns around the controversial World Cup privatisation push engineered by Gianni Infantino ahead of a meeting of Asian confederation officials in Tokyo this week. Isaac’s sentiments come amid a global rebound in support…

Christian Pulisic is no longer a focal point for the US or Milan – and that’s OK
The winger is 28, and younger teammates are rising into the high-pressure spots he has usually occupied Usually, the second weekend of October sees Christian Pulisic flanked by compatriots as the Star-Spangled Banner plays. Last year, he was involved in US friendlies against Ecuador and Australia. But this year, with Fifa having folded the October window into September, Pulisic didn’t have the…

‘So, so grateful’: Nathan Cleary confirms reason behind Mary Fowler’s Matildas absence
Fowler pulled out of Australia squad for ‘personal reasons’ Attacker is now back in Australia with injured NRL star post-surgery Injured rugby league player Nathan Cleary has expressed deep appreciation to Matildas forward Mary Fowler, his partner who flew to Australia to spend time with him as he recovers from major surgery. Fowler withdrew from international duty with the Australian national…

South Melbourne make history with Australia Cup win that could change the future too | Joey Lynch
South Melbourne defeat Melbourne Victory 4-3 on penalties (1-1 aet) to cap night of celebration and become first non-A-League club to win the cup Sign up for Football Desk Australia: our newsletter from Jonathan Wilson It was remarkable. It was incredible. It featured the type of grandstand finish one dare not suggest as a possibility beforehand, lest you be dismissed for self-indulgence. And…

Sam Kerr on target but Matildas outclassed by youthful Germany in European friendly
Australia fall 4-2 to world No 3 side in Karlsruhe Holly McNamara joins Kerr on scoresheet for Matildas Sign up for Football Desk Australia: our free newsletter with Jonathan Wilson For a moment, it felt like the Matildas were back. Ellie Carpenter took off down the right wing, eating up the metres with the ball at her feet, bouncing a pass off Hayley Raso before chipping a cross to the front…

Old soccer meets new football: Australia Cup final heaves with significance | Jack Snape
South Melbourne and Melbourne Victory clash on what promises to be a ‘special and historic night’ and in a triumph of the competition’s concept Sign up for Football Desk Australia: our free newsletter from Jonathan Wilson One club represents new football, a keystone entity in the contentious reboot of Australia’s round ball game 21 years ago. It was a brand designed to bring together Melbourne’s…

How the Kop’s chants propelled Andy Burnham to fight for Hillsborough justice
A speech at Anfield in 2009 was met with boos but it led to a change in tack by Labour government and an apology from David Cameron Since dawn, visitors from as far afield as Australia had been laying flowers, scarves and messages underneath Anfield’s Eternal Flame. These Hillsborough memorial anniversary services were usually subdued and respectful affairs, with 10,000 mourners sitting on the…

Mary Fowler ruled out of Matildas friendlies due to ‘personal circumstances’
Manchester City attacker to miss Germany and Haiti games Charlton midfielder Leah Davidson called into Australia squad Matildas star Mary Fowler has been ruled out of upcoming friendly matches against Germany and Haiti due to personal circumstances. Football Australia confirmed on Tuesday morning Fowler would not feature in the upcoming international window, with four-cap Charlton midfielder Leah…

The Socceroos were unrecognisable against Brazil as a ‘new golden generation’ takes shape | Joey Lynch
The exciting crop of young players is in part a product of Australia’s early World Cup qualification which allowed them to break in and step up Even before a ball was kicked in the Socceroos’ two-game series against Brazil, Tony Popovic was musing about the shift in demeanour he’d noticed among the players. Yes, it had only been three months since they last saw each other at the World Cup, but…

A-Leagues launch clouded by Manchester City cheating scandal as APL vows to review findings
Australia’s football season to begin under a pall as Melbourne City shares owners with the Premier League giant found guilty of unprecedented breaches The Premier League’s finding that Manchester City is guilty of breaching financial rules is already rippling across the football world, overshadowing Wednesday’s launch of the Australian domestic season in Sydney. It was confirmed on Wednesday that…

Australia go down fighting to Brazil in fiery 4-2 friendly defeat
Socceroos led 2-1 with goals from Metcalfe and Circati Two late goals sealed win for five-time world champions His first touch taking the ball goalward, Vanderson felt the pressure from Australian defenders closing in and laced a shot goalward, burying it in the top corner of Patrick Beach’s net and putting Brazil ahead. All of 132 seconds had transpired at Lang Park, and, after being forced to…

Australia v Brazil: men’s international football friendly – live
Follow updates as Socceroos face Seleção in Brisbane Any thoughts? Get in touch with an email The lights of Lang Park have gone down, the flamethrowers are roaring, and the music is pumping as the stadium announcer reads the two line-ups. Irankunda, unsurprisingly, gets the biggest roar from the almost sell-out crowd. Big Sam-Kerr-but-for-the-boys energy. We have to be a little bit sharper in…

Socceroos denied famous win as late Brazil goal cancels out Irankunda stunner
Australia 1-1 Brazil in international friendly in Townsville Irankunda hits free kick before Rayan equalises deep in added time It was a Friday night in which the stars descended on Townsville. There was Bruno Guimarães, Raphinha and Vinícius Júnior in the Brazilian XI, with Endrick leading the line and Estêvão out on the flank, all instructed by Carlo Ancelotti in the dugout. But on this…

Australia 1-1 Brazil: men’s international football friendly – live reaction
The Socceroos have to settle for a draw as the five-time world champions score a last-gasp goal to cancel out Irankunda’s stunning free kick Brazil might be looking to refresh their squad after their World Cup disappointment but there is still more than enough star power to light up any stage. Barcelona and Brazil forward Raphinha is one of the biggest stars of the lot, and will help lead the…

Socceroos captain Maty Ryan axed for Brazil friendlies
Goalkeeper dropped despite strong start to La Liga season Seven uncapped players called into 26-man Australia squad Maty Ryan’s Socceroos days aren’t done, insists coach Tony Popovoc, despite the decorated captain being left out of his first squad since the World Cup. Ryan is the most eyebrow-raising omission from Popovic’s squad, which includes seven uncapped players, for games against Brazil in…

Cristian Volpato’s Socceroos fate uncertain after second sample confirms positive cocaine test
Football Australia has power to suspend him from national team Striker has maintained his innocence over failed drugs test Cristian Volpato’s immediate availability for the Socceroos rests in the hands of Football Australia after NSW Police confirmed the World Cup star had tested positive for cocaine on a secondary test. Volpato was pulled over by police on Sydney’s Anzac Bridge on 24 July and…

No major World Cup regrets, says Tony Popovic, despite shootout heartbreak
In his first appearance in front of the media since the last-32 defeat to Egypt the coach, whose tactics elicited some criticism, insists he would not have done anything different More than two months have passed since Australia’s painful penalty shootout defeat against Egypt ended a World Cup adventure that had begun so brightly. Although the Socceroos upset Turkey and progressed to the knockout…

Spurs paying price for World Cup and pre-season trip to Australia
Too many players are off the pace and Roberto De Zerbi has had no hesitation in naming names Jan Paul van Hecke was among those given an unwanted name-check by Roberto De Zerbi after Tottenham’s 3-0 defeat at Brentford on Saturday . Not at the right level physically, was the gist of the manager’s comments. De Zerbi also mentioned Marcos Senesi and Sandro Tonali, two more of the club’s new…

‘A huge honour’: Socceroos World Cup star Alessandro Circati seals move to Benfica
Defender completes transfer for reported fee of 20m euros ($33m) Ten Australian players have now made post-World Cup moves Young Socceroo Alessandro Circati has become the latest Australian international to be snapped up in a money-spinning European transfer, as he hailed his move from Parma to Benfica as a “privilege”. Following Lucas Herrington’s move from the MLS to become Australia’s only…