Australia World Cup 2026 Hub: Schedule, Predicted Line-Up, Odds

Socceroos at a sixth straight World Cup under Tony Popovic. Squad, fixtures, predicted XI, Oddschecker markets, tactics and form.

Australia reach a sixth consecutive World Cup, with Tony Popovic’s Socceroos hoping to build on their Round of 16 run in Qatar 2022. Longest of the four Group D sides in the outright market but evens to qualify, Australia’s reliable tournament identity and set-piece threat make them a dangerous spoiler in an open group.

 

 

Who are Australia and who is in the squad?

Tony Popovic replaced Graham Arnold midway through qualifying and steered Australia to the finals, where they finished behind Japan in Asian qualifying. Captain and goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, 34, of Levante is set to join the short list of Socceroos to play at a fourth World Cup.

The squad blends experience through Ryan, Harry Souttar, Jackson Irvine and Craig Goodwin with emerging talent such as Nestory Irankunda. Popovic has set the bold target of reaching the quarter-finals, a stage Australia have never achieved. Midfielder Riley McGree missed out through a hamstring injury.

Key members of Popovic’s 26-man squad

Goalkeepers

• Mathew Ryan (captain), Joe Gauci, Patrick Beach

Defenders

• Harry Souttar, Aziz Behich, Cameron Burgess, Alessandro Circati, Milos Degenek, Jacob Italiano, Kai Trewin, Jordan Bos

Midfielders

• Jackson Irvine, Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O’Neill, Ajdin Hrustic, Cameron Devlin

Forwards

• Craig Goodwin, Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure, plus further attacking options

These are the confirmed key names. Late allegiance switch Cristian Volpato was added to the group. Confirm the complete 26-man squad against the Football Australia list before publishing.

What is Australia’s group and fixture schedule?

Australia are in Group D with co-hosts the United States, Paraguay and Turkiye. The top two, plus the eight best third placed teams, reach the Round of 32.

They open against Turkiye on 14 June (UK time), then face the United States in Seattle and finish against Paraguay. At 27th in the FIFA rankings, ahead of Paraguay and not far behind Turkiye, Australia may be closer to the pack than the outright odds suggest.

Group D kick-off times are converted from the US local schedule; confirm the exact UK times and any venue updates against the official FIFA schedule before publishing.

Date (UK)	Fixture	Venue
Fri 12 June, 11pm	United States v Paraguay	SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Sun 14 June, 12am	Australia v Turkiye	BC Place, Vancouver
Thu 19 June (evening)	United States v Australia	Lumen Field, Seattle
Fri 20 June (evening)	Paraguay v Turkiye	Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
Thu 25 June, late	United States v Turkiye	SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Fri 26 June, late	Paraguay v Australia	Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara

 

What is Australia’s predicted line up?

Popovic favours a structured, hard-working setup with Ryan in goal, an organised back line and Irvine driving midfield. Goodwin provides the main attacking threat from wide. A confirmed predicted XI is not yet settled, so the shape below is indicative.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1):

Built around captain Mathew Ryan in goal, Harry Souttar and the back line, Jackson Irvine in midfield and Craig Goodwin providing the attacking threat

This is indicative rather than a confirmed team sheet, and Irvine’s ability to start three games in quick succession after recent injury is a question. Confirm the predicted XI closer to kick off.

 

Australia One to Watch – Jackson Irvine

Jackson Irvine arrives at his third World Cup as one of Australia’s most experienced and influential figures. The midfielder endured a difficult year disrupted by recurring foot injuries, raising doubts over his availability for the tournament, but he recovered in time to reclaim his place at the heart of the Socceroos midfield.

A key leader under Tony Popovic, Irvine is expected to start alongside Aiden O’Neill or Paul Okon Jr. after playing every match during Australia’s run to the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup. His energy, pressing and ability to connect midfield with attack remain vital to the side, while his experience brings stability to a squad blending youth and veterans.

Now 33, Irvine has earned more than 80 international caps and remains one of the first names on Australia’s team sheet. After overcoming the most challenging season of his career, he heads to North America determined to make an impact on football’s biggest stage once again.

What are the anytime scorer and clean sheet odds?

The headline Oddschecker markets for Australia are below. Match by match anytime goalscorer and clean sheet prices are listed on the individual Oddschecker fixture pages and move right up to kick off, so pull the live prices from there at upload.

Oddschecker market	Selection	Price
To win Group D	Australia	8/1
To qualify (Round of 32)	Yes	evens (1/1)

 

The headline Oddschecker prices above are converted from the US market (group winner 8/1, qualification around evens), and the evens qualification price is the more interesting angle given Australia do not need to win the group to reach the Round of 32 via a best third-placed spot. Top team goalscorer prices were not published on the group page, so anchor the scorer angle on Craig Goodwin and Jackson Irvine and pull live anytime goalscorer prices from the Oddschecker fixture pages at upload.

Australia’s set-piece presence and defensive resilience mean their clean sheet prices against Paraguay and Turkiye are worth checking live on Oddschecker before publishing.

18+ only. Odds sourced from Oddschecker and correct at the time of writing (9 June 2026); prices move constantly, so confirm the live price on Oddschecker before publishing or betting. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.

How will Australia play? Style and tactics

Australia’s tournament identity is reliable rather than star-driven: physical, well organised and a genuine threat from set pieces, with Souttar a focal point at both ends. They are comfortable in underdog roles and grinding out points.

Goodwin and the wide players carry much of the creative load, while Irvine provides energy in midfield. If Australia can squeeze points from Paraguay or Turkiye, the expanded format gives them a clear route to the knockouts.

What is Australia’s recent form?

Australia qualified for a sixth straight World Cup, finishing behind group winners Japan in Asian qualifying without losing to the Samurai Blue. Their squad was confirmed on 1 June after an extended camp in Sarasota, Florida.

In their pre-tournament warm-ups they lost 1-0 to Mexico, with a final friendly against Switzerland before the finals. At the last World Cup they reached the Round of 16, pushing eventual champions Argentina in a 2-1 defeat.

Australia World Cup 2026: frequently asked questions

Who is the Australia captain?

Goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, 34, of Levante, set to play at a fourth World Cup.

Who is the Australia manager?

Tony Popovic, who replaced Graham Arnold midway through qualifying and has targeted the quarter-finals.

When is Australia’s first match?

Against Turkiye at BC Place, Vancouver, on 14 June 2026 UK time.

Who are Australia’s key players?

Captain Mathew Ryan, defender Harry Souttar, midfielder Jackson Irvine and winger Craig Goodwin.

What is Australia’s World Cup history?

This is their sixth consecutive appearance. They reached the Round of 16 in 2006 and again in 2022.

 

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