Australia AUS

Australia arrive at their sixth successive World Cup finals ranked 27th in the world and carrying genuine ambition. Under Tony Popovic, the Socceroos have shed some of the fragility that once made them easy to break down, and they come to 2026 with an experienced core blended alongside young attacking talent — and designs on securing a first knockout-stage win.

Popovic's fingerprints are already clear on this side. He tightened the team considerably through qualifying, making Australia harder to beat and more dangerous on the break. Much of that threat runs through Nestory Irankunda, who spearheads a counterattacking unit capable of punishing any team that commits too heavily forward.

The challenge, however, is one of perception as much as personnel. Popovic is determined to shake off the 'underdogs' label that has followed the Socceroos for years, but with a transitional squad that lacks high-profile names, convincing the wider football world may take results rather than words.

The players tasked with delivering those results span experience and youth in equal measure. Mathew Ryan brings authority in goal, while Harry Souttar, Alessandro Circati, Jordan Bos, Jason Geria, and Aziz Behich provide the defensive backbone. In midfield and attack, Jackson Irvine, Aiden O'Neill, Mathew Leckie, Awer Mabil, Cristian Volpato, Nestory Irankunda, Patrick Beach, and Lucas Herrington give Popovic genuine options as he looks to build an identity that goes beyond simply being difficult to beat.