Australia National Soccer Team, affectionately known as the Socceroos, represents Australia in international football competitions and has established itself as one of Asia’s strongest football nations. The Men’s Soccer team is controlled by the governing body for soccer in Australia, Football Australia, and it competes in the AFC (Asian Football Confederation).
The team has won the AFC Asian Cup twice (2015 home, 2024 with co-hosting rights) and has qualified for six FIFA World Cups, with their most successful campaign coming in 2022 when they reached the Round of 16.
Australia does not have an official home stadium but regularly plays at major venues, including Optus Stadium in Perth, ANZ Stadium in Sydney, and AAMI Park in Melbourne.
The Australian Team training facility is located in Australia’s major cities, with recent investments in world-class infrastructure to support the national team’s development.
Tony Popovic is the current head coach, appointed in September 2024 to lead the team through World Cup qualification and the 2026 tournament. Mathew Ryan serves as team captain at 33 years old, continuing his role as Australia’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Tim Cahill holds the record as Australia’s all-time leading goalscorer with 50 goals in 108 international appearances, achieving iconic status for scoring in three consecutive World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014).
Australia National Soccer Team Roster
Table of Contents
Tim Cahill, Jackson Irvine, Mathew Leckie, Aaron Mooy, and Martin Boyle are among the most prominent Australian soccer players competing at the highest levels in Europe and beyond.
Head coach Tony Popovic, a former Crystal Palace defender with 58 caps for Australia, brings extensive experience at the club level, including winning the AFC Champions League with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2014.
Australia made its fifth consecutive World Cup appearance in 2022, achieving their best result by reaching the Round of 16 and becoming the fourth team in World Cup history to reach the knockout stage from a group containing eventual champions.
Current Squad of the Australia National Soccer Team
As of December 2025, Australian national soccer team is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after successfully qualifying through the AFC confederation.
Under Tony Popovic’s leadership since September 2024, the team finished second in AFC Third Round Group C with 19 points from 10 matches, securing direct qualification to the World Cup.
Currently ranked 25th in the FIFA World Rankings, Australia qualified after an unbeaten run that included victories over China (3-1 and 5-1), Indonesia (5-1), and draws against Saudi Arabia (0-0), Bahrain (2-2), and Indonesia (0-0 in the final fixture).
The Socceroos have recently completed friendly matches against Venezuela (lost 1-0) and Colombia (lost 3-0) in November 2025, testing themselves against strong South American opposition ahead of the World Cup.
Australia National Football Team players and their clubs
Here is Australia’s current squad which has been selected for recent matches, including the November 2025 friendlies against Venezuela and Colombia.
The team is currently ranked 26th in the FIFA World Rankings as of December 2025. Australia National Soccer Team qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as AFC Third Round runners-up.
| No | Player Name | Current Club | Apps | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | ||||
| 1 | Mathew Ryan | Levante | 101 | 0 |
| 12 | Paul Izzo | Randers | 4 | 0 |
| 18 | Patrick Beach | Melbourne City | 1 | 0 |
| Defender | ||||
| 2 | Miloš Degenek | TSC | 54 | 1 |
| 3 | Lewis Miller | Blackburn Rovers | 19 | 1 |
| 5 | Callum Elder | Derby County | 3 | 0 |
| 15 | Kai Trewin | Melbourne City | 2 | 0 |
| 19 | Jason Geria | Albirex Niigata | 11 | 0 |
| 21 | Cameron Burgess | Swansea City | 23 | 0 |
| 24 | James Overy | Manchester United | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Jack Iredale | Hibernian | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Kye Rowles | D.C. United | 28 | 1 |
| Midfielder | ||||
| 8 | Connor Metcalfe | FC St. Pauli | 32 | 1 |
| 13 | Aiden O’Neill | New York City | 27 | 0 |
| 14 | Riley McGree | Middlesbrough | 33 | 1 |
| 16 | Max Balard | NAC Breda | 5 | 1 |
| 17 | Cameron Devlin | Heart of Midlothian | 4 | 0 |
| 20 | Paul Okon-Engstler | Sydney FC | 2 | 0 |
| 22 | Jackson Irvine | FC St. Pauli | 80 | 14 |
| Forward | ||||
| 6 | Martin Boyle | Hibernian | 40 | 10 |
| 7 | Nestory Irankunda | Watford | 11 | 3 |
| 9 | Mohamed Toure | Randers | 8 | 2 |
| 11 | Al Hassan Toure | Sydney FC | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | Craig Goodwin | Adelaide United | 32 | 7 |
| – | Nicholas D’Agostino | Viking | 4 | 0 |
| Pos | Team | FIFA Ranking | AFC Third Round Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Australia | 25th (Sept 2025) | Qualified (2nd in Group C) |
Australia Squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Under coach Tony Popovic, the team is preparing for their sixth consecutive World Cup appearance. Here’s the projected squad structure:
- Goalkeepers: Mathew Ryan, Andrew Redmayne, Danny Vukovic
- Defenders: Milos Degenek, Bailey Wright, Trent Sainsbury, Aziz Behich, Kye Rowles, Fran Karacic, Nathaniel Atkinson, Joel King, Cameron Burgess
- Midfielders: Aaron Mooy, Jackson Irvine, Awer Mabil, Kenneth Dougall, Ajdin Hrustic, Riley McGree, Denis Genreau, Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O’Neill
- Forwards: Martin Boyle, Mathew Leckie, Adam Taggart, Mitchell Duke, Craig Goodwin, Jamie Maclaren, Nicholas D’Agostino, Marco Tilio, Brandon Borrello, Nestory Irankunda
New Coach Tony Popovic
Tony Popovic was officially appointed as head coach of Australia’s men’s national team on September 22, 2024, following the resignation of Graham Arnold after the team made an unexpectedly poor start to AFC World Cup qualification, losing 1-0 at home to Bahrain and drawing 0-0 away to Indonesia.
The 51-year-old brings extensive experience from club football, including winning the AFC Champions League with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2014 and multiple A-League Premierships.
Popovic represented Australia as a defender during his playing career, earning 58 caps and bringing deep understanding of what it takes to represent the nation at the highest level. His appointment extends through the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Other Tournaments
2024 AFC Asian Cup Squad (Winners – Co-hosting with Qatar)
- Goalkeepers: Mathew Ryan (Roma), Andrew Redmayne (Sydney FC), Tom Glover (Manchester United U23)
- Defenders: Milos Degenek (AZ Alkmaar), Trent Sainsbury (Guangzhou FC), Bailey Wright (Sunderland), Lewis Miller (Stuttgart), Kye Rowles (Heart of Midlothian), Cameron Burgess (Southampton), Jason Davidson (Perth Glory)
- Midfielders: Jackson Irvine (Hull City), Aaron Mooy (Shanghai Port), Riley McGree (Middlesbrough), Aiden O’Neill (Hibernian), Ajdin Hrustic (Hellas Verona), Connor Metcalfe (AZ Alkmaar)
- Forwards: Martin Boyle (Hibernian), Mathew Leckie (Como 1907), Jamie Maclaren (Macarthur FC), Adam Taggart (Sunderland), Craig Goodwin (Adelaide United)
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 AFC Asian Cup | Final | Winners | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
2022 FIFA World Cup Squad
(Round of 16 Appearance)
- Goalkeepers: Mathew Ryan (Arsenal), Andrew Redmayne (Sydney FC), Danny Vukovic (Dundee United)
- Defenders: Milos Degenek (Attromitos), Trent Sainsbury (Juventus), Harry Souttar (Stoke City), Aziz Behich (Giresunspor), Nathaniel Atkinson (Hearts)
Midfielders: Aaron Mooy (Shanghai Port), Jackson Irvine (Hull City), Ajdin Hrustic (Fenerbahçe), Riley McGree (Charlotte FC) - Forwards: Martin Boyle (Hibernian), Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City), Craig Goodwin (Adelaide United), Mitchell Duke (Shanghai Port), Awer Mabil (Midtjylland), Jamie Maclaren (Macarthur FC), Kusini Yengi (Sunderland)
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 World Cup | Round of 16 | – | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Historic Achievement:
Australia National Soccer Team became the fourth team in World Cup history to reach the knockout stage from a group containing the eventual world champions, defeating Denmark and France in group matches.
Australia National Soccer Team Information
| Team Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Captain | Mathew Ryan |
| FIFA code | AUS |
| FIFA Current Ranking | 26 (December 2025) |
| Top Scorer | Tim Cahill (50 goals) |
| Head coach | Tony Popovic |
| Appearance | World Cup: 6 (1974, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026), Best Result- Round of 16 (2006, 2022) AFC Asian Cup – 18, Best Results- Won 2 times (2015, 2024). AFC Asian Qualifiers – Multiple appearances |
All-time Tournament Records
| Tournament | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA World Cup | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| AFC Asian Cup | 2 | 5 | 4 | 18 |
| AFC Asian Games | 1 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| FIFA Confederations Cup | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Olympic Games | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 3 | 7 | 4 | 40 |
Head-to-head record (All-time)
- Played – 500+
- Win – 180+
- Loss – 210+
- Drew – 110+
- Win % – 36%
Australia Soccer Team Flag and Logo
The Socceroos logo showcases Australia’s iconic green and gold, the national sporting colors. Its crest includes the Southern Cross stars and the federation emblem, reflecting the country’s ties to both the Pacific and Asian regions.
Australia National Football Team schedule and Status
Australia National Soccer Team successfully qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by finishing second in AFC Third Round Group C with 19 points from 10 matches (5 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss).
The Socceroos secured automatic qualification as group runners-up behind Japan. This marks Australia’s sixth consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance, extending a remarkable streak since their return to the World Cup in 2006.
The team will compete in the expanded 48-team format across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
2025 Match Schedule Results
| S.R | Teams | Score | Date | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Venezuela vs Australia | 1-0 | Nov 15, 2025 | Friendly |
| 2 | Colombia vs Australia | 3-0 | Nov 18, 2025 | Friendly |
| 3 | Australia vs Saudi Arabia | 0-0 | Nov 14, 2025 | AFC Qualifier |
| 4 | Indonesia vs Australia | 0-0 | Nov 14, 2025 | AFC Qualifier |
| 5 | Australia vs China | 3-1 | June 5, 2025 | AFC Qualifier |
| 6 | Australia vs Indonesia | 5-1 | June 10, 2025 | AFC Qualifier |
2026 FIFA World Cup Australia Team Schedule Results
| S.R | Teams | Score | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 FIFA Series Fixtures | ||||
| 1 | Australia vs TBD | – | Australia | |
| 2 | Australia vs TBD | – | Australia | |
| 2026 FIFA World Cup Fixtures | ||||
| 1 | Australia vs TBD | – | June 2026 | |
| 2 | Australia vs TBD | – | June 2026 | |
| 3 | Australia vs TBD | – | June 2026 | |
Most Capped Players (All-Time)
| S. No | Name | Caps (Goals) | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Schwarzer | 109 (0) | 1994-2012 (Goalkeeper) |
| 2 | Tim Cahill | 108 (50) | 2004-2018 |
| 3 | Alex Tobin | 87 (0) | 1988-2001 |
| 4 | Mathew Ryan | 85+ (0) | 2012-Present (Goalkeeper) |
| 5 | Brett Emerton | 83 (4) | 2001-2014 |
Top Goalscorer Players
Tim Cahill is Australia’s all-time leading goalscorer with 50 goals in 108 international appearances, achieving legendary status for his performance across three World Cups.
| S. No | Name | Goals (Caps) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tim Cahill | 50 (108) | Retired (2004-2018) |
| 2 | Brett Holman | 22 (64) | Retired |
| 3 | Harry Kewell | 17 (58) | Retired |
| 4 | John Aloisi | 15 (54) | Retired |
| 5 | Jackson Irvine | 15 (32) | Active |
Historic Achievements
1974: First FIFA World Cup Appearance
Australia made its maiden World Cup appearance in West Germany, establishing itself on the global football stage. Despite being eliminated in the group stage, the team’s participation marked a significant milestone for Asian-Pacific football, breaking into a competition previously dominated by European and South American nations.
2006: Tim Cahill Becomes First Australian World Cup Goalscorer
In Australia’s group match against Japan, Tim Cahill scored twice, including the first-ever goal by an Australian player in World Cup history. The 3-1 victory was a watershed moment for the Socceroos, announcing their arrival as a competitive World Cup nation.
2015 AFC Asian Cup: Home Victory
Australia won their first AFC Asian Cup title, hosted on home soil. The tournament victory cemented Australia’s status as one of Asia’s elite football nations and provided momentum leading into the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign.
2022: Historic Round of 16 Appearance
Under Graham Arnold, Australia achieved their best World Cup result by reaching the Round of 16 in Qatar. Most notably, the Socceroos:
- Defeated Denmark 1-0 in group play (their first group stage win)
- Defeated France 1-0 in group play (their first victory over the eventual runners-up)
- Drew 0-0 with Peru to remain unbeaten in group stage
- Lost narrowly to Argentina 2-1 in the Round of 16 (to the eventual World Cup champions)
The performances earned worldwide respect for Australia’s tactical discipline and resilience against elite opposition.
2024 AFC Asian Cup: Co-Hosting Victory
Australia National Soccer Team won their second AFC Asian Cup title, co-hosting with Qatar. The victory demonstrated the team’s continued evolution and growth as a football nation under the national federation’s development initiatives.
