Socceroos: Five players to watch in the World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh and Palestine

Kieran Francis

Socceroos: Five players to watch in the World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh and Palestine image

A new World Cup qualifying cycle is starting for the Socceroos with a host of players set to break out ahead of the 2026 tournament in USA, Mexico and Canada.

The green and gold will start their road to the World Cup with qualifiers against Bangladesh and Palestine, with Lebanon the other team in the group.

Which players should we keep an eye on as Australia attempts to qualify for its sixth successive World Cup?

MORE: When do the Socceroos play next? Australia squad, full schedule, World Cup qualifiers, Asian Cup matches

Craig Goodwin (Al Wahda)

Goodwin is not exactly a young talent at 31 years old but the flying attacker is ready to be a leader for his national team during this World Cup qualifying campaign.

Among some of the best players in the world in the Saudi Pro League, Goodwin has five goals in eight matches for Al Wehda playing in attacking roles centrally and on the right.

Last season's Johnny Warren Medallist at Adelaide United has always been a great player but he has taken his game to the next level after hitting the wrong side of 30.

Expect Goodwin to be a regular starter and spearhead the Socceroos' World Cup qualifying campaign.

The only question is whether he will be around for the World Cup main event, which will come six months after he hits 34.

Kusini Yengi (Portsmouth)

Made in the A-League at Adelaide United and Western Sydney Wanderers, Yengi is a powerful forward who can play through the middle and on the wing.

The 24-year-old had five goals and two assists in nine matches for League One club Portsmouth - alongside fellow Socceroo talent Alexander Robertson.

With Jamie Maclaren and Mitch Duke both the wrong side of 30, Graham Arnold is searching for the next generation of attacking talent to take the nation forward.

And Yengi certainly doesn't lack confidence as evidenced by this celebration in front of Melbourne Victory's fans in 2021.

Jordy Bos (Westerlo)

There is a feeling that Bos is a player destined for Europe's top leagues with his abilities and career trajectory.

The left-back made his debut for Melbourne City during the 2021-22 campaign but became an elite player last season for the A-League Premiers at only 20 years old.

Bos scored two goals and nabbed five assists, showing his ability to attack relentlessly but also be a class defender.

He is now starting left-back for Belgian top division outfit Westerlo, and interestingly nabbed his first assist recently playing as a left midfielder.

There is no doubt the 21-year-old is going to a fixture for the Socceroos over the next decade.

Sam Silvera (Middlesbrough)

Two years ago, Silvera couldn't get a start for Newcastle Jets in the A-League, scoring only one goal and making 14 of his 9 appearances off the bench.

Now after a breakout season with champions Central Coast last season, the 23-year-old is making waves at Championship club Middlesbrough.

Alongside Socceroo team-mate Riley McGree, Silvera has made 6 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals and creating two assists.

Able to play on the left and right wings, Australia has found another long-term wide option in the London-born attacker.

Cameron Burgess (Ipswich Town)

A late blooming central defender, Burgess has been a rock at the heart of Ipswich Town's defence, with the Championship side equal top alongside Leicester City and looking like one of the favourites for promotion.

Now 28 years old and hitting his peak, Burgess originally came through Fulham's academy as a teenager, before developing in England's lower leagues with the likes of Scunthorpe United, Salford City and Accrington Stanley before joining Ipswich in 2021, while they were in League One.

The 194cm defender helped Ipswich to promotion from League One last season, and now they are eight points clear in the automatic promotion positions under former Manchester United assistant Kieran McKenna.

Socceroos 23-man squad vs. Bangladesh and Palestine

Name

Current Club, Country

Keanu BACCUS

St Mirren FC, Scotland

Aziz BEHICH

Melbourne City FC, Australia

Brandon BORRELLO

Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia

Jordy BOS

K.V.C Westerlo, Belgium

Martin BOYLE

Hibernian FC, Scotland

Cameron BURGESS

Ipswich Town FC, England

Alessandro CIRCATI

Parma Calcio 1913, Italy

Mitchell DUKE

FC Machida Zelvia, Japan

Joe GAUCI (Gk)

Adelaide United FC, Australia

Craig GOODWIN

Al Wehda FC, Saudi Arabia

Jackson IRVINE

FC St Pauli, Germany

Massimo LUONGO

Ipswich Town FC, England

Jamie MACLAREN

Melbourne City FC, Australia

Ashley MAYNARD-BREWER (Gk)

Charlton Athletic FC, England

Connor METCALFE

FC St. Pauli, Germany

Lewis MILLER

Hibernian FC, Scotland

Aiden O’NEILL

Standard de Liège, Belgium

Kye ROWLES

Heart of Midlothian FC, Scotland

Mathew RYAN (Gk) (Cpt)

AZ Alkmaar, Netherland

Sam SILVERA

Middlesbrough FC, England

Harry SOUTTAR

Leicester City FC, England

Ryan STRAIN

St Mirren FC, Scotland

Kusini YENGI

Portsmouth FC, England

Socceroos World Cup qualifiers schedule

In November, the Socceroos will begin the long process of attempting to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

In the second round of AFC World Cup qualifying, the Socceroos will play in a round-robin format against Lebanon, Palestine and either Maldives or Bangladesh, with the top two teams qualifying for the third round of qualification, as well as qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup.

The qualification campaign will see two games played at the end of 2023, with the rest of the matches in the second round set to begin in March after the 2024 Asian Cup.

Match Date (AEDT)
Australia vs Bangladesh November 16 - 8pm
Palestine vs Australia November 22 - 1am
Australia vs Lebanon March 21
Lebanon vs Australia March 26
Bangladesh vs Australia June 6
Australia vs Palestine June 11

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.