After a historic 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar, the Socceroos have seemingly laid the platform for a bright future.
Coach Graham Arnold brought a number of younger players to the tournament, with this Australia side likely to change dramatically in the coming years as more veterans make way for new blood.
While much has been said about Australia's youth development issues in recent years, the Socceroos don't look like they'll be too short on talented players to call on moving forward.
Defence looks like an area of real strength, with the team's current centre-back pairing of Harry Souttar and Kye Rowles both just 24 and set to be in their prime come the 2026 World Cup.
Though plenty can change over the next four years, The Sporting News casts an early eye towards the players likely to feature for the Socceroos at the next World Cup - willing they qualify.
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Predicted Socceroos squad for 2026 World Cup
With several older players of the 2022 World Cup campaign unlikely to be in the mix for a spot at the 2026 tournament, that opens the door for a number of youngsters to come in.
Their spot in the squad of course depends on how they perform over the next four years but some names look more likely than others to become regulars for the national team based on recent form.
There are countless Aussie youngsters lurking with real potential, but as we can only name 26 for now, here's who makes our Socceroos squad for 2026.
| Position | Player | Current club | Age in 2022 | On 2022 squad? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Maty Ryan | FC Copenhagen (DEN) | 30 | Yes |
| GK | Joe Gauci | Adelaide United (AUS) | 22 | No |
| GK | Tom Glover | Melbourne City (AUS) | 24 | No |
| DEF | Joshua Rawlins | Utrecht (NED) | 18 | No |
| DEF | Jay Rich-Baghuelou | Accrington Stanley (ENG) | 23 | No |
| DEF | Joel King | OB (DAN) | 22 | Yes |
| DEF | Nathaniel Atkinson | Hearts (SCO) | 23 | Yes |
| DEF | Fran Karacic | Brescia (ITA) | 26 | Yes |
| DEF | Harry Souttar | Stoke City (ENG) | 24 | Yes |
| DEF | Kye Rowles | Hearts (SCO) | 24 | Yes |
| DEF | Lewis Miller | Hibernian (SCO) | 22 | No |
| DEF | Thomas Deng | Albirex Niigata (JAP) | 25 | Yes |
| MID | Connor Metcalfe | St. Pauli (GER) | 23 | No |
| MID | Jackson Irvine | St Pauli (GER) | 29 | Yes |
| MID | Ajdin Hrustic | Hellas Verona (ITA) | 26 | Yes |
| MID | Keanu Baccus | St Mirren (SCO | 24 | Yes |
| MID | Cameron Devlin | Hearts (SCO) | 24 | Yes |
| MID | Riley McGree | Middlesbrough (ENG) | 24 | Yes |
| MID | Tyrese Francois | HNK Gorica (CRO) | 22 | No |
| FWD | Awer Mabil | Cadiz (SPA) | 27 | Yes |
| FWD | Nestory Irankunda | Adelaide United (AUS) | 16 | No |
| FWD | Jamie Maclaren | Melbourne City (AUS) | 29 | Yes |
| FWD | Jason Cummings | Central Coast Mariners (AUS) | 27 | Yes |
| FWD | Alou Kuol | VfB Stuttgart (GER) | 21 | No |
| FWD | Garang Kuol | Central Coast Mariners (AUS) | 18 | Yes |
| FWD | Nicholas D'Agostino | Melbourne Victory (AUS) | 24 | No |
Breakdown of possible Socceroos team for 2026 World Cup
Goalkeeper
While Maty Ryan will be in his mid-30s by the time 2026 rolls around, goalkeepers play on for much longer and Ryan has always looked after himself so we expect him to still be in the Socceroos mix. A-League Men (ALM) youngsters Joe Gauci and Tom Glover loom as his most likely competition with both consistent performers at club level and with previous experience for Australia's youth teams.
Joe Gauci's 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭 🧤🔥
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) November 7, 2022
The @AdelaideUnited custodian was near unstoppable on Sunday 🧱 🔴#WeAreALeagues @IsuzuUTE pic.twitter.com/nVQ4MilZIh
Defence
As mentioned, the centre-back pairing of Souttar and Rowles should only get better ahead of the next World Cup with Jay Rich-Baghuelou looking like he could be a solid back-up option in that position. On the flanks, Joshua Rawlins and Lewis Miller are both already playing in Europe at young ages and are on track to join the Socceroos' ranks soon enough.
Midfield
With Jackson Irvine and Ajdin Hrustic likely still around, there is a bit less room for youngsters in the midfield. Fulham loanee Tyrese Francois has always loomed as a potential star for Australia, while Connor Metcalfe's workrate makes him an asset in any team.
Forward
There is a chance the Socceroos could have two brothers leading the line come 2026 should Garang and Alou Kuol both live up to their potential. Adelaide's 16-year-old attacker Nestory Irankunda is another that could give the Socceroos an X-factor in years to come. Melbourne Victory's Nicholas D'Agostino has previously starred for the Olyroos and was unlucky not to make a late push to play for the Socceroos at Qatar 2022.
'𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇' 🍑🔥
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) October 12, 2022
In the pouring rain. Moving away from goal. WOW!
Nick D'Agostino, take a bow 👏👏👏
The @IsuzuUTE A-League Goal of the Week winner for Round 1! #WeAreALeagues pic.twitter.com/VyVIX9pHSO
Young players who could break into the Socceroos come 2026
Joe Gauci (Adelaide United)
The 22-year-old has quickly become an ALM regular for the Reds and has proven a hard man to get past. Standing tall at 194 centimetres, Gauci has all the attributes and skills to become a top-class goalkeeper.
Joshua Rawlins (Utrecht)
There's always been plenty of hype around Rawlins, who played in the AFC Champions League aged just 16. The right-back is currently plying his trade in the Netherlands with Utrecht and has played regularly for Australia's youth teams since 2019.
Nestory Irankunda (Adelaide United)
Another player defying his young age, 16-year-old Irankunda burst onto the scene this year with Adelaide United and scored three goals in his first ALM season. He then scored eight goals in three games for Australia's U17 team during AFC Asian Cup qualifying in October. If he can continue developing and scoring goals, he could be a real weapon for the Socceroos in the final third.
What were you doing at 15? Nestory Irankunda was busy dropping bombs 💣
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) October 4, 2022
The youngster provided some magic moments for Carl Veart’s side in his debut campaign - can he turn it up a notch this year? 🤔#WeAreALeagues #FootballIsHERE pic.twitter.com/hl3S4snRTe
Which current Socceroos won't be around for World Cup 2026?
All three of the Socceroos goalscorers at the 2022 World Cup likely won't be in the mix for the next tournament. Craig Goodwin (30), Mitch Duke (31) and Mathew Leckie (31) might still be playing but would need to age very well to still be in contention for a World Cup spot.
Australia only qualified for the 2022 tournament thanks to Andrew Redmayne's penalty shootout heroics but the 33-year-old will have likely hung up the national team gloves by 2026.
Aaron Mooy was an undisputed Socceroos star in Qatar, but at 32, it seems unlikely he'd still be so dominant in midfield in four years time.
Defenders Aziz Behich and Bailey Wright are both already in their early 30s too and are unlikely to be in contention for the next World Cup with so many young Australian defenders coming through.
