Australia has been a mainstay at World Cups over the last 20 years.

After reaching only their second such FIFA tournament in 2006, the Socceroos have now qualified on six consecutive occasions for football’s showpiece event.

With a young team that defeated Asian powerhouses Japan and Saudi Arabia in qualifying, Australia will be hoping to make an impression at the 2026 event across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The Sporting News breaks down Australia’s path at the 2026 World Cup, the national team roster and how the side has performed throughout World Cup history.

MORE: A full overview of the 2026 FIFA World Cup match schedule, bracket, and group layouts

Australia World Cup draw 

Australia’s group will be determined by Friday’s World Cup draw. The Socceroos are one of 12 teams included in Pot 2 of the draw.

Group match schedule

MORE: Which teams are in the World Cup Draw?

Australia all-time World Cup groups

Australia have reached the last five World Cups consecutively but only played in six in their history. Their best result is the Round of 16 in 2006 and 2022.

Australia World Cup snapshot 

The Socceroos are currently ranked 26th in the world, squeezing into Pot 2 as the last nation ahead of 29th-ranked Norway — the top-ranked Pot 3 nation. This means they will avoid several tough nations in Pot 2 ranked 10th-24th, and they will be hoping for one of the tournament hosts from Pot 1.

Australia has never won the World Cup, with their best result reaching the Round of 16 in 2006 and 2022, where they lost to the tournament winners on both occasions: Italy (2006) and Argentina (2022).

• Current FIFA World Ranking: No. 26 (December 2025)
• World Cup titles: 0
• World Cup appearances (last): 6 (Qatar 2022)
• How Germany qualified, W-L-D: AFC third round Group C runner-up, 5-4-1
• World Cup record:
  • Games: 20 GP (4 W, 4 D, 12 L)
  • Goal differential: -20 (17 GS, 37 GA)

MORE: How does the 2026 World Cup draw work?

Australia World Cup 2026 preview 

Australia is currently going through a transition period and would have been pleased qualify for the World Cup automatically, instead of the cut-throat playoff route.

The green and gold shocked Denmark to reach the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup, with the knockout stage again the target in 2026.

With several young stars – including Watford talent Nestory Irankunda and striker Mohamed Toure – the Socceroos will be hoping to expose their fledgling stars to the world stage.

• Star Players: Jackson Irvine, Riley McGree, Jordan Bos
• Players to Watch: Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure

Who is Australia’s head coach?

Tony Popovic was appointed Australia coach in September 2024 after the Socceroos made a winless start to World Cup qualifying in loss at home to Bahrain and draw in Indonesia.

He then went unbeaten through the rest of qualifying — five wins and three draws — to guide Australia to automatic qualification as group runners-up behind Japan

Popovic replaced Graham Arnold as Socceroos boss, who is currently leading Iraq as coach in the World Cup playoffs.

• Manager (Nationality): Tony Popovic
• Date hired: Sept. 23, 2024
• Record as national team manager (W-L-D): 8-3-3.
• Major titles since hire: N/A
• Notable victories: 
  • 1-0 vs. Japan – AFC World Cup qualifying 2025
  • 2-1 vs. Saudi Arabia – AFC World Cup qualifying 2025

Australia roster at the World Cup 2026

It’s difficult to pinpoint Australia’s starting XI and squad for the upcoming World Cup with the team in a transition stage featuring plenty of young talent. While there is no out-and-out superstars in the team, Jackson Irvine is arguably the Socceroos’ most important player with his knack of scoring goals arriving late in the box and his combative play in midfield. Riley McGree is also a hugely talented attacking midfielder who can create and score goals.

Australia’s future is underpinned by three dynamic talents in Nestory Irankunda, Jordan Bos and Mohamed Toure. Irankunda and Toure are African-born attackers with the ability to excite and create opportunities with their searing pace. Bos is pacy wing-back, who can get up and down the flanks, providing in attack but being assured in defence.

Kusini Yengi was the Socceroos’ top scorer in World Cup qualifying with five goals, but is currently out of the national team squad as he isn’t playing with loan club Aberdeen. Toure has been preferred recently and it will be interesting to see if Yengi can force his way back into the reckoning.

Australia predicted starting XI (formation: 3-4-3)

Ryan (GK)

Circati, Souttar, Burgess

Miller, Irvine, O’Neill, Bos

McGree, Toure, Irankunda

Strengths: 

• Defensive physicality: With physically-imposing central defenders – led by Harry Souttar and Cameron Burgess, Australia are well-suited to defend deep with impressive aerial ability in defence.

Weaknesses: 

• Star power/quality: While there are players capable of having a quality ‘moment’ there are no world class players in the team to rely on in attack. No talisman. In the past, the Socceroos have had the likes of Tim Cahill, Aaron Mooy and Mathew Leckie.

Australia roster for 2026 World Cup

Below is a projected 26-man roster for the 2026 World Cup. This will be updated when the squad is officially announced by Australia closer to the start of the tournament.

*Caps as of Dec, 12, 2025.

Australia World Cup qualifying results

Australia finished in second place in AFC third round Group C, securing their automatic place in the draw in December following a 2-1 win on the road against Saudi Arabia in June 2025. 

Australia World Cup history

Australia has never won the World Cup.

• World Cups appearances: 6
• Best finish: Round of 16 (2006,2022)
• All-time goals scored: 17
• All-time goals conceded: 37
• All-time record (W-L-D): 4-12-4