Australia World Cup draw 2026: Group results, schedule, roster, coach and more to know for Socceroos

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.

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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.

2026 WORLD CUP HQ: Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule

Australia World Cup draw 

Australia was drawn into Group D with the United States, Paraguay and the winners of the UEFA playoff path C, which ended up being Turkey.

Group match schedule

WORLD CUP DRAW BREAKDOWNS:

Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F
Group G | Group H | Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L

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 

As of the draw, the Socceroos were 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 avoided several tough nations in Pot 2 ranked 10th-24th.

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. 27 (April 1, 2026)
• 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)

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.

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• 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

MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:

• Last time the World Cup was in United States
• Revisiting the first World Cup in 1930
• Most World Cup wins by country
• Future World Cup locations for 2030 and beyond
• Guide to host countries, cities for 2026 World Cup

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

Australia coach Tony Popovic named his final squad on June 1. It was announced after Sunday’s 1-0 friendly defeat to Mexico at the Rose Bowl.

Teams had until Monday, May 11 to submit to FIFA an official preliminary list of 35-55 players, from which they are required to name a final roster by Saturday, May 30.

Caps and stats are correct as of June 1.

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. 

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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

MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:

• Updated FIFA World Rankings
• How World Cup qualifying works
• Explaining the expanded World Cup bracket
• Full list of teams to qualify for 2026 World Cup