Maty Ryan Dropped from Socceroos Squad as Youth Takes Over
Maty Ryan has been dropped from the Socceroos squad in a stunning call from coach Tony Popovic, who has turned sharply towards youth for Australia’s first matches since the World Cup.
The 34-year-old captain, in strong form with Levante in La Liga, has been left out entirely for the September friendlies against Brazil, with uncapped St Mirren keeper Jacob Chapman brought in instead.
Captain out, new guard in
Ryan’s omission lands just months after a turbulent World Cup campaign in which he lost his starting spot to Patrick Beach, only to be dramatically substituted on for the penalty shootout in the round-of-32 defeat to Egypt.
Ryan later said he was only told at the start of extra time that he might replace Beach if the match went to penalties. Popovic has since insisted the veteran knew that scenario was on the table before kick-off. That debate now fades into the background, replaced by a far more blunt reality: he is no longer in the squad.
Chapman joins Beach and Paul Izzo as the three goalkeepers for the clashes with Brazil in Brisbane on 25 September and Townsville on 28 September. Chapman is one of seven uncapped players called up as Popovic accelerates a generational shift.
Seven uncapped, big names missing
The new faces stretch right across the pitch.
At left-back, Kasey Bos – younger brother of injured star Jordan Bos – is in for another camp, still chasing a first cap. He is joined in defence by 19-year-old Dylan Leonard, another untested option in a backline that will also be without key figures.
Jordan Bos is sidelined with a knee injury, while central defender Cam Burgess misses out with an achilles problem. Cristian Volpato is also unavailable due to a hamstring issue, and his off-field situation hangs over the camp: the Sassuolo attacker was last week fined for driving with cocaine in his system in July. He has maintained his innocence and will contest the charges in court. Popovic is set to speak publicly about the matter for the first time in this window.
Up front and out wide, former A-League livewires Marcus Younis (Brondby IF) and Eli Adams (Gamba Osaka) have been rewarded with maiden call-ups. They are joined by Kealey Adamson (QPR), Chapman and Yaya Dukuly (NK Celje) in a fresh group of hopefuls pushing for long-term roles.
Sixteen players from the 26-man World Cup squad return, but there are some notable absentees. Cameron Devlin, Nishan Velupillay, Mathew Leckie, Ajdin Hrustic, Kai Trewin and Awer Mabil have all been left out. Aziz Behich stands alone as the only A-League Men representative in the squad.
Eyes on Brazil – and the Asian Cup
Popovic made the direction of his selection clear.
“We are looking forward to coming together for the first time since the Fifa World Cup 2026,” he said in a statement. “We have picked a squad with an eye on the Asian Cup and an eye on the future, and it’s a great opportunity for us to continue growing as a team.
“We are also very excited to be playing at home for the first time since March in what are two crucial matches for us, against Brazil, the most successful team in Fifa World Cup history.
“We will only have two camps and four matches before we select our Asian Cup squad, so these matches are critical for us in preparation for our next major tournament.”
The message is blunt: reputations alone will not carry anyone to the Asian Cup. Not even the captain.
Riley McGree and Patrick Yazbek return after missing the World Cup through injury, while Alex Robertson is recalled into a midfield that still leans on Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe for structure. The forward line, spearheaded by the likes of Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure and Tete Yengi, suddenly looks far more experimental, far more volatile – and potentially far more exciting.
Brazil, with all their pedigree, will test that boldness instantly. For Popovic, it is exactly the kind of examination he wants before he locks in his squad for Asia. For Maty Ryan, watching from afar, the question is far more personal: is this the start of the end, or just a brutal reset in a World Cup cycle that has already moved on without him?
Australia squad
- Goalkeepers: Patrick Beach, Jacob Chapman*, Paul Izzo
- Defenders: Kealey Adamson*, Aziz Behich, Kasey Bos*, Alessandro Circati, Milos Degenek, Jason Geria, Lucas Herrington, Jacob Italiano, Dylan Leonard*, Harry Souttar
- Midfielders: Jackson Irvine, Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O’Neill, Paul Okon-Engstler, Alexander Robertson, Patrick Yazbek
- Forwards: Eli Adams*, Yaya Dukuly*, Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure, Tete Yengi, Marcus Younis*
* Uncapped
