Socceroos Squad: Popovic's Bold New Direction Against Brazil
Tony Popovic promised change. He has delivered it with a thud.
The Socceroos boss has named seven uncapped players in a bold 26-man squad to face Brazil in a pair of home friendlies in Townsville and Brisbane later this month, swinging hard at the squad that carried Australia to the World Cup knockout rounds.
Sixteen players from that World Cup group survive, including breakout stars Patrick Beach, Paul Okon-Engstler, Lucas Herrington, Nestory Irankunda and Alessandro Circati, all of whom landed major European moves on the back of their performances in Canada and the USA. But the story of this camp is the door being kicked open for the next wave.
Ryan axed as Popovic turns to the future
The headline casualty is Mat Ryan. Dropped from the starting XI during the World Cup, the veteran goalkeeper has now been cut from the squad altogether, despite regular minutes in La Liga with Levante.
Popovic didn’t hide his respect for the 32-year-old when he fronted reporters in Brisbane.
“We know what Maty Ryan is to Australian football and a player that has had a distinguished career – continues to have one, over 100 caps,” he said. “We’d like to have a look at another keeper. We’ve given a lot of keepers opportunity since we’ve been in charge.”
Asked how Ryan took the decision, Popovic’s answer underlined why the door is not shut.
“No, he’s good. The ultimate professional that he is, that’s why he’s had such a distinguished career. He’s still available for us and he’s certainly not out of the picture moving forward.”
St Mirren’s Jacob Chapman comes in to compete with Beach and Paul Izzo, taking Ryan’s place and underlining the shift towards the next cycle.
Ryan is not alone. Fellow four-time World Cup campaigner Mat Leckie is also missing, as are depth options Cammy Devlin, Awer Mabil, Kai Trewin, Nishan Velupillay and Ajdin Hrustic.
Injuries open the door – and the kids walk through
Injury has bitten into the core of the side too. Jordy Bos, Cristian Volpato and Cameron Burgess, all involved in the World Cup campaign, are unavailable.
That has accelerated opportunities for a new generation.
Uncapped duo Kasey Bos – younger brother of Jordy – and teenage defender Dylan Leonard return to the fold after previous involvement in camps, while five players aged 25 or under receive their first senior call-up.
Forward Eli Adams, freshly transferred from Newcastle Jets to Gamba Osaka, and Queen’s Park Rangers right-back Kealey Adamson headline that group as genuine long-term prospects. On the wings, Yaya Dukuly of Celje and Brøndby’s Marcus Younis add pace and unpredictability, while Chapman steps into the goalkeeping frame.
In midfield, there is a reunion of sorts. Riley McGree and Patrick Yazbek are back after missing the World Cup through injury, and Alex Robertson’s form at Cardiff City has forced his recall.
Popovic made it clear this is not tinkering. It is planning.
“We are looking forward to coming together for the first time since the FIFA World Cup 2026. We have picked a squad with an eye on the AFC Asian Cup 2027 and an eye on the future, and it’s a great opportunity for us to continue growing as a team,” he said in a statement.
“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 AFC Asian Cup 2027 squad, so these matches are critical for us in preparation for our next major tournament.”
Two games. Four halves of football. For some, it will decide their place on the plane.
Brazil bring the star power
If Australia are resetting, Brazil are reloading.
The Selecão have named a squad dripping with European pedigree for the trip down under. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Marquinhos (PSG), Douglas Luiz (Juventus), Bruno Guimarães (listed as Arsenal in the squad), and rising Premier League names like Andrey Santos (Manchester United) and Rayan (Bournemouth) are all in.
Up front, it is pure box office. Endrick and Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid, Estêvão and João Pedro of Chelsea, Raphinha of Barcelona and Flamengo’s Pedro and Samuel Lino give Brazil a frightening array of attacking options.
For Australia’s young defenders – from Circati and Herrington to Harry Souttar and the Bos brothers – there could hardly be a harsher examination.
The squads in full
SOCCEROOS SQUAD
Goalkeepers
Patrick Beach (Troyes)
Jacob Chapman (St Mirren)
Paul Izzo (Randers FC)
Defenders
Kealey Adamson (Queen’s Park Rangers)
Aziz Behich (Melbourne City)
Kasey Bos (Excelsior Rotterdam, on loan from Mainz 05)
Alessandro Circati (Benfica)
Milos Degenek (Apoel FC)
Jason Geria (Albirex Niigata)
Lucas Herrington (Hull City)
Jacob Italiano (Grazer AK)
Dylan Leonard (Alemannia Aachen, on loan from Schalke)
Harry Souttar (Leicester City)
Midfielders
Jackson Irvine (Cerezo Osaka)
Riley McGree (Middlesbrough)
Connor Metcalfe (St Pauli)
Aiden O’Neill (New York City FC)
Paul Okon-Engstler (FC Köln)
Alexander Robertson (Cardiff City)
Patrick Yazbek (Nashville SC)
Forwards
Eli Adams (Gamba Osaka)
Yaya Dukuly (NK Celje)
Nestory Irankunda (Sporting CP)
Mohamed Toure (Norwich City)
Tete Yengi (FC Machida Zelvia)
Marcus Younis (Brøndby IF)
BRAZIL SQUAD
Goalkeepers
Hugo Souza (Corinthians)
Pedro Morisco (Coritiba)
Otávio (Cruzeiro)
Defenders
Arthur Dias (Athletico-PR)
Douglas Santos (Zenit)
Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)
Jair (Nottingham Forest)
Marquinhos (PSG)
Matheuzinho (Corinthians)
Mauro Junior (PSV Eindhoven)
Vitor Reis (Manchester City)
Wesley (Roma)
Midfielders
Andrey Santos (Manchester United)
Breno Bidon (Corinthians)
Bruno Guimarães (Arsenal)
Danilo Santos (Botafogo)
Douglas Luiz (Juventus)
Gabriel Bontempo (Santos)
Forwards
Endrick (Real Madrid)
Estêvão (Chelsea)
João Pedro (Chelsea)
Pedro (Flamengo)
Raphinha (Barcelona)
Rayan (Bournemouth)
Samuel Lino (Flamengo)
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)
Fixtures
Game One – Townsville – Friday 25 September, 8pm AEST
Game Two – Brisbane – Tuesday 29 September, 8pm AEST
Two nights against Brazil, at home, with a squad split between hardened World Cup performers and raw, ambitious debutants.
For Popovic and the Socceroos, this isn’t just a glamour friendly – it’s the first hard step towards the Asian Cup, and a test of who really belongs on that journey.
