{"id":1449844,"date":"2026-06-26T11:10:49","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T10:10:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=news&#038;p=1449844"},"modified":"2026-07-03T22:02:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T21:02:06","slug":"australia-world-cup-2026-route-to-final","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/world-cup\/australia-world-cup-2026-route-to-final\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia World Cup 2026: Route to final, next match and tactical analysis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Australia<\/strong>&#8216;<strong>s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/world-cup-2026-betting-tips-predictions\/\">World Cup<\/a> dream ended in the Round of 32 when they lost on penalties against Egypt. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Socceroos&#8217; 2026 campaign got off to the best possible start. They beat Turkey 2-0 to give their chances of making the round-of-32 a massive boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, there was a crash back down to earth in their second game as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to hosts USA in Seattle. But a goalless draw with Paraguay in the final game sealed Australia&#8217;s spot in the knockout stages as Group D runners-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There wasn&#8217;t to be a first-ever knockout victory for Australia, though. They lost 4-2 on penalties to the Pharaohs and will return home without progressing any further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-australia-world-cup-2026-stats\">Australia World Cup 2026 stats<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"vcsw-sports-widgets shortcode vcsw-stats-cards\" id=\"stats_cards-1\"><script type=\"application\/json\">{\"sports_type\":\"football\",\"widget_type\":\"stats\",\"display_mode\":\"table\",\"competition\":\"667aabbb773e0180d8f74d65\",\"cards\":[{\"stats\":[{\"value\":\"Games\",\"label\":\"Games\"},{\"value\":\"Shots (excl blocks)\",\"label\":\"Shots (excl blocks)\"},{\"value\":\"Goals\",\"label\":\"Goals\"},{\"value\":\"Assists\",\"label\":\"Assists\"},{\"value\":\"Tackles Made\",\"label\":\"Tackles Made\"},{\"value\":\"Take-ons completed\",\"label\":\"Take-ons completed\"},{\"value\":\"Yellow Cards\",\"label\":\"Yellow Cards\"},{\"value\":\"Red Cards\",\"label\":\"Red Cards\"}],\"entity\":\"members\",\"participant\":\"\"}],\"top_count\":10,\"full_list\":\"true\",\"participant\":\"665db72de93e306d7f46fde3\"}<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-australia-key-players-for-world-cup-2026\">Australia key players for World Cup 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-australia-top-world-cup-golden-boot-contender-mohamed-toure\">Australia top World Cup Golden Boot contender: Mohamed Toure<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Key stat:<\/strong> Mohamed Toure scored nine times in just 11 appearances after signing for Norwich City in the January transfer window.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Socceroos have lacked a consistent goalscorer for some time now but Mohamed Toure could be about to fill that void in this squad. The 22 year old bagged nine times in 11 appearances in the Championship this season after joining Norwich City from Danish club Randers in January. So far he has two goals to his name for his country, both coming in a 3-1 win over New Zealand in Auckland in 2025 but he has the kind of ability to burst onto the scene at this summer&#8217;s World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-australia-primary-playmaker-ajdin-hrustic\">Australia primary playmaker: Ajdin Hrustic<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Key stat:<\/strong> Ajdin Hrustic has provided six assists in the Eredivisie this season.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If he keeps form and fitness, Ajdin Hrustic could be a key creator for Australia at the World Cup. The 29-year-old currently plies his trade with Heracles in the Eredivisie, having joined from Salernitana last summer. He&#8217;s been in top form, creating 50 chances so far this season at an average of 2.31 per 90 minutes. Hrustic has also created 16 big chances, resulting in six assists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-australia-card-magnets-amp-top-tacklers-aiden-o-neill\">Australia card magnets &amp; top tacklers: Aiden O&#8217;Neill<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Key stat:<\/strong> Aiden O&#8217;Neill made 54 tackles in the 2025 Major League Soccer season.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aiden O&#8217;Neill is one of the sure starters in Australia&#8217;s midfield and the Socceroos will be hoping he can help break down opposition attacks. The 27-year-old plies his trade in the United States with New York City FC, so his knowledge of playing in the continent will be key. O&#8217;Neill made 54 tackles in MLS in 2025, committing 33 fouls. He was also booked seven times, winning possession 51 times in the middle third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-australia-rising-star-nestory-irankunda\">Australia rising star: Nestory Irankunda<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nestory Irankunda is the bright young Australian star, and will be 20 come the summer. He made the move from Australia to Germany in 2025, joining Bayern Munich, representing their reserve team. Irankunda then went out on loan at Grasshopper, before joining Watford permanently last summer. The youngster has been directly involved in five goals in the Championship so far, taking 42 shots and creating 26 chances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>STAND-OUT STAT: <strong>Australia <\/strong>have now qualified for six consecutive World Cups from 2006 to 2026 having only reached the tournament once before 2006.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Australia set-piece specialists<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Penalties: <\/strong>Martin Boyle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Free kicks: <\/strong>Nestory Irankunda, Ajdin Hrustic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Corners:<\/strong> Ajdin Hrustic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-australia-tactical-analysis-and-formation\">Australia tactical analysis and formation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Team stats (average per game at 2026 World Cup):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Corners: <\/strong>4.0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shots on target: <\/strong>3.67<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shots on target conceded: <\/strong>4.0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Offsides: <\/strong>0.33<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/05\/09173303\/AUSTRALIA-819x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1456102\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/05\/09173303\/AUSTRALIA-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/05\/09173303\/AUSTRALIA-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/05\/09173303\/AUSTRALIA-768x960.png 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/05\/09173303\/AUSTRALIA-214x267.png 214w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/05\/09173303\/AUSTRALIA-160x200.png 160w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/05\/09173303\/AUSTRALIA-48x60.png 48w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/05\/09173303\/AUSTRALIA-120x150.png 120w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/05\/09173303\/AUSTRALIA-59x74.png 59w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/05\/09173303\/AUSTRALIA.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tony Popovic&#8217;s arrival in September 2024 brought a change in system at Australia, switching to three centre-backs. This has varied between a back three and a back five, though the latter has been fancied more recently. Should everyone be fit, the back three is likely to consist of Alessandro Circati, Harry Souttar and potentially the 18 year old Lucas Herrington. Mohamed Toure has been given a chance to lead the line, while Aiden O&#8217;Neill and Awer Mabil are other players you&#8217;d expect to start. But the other spots are up for grabs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-australia-manager-analysis\">Australia manager analysis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tony Popovic took the Australian reins in September 2024, replacing Graham Arnold. When he took charge, Australia had taken one point from their first two World Cup qualifying games. Things didn&#8217;t turn around too quickly, with Australia drawing three of their next four &#8212; though they did win the other. But Popovic led Australia to four wins from four in 2025 to qualify for the World Cup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-regular\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Coach<\/th><th>Team<\/th><th>P<\/th><th>W<\/th><th>D<\/th><th>L<\/th><th>GF<\/th><th>GA<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Win %<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Tony Popovic<\/td><td>Australia<\/td><td>21<\/td><td>11<\/td><td>5<\/td><td>5<\/td><td>31<\/td><td>18<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">52.38<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-australia-world-cup-faqs\">Australia World Cup FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Have Australia ever won the World Cup?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Australia have never won the World Cup, only making it to the last-16 twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Where did Australia finish in the last World Cup?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Australia were knocked out in the last-16 of the 2022 World Cup, losing to eventual winners Argentina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Who will be Australia captain at the World Cup?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mathew Ryan is Australia&#8217;s current captain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Who is Australia&#8217;s all-time top goalscorer at World Cups?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tim Cahill has scored five goals at World Cups, more than any other player. The goals were spread across three World Cups between 2006 and 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>f<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/world-cup-2026-betting-tips-predictions\/\"><strong>World Cup predictions &amp; tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/outright-markets\/world-cup-outright-odds\/\"><strong>World Cup outright odds <\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/world-cup-2026-fixtures-results\/\"><b>World Cup fixtures &amp; results<\/b><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/world-cup-2026-betting-offers\/\"><b>World Cup free bets<\/b><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"sq-articles-list\">\n                    <h2 class=\"sq-heading-line\">Latest News<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"sq-cards\">\n                               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The Socceroos&#8217; 2026 campaign got off to the best possible start. They beat Turkey 2-0 to give their chances of making the round-of-32 a massive boost. However, there was a crash back down to earth in their second&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":370,"featured_media":1457806,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"australia route to final","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Everything you need to know about Australia at World Cup 2026 including their fixtures, key players, manager and tactical analysis.","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"news-category":[27626],"class_list":["post-1449844","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-category-world-cup"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Australia World Cup 2026: Route to final, next match and tactical analysis | Squawka | EN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" 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