BY: Owais lateef
Melbourne :The Socceroos, Australia’s national football team, are gearing up for a thrilling encounter against their trans-Tasman rivals, New Zealand, in the ANZAC Soccer Ashes series. Head Coach Tony Popovic has announced a 25-man squad for the two-match series, with two Victorians earning a spot in the team.The series kicks off on Friday, September [insert date], at GIO Stadium in Canberra, with the second leg scheduled for September 9 in Auckland. The Socceroos will be looking to make a strong impression after qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Popovic’s squad features a mix of experienced players and young talent. Four players have received their first senior international call-up: Noah Botic (Austria Vienna), Nicolas Milanovic (Aberdeen), Adrian Segecic (Portsmouth), and Anthony Kalik (Hajduk Split). Meanwhile, players like Nestory Irankunda (Watford), Jordan Bos (Feyenoord), Ajdin Hrustic (Heracles Almelo), Fran Karacic (Hajduk Split), Tom Glover (Middlesbrough), Max Balard (NAC Breda), Hayden Matthews (Portsmouth), and Sam Silvera (Middlesbrough) have been recalled to the squad.
Two Victorians have earned a spot in the squad, and their inclusion is sure to boost the team’s morale and performance. The Victorian players will be looking to make a strong impression and help the Socceroos secure a win in the ANZAC Soccer Ashes series.
Socceroos Head Coach Tony Popovic expressed his excitement ahead of the series, saying, “I always had faith and confidence in our ability to not only qualify for the World Cup but continue growing as a team. The players have done an outstanding job in securing World Cup qualification, and now the focus on 2026 begins.” Popovic added, “We’re in the early stages of this journey, but all our energies are now focused on continuing to drive the elite standards that we aspire to and achieving our best result at a World Cup. We want to do something special and make our nation proud.”
The ANZAC Soccer Ashes series marks the beginning of the Socceroos’ journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team will participate in four FIFA international windows before the World Cup squad is picked. The Socceroos will be looking to build on their momentum and fine-tune their performance ahead of the World Cup.
The first match of the ANZAC Soccer Ashes series will be played on Friday, September at GIO Stadium in Canberra, with a kick-off time of 7:45 pm AEST. The second leg will be played on September 9 in Auckland, with a kick-off time of 5:00 pm AEST.The Socceroos will be looking to make their nation proud and secure a win in the ANZAC Soccer Ashes series. With a strong squad and a clear vision, the team is poised to make a strong impression in the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
