CommBank Socceroos Head Coach Tony Popovic addressed the media on the eve of his departure for the United States to commence preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
The CommBank Socceroos kick-off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in 40 days, against Türkiye in Vancouver on June 13 (June 14 AEST). Drawn in Group D, the Socceroos will also face tournament co-hosts the United States in Seattle (June 19) and Paraguay at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara (June 25).
The CommBank Socceroos will hold a World Cup pre-camp in Sarasota, Florida, before relocating to Los Angeles for a friendly match against co-hosts Mexico at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on May 30.
Oakland, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area, will then become home for the Socceroos, with the Oakland Roots Sports Club - located on Bay Farm Island in Alameda - serving as the official Base Camp training site during the tournament.
The Socceroos’ final 26-player FIFA World Cup 2026™ squad is due to be announced on June 1.
Popovic will use the Sarasota camp to assess an extended number of players in a train-on squad, before finalising his selection.
Eight players will arrive in Sarasota this week for the Socceroos’ pre-training camp: Harry Souttar (Leicester City), Hayden Matthews (Portsmouth), Anthony Caceres (Macarthur FC), Mitchell Duke (Macarthur FC), Brandon Borrello (Western Sydney), Nick D’Agostino (Brisbane Roar), Nishan Velupillay (Melbourne Victory) and Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City).
Souttar is called up for the first time since November 2024, while Leckie last featured for the Socceroos in the June 2024 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Palestine.
Quotes attributable to CommBank Socceroos Head Coach Tony Popovic:
“I am looking forward to departing for the United States this week to begin our FIFA World Cup 2026™ preparations, starting with our pre-camp in Sarasota.
“We will use the pre-camp as an opportunity to observe and assess a number of players, with our first arrivals due this week.
“There is still a lot to play out. Most league seasons are ongoing and we continue to monitor a large number of players as we enter this critical period for selecting our final squad.
"The aim is to have as many players as possible available and in contention before finalising our World Cup squad. We are required to make that decision by June 1, and that remains the most important day from a selection perspective."
Quotes attributable to Executive Director of Football, Heather Garriock:
“The FIFA World Cup 2026™ feels within touching distance, with our first group of players now arriving in Sarasota to commence preparations.
“CommBank Socceroos Head Coach Tony Popovic and his high-performance team continue to monitor players closely to ensure no stone is left unturned ahead of our FIFA World Cup 2026™ campaign. This marks the beginning of a crucial period, that will culminate in the selection of our final squad.
“The Sarasota camp will form an important role in our preparation before we relocate to California. Oakland, Alameda, in the (San Francisco Bay) Area, will serve as our home base from May 31.”
KEY DATES
May 5: Pre-camp in Sarasota commences
May 30: Friendly - Mexico v Australia, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Los Angeles
May 31: Arrive at base camp in Oakland, Alameda
June 1: FIFA World Cup 2026™ squads announced
June 6: Friendly - Switzerland v Australia, Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
June 13: FIFA World Cup 2026™ Group D - Australia v Türkiye, BC Place, Vancouver
June 19: FIFA World Cup 2026™ Group D - USA v Australia, Seattle Stadium, Seattle
June 25: FIFA World Cup 2026™ Group D - Paraguay v Australia, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara