Meet our FIFA World Cup 2026™ Squad - The Defenders

As the CommBank Socceroos prepare to kick off their FIFA World Cup 2026™ campaign, get to know the squad representing Australia on the biggest stage.

• READ MORE: Meet the Goalkeepers
• READ MORE: Meet the Midfielders
   

Over the next few days, we will take a closer look at the players selected in each position. Let's take a look at all the different characters that make up the squad's defence for the tournament.

Aziz Behich

Debut: 14/11/2012 against Korea Republic 
Socceroos Cap Number: 547
Appearances (goals): 83 (3)
Major tournaments: FIFA World Cup 2018, 2022. AFC Asian Cup 2015, 2019, 2023
Current Club: Melbourne City
Junior Club: Meadow Park SC (Football Victoria)

Aziz Behich is the ninth most capped Socceroo in history and moments like his qualifying goal against Japan reminded the nation just why.

The 35-year-old from Melbourne debuted back in 2012 after impressing with Melbourne Heart (now City) in the A-League Men. He was subsequently part of the victorious AFC Asian Cup 2015™ squad and a consistent Socceroo ever since.

In clubland, the left-back spent time overseas at clubs such as Bursaspor, PSV Eindhoven and Dundee United before returning to Australia to play for Melbourne City in 2023.

Behich started all four matches of the FIFA World Cup 2022™ and, with his experience and ability up and down the left-hand flank, will once again play a big role in the 2026 edition of the tournament.

Jordan Bos

Debut: 28/03/23 against Ecuador 
Socceroos Cap Number: 632
Appearances (goals): 26 (4)
Major tournaments: AFC Asian Cup 2023
Current Club: Feyenoord (Netherlands)
Junior Club: Hoppers Crossing SC (Football Victoria)

23-year-old Jordy Bos is one of a host of young talents looking to make their mark at the global finals.

The fullback from Melbourne was a product of Melbourne City’s academy, signing his first professional contract back in 2021. He earned his first overseas move when he signed for Belgian side KVC Westerlo in 2023.

It has been at Feyenoord in the Netherlands where he has really shone. Hs scored four goals and picked up seven assists in the Eredivisie this season, becoming the first Australian to win an Eredivisie Player of the Month award in September last year.

His eye catching ability on the ball will no doubt be a massive part of the Socceroos game plan in the United States.

Cameron Burgess

Debut: 09/09/23 against Mexico 
Socceroos Cap Number: 633
Appearances (goals): 26 (0)
Major tournaments: AFC Asian Cup 2023
Current Club: Swansea City, Wales
Junior Club: ECU Joondalup (Football West)

Cameron Burgess has become a reliable face at the back for the Socceroos in recent years.

The Swansea City defender was born in Aberdeen, Scotland before moving to Perth with his family at 11-years-old. After representing both Scotland and Australia at youth level he was called up to the Socceroos for the first time September 2023, when he debuted against Mexico.

He spent several years at different clubs in EFL League One and Two before a four-year stint at Ipswich Town saw him make 18 appearances in the Premier League in 2024/25. This season, he has been part of a notable contingent in the EFL Championship.

He is a safe pair of hands who can be called upon in any situation at his first FIFA World Cup™.

Alessandro Circati

Debut: 17/10/23 against New Zealand 
Socceroos Cap Number: 637
Appearances (goals): 12 (1)
Major tournaments: Debut
Current Club: Parma Calcio 1913, Italy
Junior Club: Perth SC (Football West)

Alessandro Circati is one of the emerging leaders in this Socceroos squad.

The 22-year-old was born in Fidenza, Italy before moving to Perth at the age of one. He was a product of the Perth Glory academy before moving to Parma in 2022, where he has made over 80 appearances in Serie B and Serie A.

Circati debuted against New Zealand in October 2023. In September 2024, his career was put on pause due to rupturing his ACL during training at Parma. Remarkably, he recovered to play for Parma by April, and was able to play a key role in the Socceroos qualification for the World Cup.

In September last year, Circati was named captain against New Zealand in only his seventh international appearance. He became the team’s fourth-youngest captain and youngest since 1981 in the process.

Circati is set to be a vital part of Popovic’s squad in his first major tournament for the Socceroos.

Milos Degenek

Debut: 27/05/16 against England 
Socceroos Cap Number: 585
Appearances (goals): 56 (1)
Major tournaments: FIFA World Cup 2018, 2022, AFC Asian Cup 2019
Current Club: Apoel FC, Cyprus
Junior Club: Blacktown City FC (Football NSW)

32-year-old Milos Degenek brings experience and grit to the Socceroos back line.

Degenek started his professional career in Germany for VfB Stuttgart. His breakthrough came in the 2015/16 season in the 2.Bundesliga for 1860 Munich where he established himself as a first-team player and was rewarded with a Socceroos debut against England in May 2016.

His club career has taken him to clubs such as Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan and Red Star Belgrade in Serbia. Degenek represented both Serbia and Australia at youth level before committing to Australia in 2015.

The centre-back has had somewhat of a second coming under Head Coach Tony Popovic and has well and truly earned a spot at his third World Cup.

Jason Geria

Debut: 04/06/16 against Greece
Socceroos Cap Number: 586
Appearances (goals): 13 (0)
Major tournaments: Debut
Current Club: Albirex Niigata, Japan
Junior Club: Weston Molongo Football Club (Capital Football)

Geria is a player that has had to bide his time for international opportunities – now, at 33 years of age, he gets his chance on the biggest stage of all.

The boy from Canberra started his career at the AIS before having his professional breakthrough at Melbourne Victory in the 2012/13 season. Victory is the club for which he is best known, racking up 189 appearances in two separate stints with the A-League Men’s outfit. He won the A-League Championship and Premiership double with the club in 2014/15 and is a two-time Australia Cup (then FFA Cup) winner in 2015 and 2021.

After making his debut for the national team back in 2016 he had to wait eight years to play again, called up by Tony Popovic ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026™ qualifiers against China and Japan. He featured in the win against China and has been a regular sight in Popovic’s squads since.

The experienced and reliable Geria will now have the chance to participate in his first major tournament for the Socceroos.

Lucas Herrington

Debut: 27/03/26 against Cameroon 
Socceroos Cap Number: 658
Appearances (goals): 3 (0)
Major tournaments: Debut
Current Club: Colorado Rapids, USA
Junior Club: Toowong FC (Football Queensland)

18-year-old Lucas Herrington is the youngest member of the Socceroos World Cup squad and, since making his debut earlier this year, has not looked a moment out of place.

Herrington is a Queenslander who came through the Brisbane Roar academy before debuting for the A-League Men’s club in 2024. The tall centre-back seemed to be destined for great things from the get-go but it has been his attitude where he has impressed the most, unfazed by the pressure of his rising star.

He moved to the MLS at the beginning of this year where he has started every match and played every minute in the heart of defence for the Colorado Rapids. He scored his first goal for the club in February.

The sky is the limit for this youngster who may well be called upon for a starting role on the biggest stage.

Jacob Italiano

Debut: 10/10/25 against Canada 
Socceroos Cap Number: 653
Appearances (goals): 4 (0)
Major tournaments: Debut
Current Club: Grazer AK, Austria
Junior Club: Inglewood United (Football West)

Jacob Italiano comes into his first major tournament as a rising star for the team.

Hailing from Perth, the 24-year-old came through the Glory academy – debuting in the A-League Men’s in the 2017/18 season - before moving to Germany as part of Borussia Monchengladbach’s academy in 2019. It has been in Austria with Grazer AK that he has made his name, however, establishing himself as a regular starter and scoring four goals this season.

His form with Grazer earned him a first national team callup in October last year where he debuted against Canada. His performances have been enough to impress Head Coach Tony Popovic and the coaching staff.

Italiano will be an option down the right-hand flank for the Socceroos, and after starting against Mexico in the pre-tournament friendly, he may well have a big role to play in the tournament.

Harry Souttar

Debut: 10/10/19 against Nepal 
Socceroos Cap Number: 606
Appearances (goals): 37 (11)
Major tournaments: FIFA World Cup 2022, AFC Asian Cup 2023
Current Club: Leicester City FC, England
Junior Club: Brechin City Boys Club (Scotland)

When you talk about presence on the pitch, you can’t go much further than Australia’s tallest ever outfield player Harry Souttar.

The 27-year-old returns for his second FIFA World Cup™ in familiar circumstances. In 2022, he was racing against the clock to recover from an ACL rupture. This time, he has played only two games of club football since December 2024 after battling an achilles injury. However, he proved four years ago that he is the kind of player who will be ready and fit for any situation – and a fully fit Souttar is a formidable defender indeed.

Souttar was born in Aberdeen, Scotland and raised in the small town of Luthermuir, in Perthshire. His brother John is a Scotland international. They were eligible to play for Australia through their mother, Heather - who was born in Western Australia – and, after following his heart, Souttar has not looked back.

A genuine attacking aerial threat as well as stubborn defender, Souttar is set to be a starter in the Socceroos’ campaign.

Kai Trewin

Debut: 14/11/25 against Venezuela
Socceroos Cap Number: 656
Appearances (goals): 5 (0)
Major tournaments: Debut
Current Club: New York City, USA
Junior Club: Gungahlin United (Football ACT)

Kai Trewin’s versatility has made him the Swiss Army Knife of the Socceroos’ defence.

Trewin came through the Football ACT system before making the move up to Brisbane to the Roar academy. There, he debuted in 2020, making over 100 appearances for the side. A move to Melbourne City in 2024 further challenged him to learn and grow and it was while he was at City that he earned his Socceroos debut in November last year.

In January this year, he signed for New York City FC in the MLS. He has appeared in every game this season in various roles in both midfield and defence.

The 25-year-old enters his first major tournament with a reputation as a reliable operator who can fill roles all across the team.

UPCOMING MATCHES

Australia vs Switzerland