CommBank Socceroo Mitchell Duke said that he was working as hard as he could to be a part of Tony Popovic’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ squad that will be announced at the end of this month.
The 35-year-old is a part of pre-camp in Sarasota, Florida, and will retire from the national team after the tournament irrespective of selection.
Read what he had to say below.
Retirement from international football
It brings another level of motivation for me. To be 35 and still considered for another World Cup - and experiencing one before, there is nothing like it - for this chance to do it again is super special. To go out, potentially retire from the national team with one more World Cup under my belt will be super special. There’s that saying that you wear your national team jersey like it's your last, every camp that you get. For me, I've had the privilege to wear it 50 times. 50 caps is amazing for your country, and for me, this is actually my last chance to do it. So I'm giving it all I've got. I’ll see if I can do that, and don the jersey one more time at another World Cup.
Camp so far
It's been amazing. It's been a tough camp so far. We are some of the earlier ones, because obviously our season's finished earlier, and we need that top-up and the conditioning to keep going. We’re building up to a major tournament, and the boss is making sure there's no stone left unturned, and making sure everyone's up to scratch with their condition. For me as well, we got knocked out, and we didn't make the finals, unfortunately, with Macarthur. So to have this extra preparation is key, and we've got to take advantage of that. It's been tough for sure - but I’m reaping the benefits, I'm sure, later on down the track. If I make the tournament, my condition is going to be ready to play at my peak level.
Club football with Macarthur
It was a little bit disappointing. Individually, my numbers were pretty good, but collectively, as a team, our expectations were in the ACL two to go further into that competition, We came up short, and again didn't make the finals, so we came up short there as well in the A-League. So a bit frustrating and disappointing. In saying that, I think I've done okay individually, scored a few goals, got myself still in the World Cup contention. So for the individual factor, I'm still pretty happy to be here based off my performances, and ready to bring that into this camp, and see where it takes me.
Last start for the Socceroos against Saudi Arabia
That last game that I started for the national team against Saudi Arabia to get the goal and assist was amazing, to just play a part in helping the team qualify for this World Cup. Six in a row, it's massive. To play an important part in that is special for me, and I think that's what gives the boss a bit of belief to know that when called upon, I can do a job, and for me it's to show that I'm still capable of doing that in this World Cup, and bring that experience and that readiness whenever called upon. I haven't played too many games recently with the national team, but I know if given that chance, I'll be ready to take those opportunities when given the time on the pitch.
The experience of a World Cup
There's the weight of your country on your shoulders in the biggest sporting tournament in the world. There's nothing bigger and nothing better to play a part in as a footballer. To represent your country in the biggest tournament in the world, there's nothing like it. Come game day, I did experience that in the last World Cup for the first time, and there is something different about going into that match day knowing what's on the line and what you need to do to get those results. We came up short against France, losing 4-1, but then to turn it around against Tunisia, against Denmark, and then to go all the way to the end against Argentina. The two teams that we lost made it to the final in that tournament.
So it was amazing, incredible experience, exciting young players to be able to experience this for their first time, and it's only going to give them the best experience moving forward, to be able to handle these kinds of pressures. There's nothing like it, and I'm looking forward to seeing these young boys also handle that and show themselves on the world stage, because I think they're ready, and they can handle these kind of pressures.