Sebastian Esposito: We feel prepared for this moment
Sebastian Esposito insists the CommBank Young Socceroos could not be more prepared for the challenge ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™.
The centre-back, who captained the side to victory at the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2025™, believes his side is raring to go and credits the two-and-half-year progress together as a group as a key reason to feel confident.
Esposito joined Melbourne Victory on loan from Serie A outfit Lecce during the offseason.
The CommBank Socceroos qualified for the tournament for the first time since 2013 after their historic performance in China earlier this year.
The FIFA U20 World Cup Chile 2025™, scheduled from 27 September to 19 October, features 24 teams from across the globe, with the CommBank Young Socceroos sealing their place in the 24th edition of the bi-annual tournament courtesy of their history-making victory in China.
The squad will be cut to 21 players before Australia begin their FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign against European heavyweights, Italy at the Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander in Valparaíso on Monday, 29 September at 6am AEST.
Their Group D schedule will see the CommBank Young Socceroos stay in Valparaíso to tackle their second opponents, Argentina, on Thursday, 2 October (AEST) before travelling to Santiago to end the group phase against Cuba on Sunday, 5 October (AEDT) at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos.
Read on about what he had to say.
Reflections on the Asian Cup success
We looked at the trophy last night, and it was a good it was good to see like, obviously, it brings back a lot of emotions. Probably the best month of my life in football. We've got a very strong group and a strong bond. So it's good to see the boys again and we're just preparing to do the same thing we did in Asia. Obviously compete and fight for another competition.
Previous experience playing in South America
It's obviously good to have already experienced what South America's like and the type of football they play. We start training, we've got a couple friendly games, and then we get into the tournament, so we should have very good preparation and just looking forward to being back. It was a great place to play in the past and it'd be good to play again in the future.
Personal preparation since move to Melbourne Victory
I've been working very hard, especially at the club, feel fit and doing conditioning most days. I'm feeling fit and ready.
A culmination of more than two years to reach this point
I've said it multiple times, it's been a two-and-a-half-year journey, we know each other very well, and we feel prepared for this moment. We are a very strong group of boys. We've got a lot of quality, and we know how we match up against the best. Now it's time to prove it, and to prove that we belong at this stage in our preparation and see how far we can go.
Huge opportunity to showcase the talent
It's a massive opportunity for us boys. Obviously, again, playing against the best. We have very strong nations in our group, big footballing nations. It's good to put Australia on the map and show how we can match up against these well known nations. We're looking forward to it. Massive opportunity, everybody's watching. We know that. And individually and as a collective, it's good if we play together and we play our football, everybody's going to look good, that's the main thing.
MATCH SCHEDULE | FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP CHILE 2025™
Italy v Australia
Date: Sunday, 28 September 2025 / Monday, 29 September 2025 (AUS)
Time: 5.00pm (local) / 6.00am (AEST)
Venue: Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander, Valparaíso, Chile
Argentina v Australia
Date: Wednesday, 1 October 2025 / Thursday, 2 October 2025 (AUS)
Time: 8.00pm (local) / 9.00am (AEST)
Venue: Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander, Valparaíso, Chile
Australia v Cuba
Date: Saturday, 4 October 2025 / Sunday, 5 October 2025 (AUS)
Time: 8.00pm (local) / 10.00am (AEDT)
Venue: Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago, Chile