CommBank Young Socceroo Sebastian Esposito lauded the special group going to the FIFA U20 World Cup.
He said that the team would carry the emotion and form from the AFC U20 Asian Cup victory into the tournament and are excited to perform on the biggest youth national team stage possible.
Winning the AFC U20 Asian Cup
We've got a very special group. Those feelings are kind of going to carry the group to the next tournament and through to the World Cup. It just brings a smile to my face every time I see it [the trophy].
The journey to get to the World Cup
Our whole journey has started two and a half years ago, and we've had a lot of experience together. We've played against multiple nations across multiple continents. We've played against the best, and we've kind of proven to ourselves we belong at the level. Obviously, Asia was a big indicator that we were right in our in our belief and in our processes, and we just will keep doing that. We know kind of the quality we have and the group we have is very special. So belief, yes, but we internally know what we're going to achieve and what we can do. So we're just going to keep going.
Emotions in Chile
It's pretty surreal. Speaking with the other boys at dinner tonight, we know we deserve to be here, but for us, now it's time to get into camp and start training and start getting to know each other once again. Because again, we haven't been together for quite a few months now, so it's good to get back in camp. [We are] learning everyone's strengths again, and just seeing how much people have grown since our last tournament, because players keep continuing to grow while we're away. So that's very good, and we're excited.
Building match fitness for the tournament
It's always a buzz to get into national team jersey. Anyone that's done it knows how much it means to you as a player and also the group. To be with other boys that are playing at high level, and to come together - you're the best of the best. To be able to see one another and see kind of how we fit in, coming from different clubs, from different countries, is very good to see. It is off season in Australia for us, technically, but we’re all fit, and we do work very hard in pre-season. We play a lot of games. So now we're feeling fit and ready.
Signing with Melbourne Victory
It was very exciting for me to get the biggest club in Australia hunting me and wanting me to come play for them. It was a massive honour for me. Obviously, it's all about senior experience. So I want to come here and show my level and continue to grow as a footballer.
Playing against the best
Apart from the senior World Cup, it's the biggest World Cup around. And after speaking to past players that have played in the u20s World Cup, people say it's an opportunity. Everybody's watching, and it's our opportunity to take with both hands and show our abilities. We know that people are watching. We'll focus playing good as a team, because we know that when we play good as a team, it's only going to make our individual performances improve. So it's obviously a massive opportunity and a big, big chance for us to show our qualities against the best in the world.
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
Broadcast: Live on SBS and SBS On Demand
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
Broadcast: Live on SBS and SBS On Demand
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
Broadcast: Live on SBS and SBS On Demand