Overview

• Coach Tony Popovic has named a 26-man squad with six uncapped players, including defenders Kai Trewin, Alex Grant, and Nectarios Triantis, to address injuries to key players Harry Souttar and Hayden Matthews.
• Veteran striker Adam Taggart has been recalled, while notable omissions include Mitch Duke and teenage standout Nestory Irankunda, despite his strong form in Switzerland.
• Daniel Arzani, previously criticized by Popovic for inconsistent performances, has been handed a lifeline and included in the squad.
• Australia sits second in Group C, with four teams, including Indonesia and China, just one point behind, making these matches pivotal for securing an automatic qualification spot.
• If automatic qualification is not achieved, the Socceroos could still reach the World Cup through additional qualifying rounds and playoffs.