BREAKING: Tony Popovic’s final call Cristian Volpato revealed as final Socceroos World Cup squad announced

Socceroos boss Tony Popovic has named his final 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup with Cristian Volpato making the final cut just days after pledging his allegiance to Australia.

The 22-year-old winger, who previously wanted to play for Italy, is one of two uncapped players in the squad alongside Tete Yengi, who has been rewarded for a breakout season in Japan.

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Volpato rejected Graham Arnold’s advances four years ago when he was making waves with AS Roma as a teenager under legendary manager Jose Mourinho, but the Sydney born and raised prospect, who still plays in the Serie A but is now with Sassuolo, has had a change of heart.

Yengi, meanwhile, received his first ever call-up to a national squad just a week ago after the 25-year-old netted six goals in 22 appearances across the JLeague 1 and the AFC Champions League Elite for Machida Zelvia.

The Socceroos will have a new look about them in the United States and Canada as 17 squad members head to the World Cup for the first time.

On the other end of the scale, captain Mat Ryan and goal scorer in Qatar four years ago Mathew Leckie have been named for their fourth World Cup – matching Tim Cahill and Mark Milligan’s national record.

Aziz Behich, Milos Degenek and Jackson Irvine have been selected for a third World Cup, while Cameron Devlin, Ajdin Hrustic, Awer Mabil and Harry Souttar also return from the squad that reached the Round of 16 in Qatar.

The squad announcement comes after the Socceroos were beaten 1-0 in a friendly by tournament co-hosts Mexico yesterday.

“We are delighted to finally announce the 26 players who will represent the Socceroos at the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Popovic said in a statement.

“A range of factors has gone into selecting this final World Cup squad. Some difficult decisions had to be made – that’s the nature of major tournaments. But it’s also a credit to all the players involved over the past few weeks who worked extremely hard during an extended and challenging pre-camp.

“I’d like to acknowledge the players who contributed to our direct World Cup qualification but are not part of this squad. Their contribution should not be forgotten.

“Our focus now shifts to finalising our preparations for the upcoming friendly against Switzerland and for our World Cup group matches.”

Thirty players had been involved in Australia’s training camp in Florida and then California in the lead up to the squad announcement.

Martin Boyle, Brandon Borrello, Joe Gauci and Kye Rowles are the four players to miss out.

It is a particularly bitter blow for Boyle, who missed the last World Cup with injury and does not have time on his side at 33 years of age to make a maiden appearance in the global showpiece event.

Boyle has scored ten goals in 41 appearances for the Socceroos, while he and Rowles – who was in the World Cup squad four years ago – both featured in the match day squad against Mexico but were unused substitutes.

They are not the only hard luck stories as Middlesborough midfielder Riley McGree was ruled out with a hamstring injury last month, while Mitch Duke, who scored the winner against Tunisia in Qatar, was part of a group of eight players cut from the training squad roughly a week ago.

The Socceroos will play their final pre-World Cup friendly against Switzerland in San Diego on Sunday morning AEST.

FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Mathew Ryan (c), Paul Izzo, Patrick Beach

Defenders: Aziz Behich, Jordan Bos, Cameron Burgess, Alessandro Circati, Milos Degenek, Jason Geria, Lucas Herrington,Jacob Italiano, Harry Souttar, Kai Trewin