Subway Socceroos’ Head Coach Graham Arnold has unveiled a 24-man squad for Australia’s opening matches in the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26. The team will face Bahrain and Indonesia in the Third Round of qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
The qualifiers begin with Australia hosting Bahrain at the Gold Coast on Thursday, September 5, with kickoff at 8:00 p.m. AEST. The team will then travel to Jakarta to play Indonesia at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Tuesday, September 10, with kickoff at 10:00 p.m. AEST.
This match against Bahrain at Robina Stadium marks the first time the senior men’s national team will play on the Gold Coast, and tickets are selling quickly with only a few remaining.
Arnold’s squad includes many familiar faces who contributed to Australia’s successful Round Two campaign, where they defeated Bangladesh 2-0 away and Palestine 5-0 at home. Craig Goodwin (Al Wehda FC) returns from injury, and captain Maty Ryan (AS Roma) is back after a rest in June.
Lewis Miller (Hibernian FC) and Aiden O’Neill (Standard de Liège) have been included following their returns from injury, while Awer Mabil (Grasshopper Club Zurich) is recalled after an impressive start to his Swiss season, including 8 goal involvements in a recent Swiss Cup match.
New additions include Nestory Irankunda (FC Bayern Munich), Paul Izzo (Randers FC), and Harry Souttar (Sheffield United FC), all selected for their strong early-season performances. Alessandro Circati (Parma Calcio 1913) joins as a Serie A player, and Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe (FC St Pauli) are fresh off their Bundesliga debuts.
Gold Coast local Kye Rowles (Heart of Midlothian FC) will be joined by club teammate Cam Devlin, while Kusini Yengi (Portsmouth FC) has recovered from injury to make the trip with Sam Silvera.
Graham Arnold emphasized the importance of a strong start to the qualifiers. “Our full focus is on these opening two games. Positive results will build belief and momentum for the upcoming windows,” Arnold said. “The high standards we set are crucial for our growth, and the experienced players in our squad will be key in leading the younger members.”
The AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 runs from September 2024 to June 2025. The tournament features three groups of six teams, with the top two from each group securing direct qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
For the latest updates on fixtures and results, visit the official website.
The Subway Socceroos’ World Cup qualifiers will be broadcast live by Football Australia’s partner, Paramount Australia.
Match Details:
Subway Socceroos vs. Bahrain
Date: Thursday, September 5, 2024
Location: Robina Stadium, Gold Coast
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. AEST
Tickets: Starting at $15 Child, $20 Concession, $29 Adult, and $58 Family. Available on Ticketmaster.
Broadcast: 10 Bold (Perth), 10 Play, and Paramount+
Indonesia vs. Subway Socceroos
Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Location: Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. local / 10:00 p.m. AEST
Broadcast: Paramount+
