FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Australia's squad announced for World Cup qualifiers, Craig Goodwin returns

Australia named a 24-player squad for the Socceroos' third-round qualifying matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Coach Graham Arnold has named an expanded squad for September's World Cup qualifiers against Bahrain and Indonesia, with several key players returning from injury. The first matches in the third round of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualification for the 2026 World Cup will be against Bahrain on the Gold Coast on September 5 and Indonesia in Jakarta on September 10.

Craig Goodwin has recovered from a rib injury that kept him out of wins against Bangladesh and Palestine in June. In the first two Saudi Pro League games this season, the 32-year-old Al Wehda winger scored twice and assisted once. Captain and first-choice goalkeeper Mat Ryan, who signed with Italian team Roma in July, returned to the squad after resting in June. Defender Lewis Miller and midfielder Aiden O'Neill (both remain in Europe) have been selected after missing June fixtures due to injury.

18-year-old rising star Nestory Irrankunda has recovered from an injury he suffered while training with Bayern Munich and has been included in the squad. Arnold said in a statement that it was extremely important for the Socceroos to get off to a good start to the third-round qualifying stage. In addition to Bahrain and Indonesia, the Socceroos are placed against China, Japan, and Saudi Arabia in Group C of the AFC third-round qualifying. The top two teams in the group will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, while the third and fourth-ranked teams will advance to the fourth round of qualifying. Australia's aim is to qualify for their sixth consecutive World Cup.