Socceroos boss Tony Popovic has unveiled a new-look 25-man squad for this month’s international window despite significant doubt remaining as to whether Australia’s friendlies in the Middle East will go ahead.
The Socceroos are due to face reigning Asian Cup champions Qatar in Doha in the early hours of Saturday 14 November and Jordan in Amman in the early hours of Wednesday 18 November.
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But January’s Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia was postponed due to conflict in the Middle East and Football Australia are continuing to assess safety concerns.
With the Socceroos hierarchy planning for the friendlies to go ahead, Popovic has made eight changes to the squad that drew with Brazil in Townsville and lost 4-2 in Brisbane in September.
Central Coast Mariners defender Diesel Herrington, the older brother of Hull City centre-back Lucas Herrington, Portsmouth forward Thomas Waddingham and St Pauli midfielder Sam Klein have all been awarded their maiden Socceroos call-up.
“While the AFC Asian Cup has been rescheduled, that does not take away from the importance of this window,” Popovic said.
“We have limited opportunities to be together as a group, so every camp and every game is important.
“We will have an eye on continuing to evolve the squad for the future, with our FIFA World Cup 2030 qualifying campaign and the AFC Asian Cup both now in the second half of 2027. This camp gives us another chance to work with new players and see how they fit into what we are building.”
The Herringtons are not the only set of brothers in the squad with Kusini Yengi recalled – for the first time since November 2024 – to join his younger brother Tete Yengi on national duty.
Diesel Herrington’s selection comes after his Mariners coach John Hutchinson said earlier this month that the 22-year-old was the best centre back in the A-League right now.
Another notable inclusion is former wonderkid Daniel Arzani.
The 27-year-old made headlines earlier this season with a spectacular Europa League goal for Hungarian club Ferencváros against his former side Celtic in a 3-1 victory in Glasgow.
Also making a splash in Europe to earn a Socceroos recall is defender Gianni Stensness, who last featured in national colours in 2022 but scored his maiden UEFA Champions League goal with a header in a 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich for Norwegian side Viking FK.
Waddingham, meanwhile, has turned heads by scoring twice in four appearances in the English Championship since returning from injury.
The 21-year-old is one of seven squad members yet to make their international debut, alongside Diesel Herrington, Klein, Eli Adams, Kealey Adamson, Kasey Bos and Thomas Glover – who has been recalled along with fellow goalkeeper Joe Gauci.
Their inclusions meant that there was still no room for veteran shot stopper Mat Ryan, who was dumped from the squad before the Brazil friendlies.
Several stars from this year’s World Cup squad have been named including Patrick Beach, Alessandro Circati, Harry Souttar, Connor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda.
The likes of Jordy Bos, Cristian Volpato and Mohamed Toure are all missing with injury.
“The momentum around the CommBank Socceroos has never been stronger, as we saw in September with sell-out and record crowds against Brazil in Townsville and Brisbane,” Football Australia CEO Martin Kugeler said.
“This FIFA international window is another opportunity for the squad to build on the momentum of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the Brazil series.
“For the match against Jordan, we will continue to assess the security environment and provide players and staff with timely, comprehensive updates, including relevant safety advice and risk assessments. The safety and wellbeing of our players and staff remains our highest priority.”
SOCCEROOS SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Patrick Beach (Troyes), Joe Gauci (Lincoln City), Tom Glover (RB Omiya Ardija).
Defenders: Kealey Adamson (Queens Park Rangers), Aziz Behich (Melbourne City), Kasey Bos (Excelsior Rotterdam), Alessandro Circati (Benfica), Jason Geria (Albirex Niigata), Diesel Herrington (Central Coast Mariners), Lucas Herrington (Hull City), Jacob Italiano (Grazer AK), Harry Souttar (Leicester City).
Midfielders: Sam Klein (St Pauli), Riley McGree (Middlesbrough), Connor Metcalfe (St Pauli), Paul Okon-Engstler (FC Köln), Gianni Stensness (Viking FK), Patrick Yazbek (Nashville SC).
Forwards: Eli Adams (Gamba Osaka), Daniel Arzani (Ferencvaros), Nestory Irankunda (Sporting CP), Thomas Waddingham (Portsmouth), Kusini Yengi (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Tete Yengi (Machida Zelvia), Marcus Younis (Brøndby).
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