Seven Uncapped Players Join Socceroos for ANZAC Ashes

Subway Socceroos Head Coach Tony Popovic has named seven uncapped players in the 25-man squad to face New Zealand, starting with next Friday's ANZAC Soccer Ashes opener against New Zealand in Canberra.

    Noah Botic (Austria Vienna), Nicolas Milanovic (Aberdeen), Adrian Segecic (Portsmouth) and Anthony Kalik (Hajduk Split) have received their first senior international call ups.

    Nestory Irankunda (Watford), Jordan Bos (Feyenoord), Ajdin Hrustic (Heracles Almelo), Fran Karacic (Hajduk Split), Tom Glover (Middlesbrough), Max Balard (NAC Breda), Hayden Matthews (Portsmouth) and Sam Silvera (Middlesbrough) have been recalled to the squad, for the Subway Socceroos first camp since securing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.

    Australia qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the seventh time, after the 2-1 win away to Saudi Arabia in June, which followed the famous 1-0 win over Japan in Perth.

    The Subway Socceroos face New Zealand at GIO Stadium on Friday (7:45pm AEST kick-off), before the return leg in Auckland (September 9, 5pm AEST), for the Ashes decider.

    Subway Socceroos Head Coach Tony Popovic was excited ahead of his first camp, since the successful June FIFA International Window.

    "I always had faith and confidence in our ability to not only qualify for the World Cup but continue growing as a team. The players have done an outstanding job in securing World Cup qualification, and now the focus on 2026 begins," Popovic said.

    "We're in the early stages of this journey, but all our energies are now focused on continuing to drive the elite standards that we aspire to and achieving our best result at a World Cup. We want to do something special and make our nation proud.

    "We're excited to be back in camp for the first time after qualifying for the World Cup and we're looking forward to testing ourselves against another team that's qualified for the World Cup, in New Zealand."

    This is the first of four FIFA international windows before the Socceroos' squad is picked for the 2026 World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico.

    The FIFA World Cup draw is due to take place in December.

    SUBWAY SOCCEROOS | MATCH SCHEDULE | ASHES SERIES

    Subway Socceroos v New Zealand

    Friday, 5 September

    GIO Stadium, Canberra

    Kick-off: 7.45pm AEST

    Broadcast: 10, 10.com.au and Paramount+

    New Zealand v Subway Socceroos

    Tuesday, 9 September

    Go Media Stadium, Auckland

    Kick-off: 7.00pm local / 5.00pm AEST

    Broadcast: Paramount+

    SUBWAY SOCCEROOS SQUAD l SEPTEMBER FIFA MEN'S INTERNATIONAL WINDOW

    NameCurrent Club, Country'A' Caps (GoalsJunior Club (Member Federation/Country)
    Max BALARDNAC Breda, Netherlands0Maccabi Hakoah FC / Football NSW
    Jordan BOSFeyenoord, Netherlands19 (1)Hoppers Crossing SC / Football VIC
    Noah BOTICAustria Vienna, Austria0Hurstville Zagreb / Football NSW
    Martin BOYLEHibernian FC, Scotland34 (10)Lewis United FC / Montrose FC (Scotland)
    Cameron BURGESSSwansea, Wales17 (0)ECU Joondalup / Football West
    Alessandro CIRCATIParma, Italy5 (0)Perth SC / Football West
    Milos DEGENEKFK TSC, Serbia49 (1)Blacktown City FC / Football NSW
    Joe GAUCI (Gk)Port Vale, England7 (0)Cumberland United FC / Football SA
    Tom GLOVER (Gk)Middlesbrough, England0Menai Hawks / Football NSW
    Ajdin HRUSTICHeracles Almelo, Netherlands31 (3)Heatherton United SC / Football VIC
    Nestory IRANKUNDAWatford, England5 (1)Adelaide Croatia Raiders / Football SA
    Paul IZZO (Gk)Randers FC, Denmark0Campbelltown City SC / Football SA
    Anthony KALIKHajduk Split, Croatia0Manly United / Football NSW
    Fran KARACICHajduk Split, Croatia15 (1)NK Lokomotiva (Croatia)
    Hayden MATTHEWSPortsmouth, England1 (0)Sydney FC Academy / Football NSW
    Connor METCALFESt Pauli, Germany26 (1)South Cardiff / Northern NSW Football
    Nicolas MILANOVICAberdeen, Scotland0Sydney United / Football NSW
    Lewis MILLERBlackburn Rovers, England13 (1)Pittwater RSL FC / Football NSW
    Aiden O'NEILLNew York City FC, USA21 (0)University of Queensland Football Club / Football QLD
    Kye ROWLESDC United, USA25 (1)Palm Beach SC / Football QLD
    Adrian SEGECICPortsmouth, England0Lidcombe Waratah / Football NSW
    Samuel SILVERAMiddlesbrough, England7 (0)Blacktown City FC / Football NSW
    Ryan TEAGUEK.V. Mechelen, Belgium3 (0)Maroubra United / Football NSW
    Mohamed TOURERanders FC, Denmark2 (0)Croydon Kings / Football SA
    Patrick YAZBEKNashville SC, United States2 (0)Austral Soccer Club / Football NSW
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