Socceroos’ World Cup squad is one of their youngest ever. It might be their best since 2010

June 1, 2026 — 1:30pm

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Oakland: The Socceroos have set up their World Cup base camp in the land of the driverless car.

Oakland, California – their home away from home for the next few weeks – sits on the edge of Silicon Valley, across the bay from where the world’s biggest technology companies spend billions chasing the future, investing in ideas before their time.

Australia’s own future starts here and now.

Tony Popovic’s 26-man squad is, at an average age of 26.8, the second-youngest Australia has taken to the tournament. This team is built not only for this World Cup, but the next one – and the one after that, too.

In terms of quality, a strong argument could be made that, man for man, this is as good a group of players as the Socceroos have had at a World Cup since 2010 – a potent blend of battle-hardened professionals and high-upside young talent, though without the household names of that era.

It’s instructive that the last four players eliminated from Popovic’s squad selection puzzle had all been overtaken by younger rivals, who have only emerged as contenders in the last six to eight months – reflecting the broader, deeper talent pool of young Australian players funnelling through the A-League and now making an impact across Europe and beyond.

Martin Boyle, 33, is the unfortunate victim of Cristian........

© WA Today