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Socceroos star and FC St. Pauli captain Jackson Irvine is out for the rest of the season.

‘It’s certainly a blow’: Irvine injury rocks Socceroos’ World Cup qualifying hopes

First-choice players have been dropping like flies since Tony Popovic took on the top job last September. Star midfielder Jackson Irvine is the latest.

  • Vince Rugari

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Australia’s head coach Tony Popovic, left reacts with Australia’s Jackson Irvine after winning a World Cup 2026 group C qualifier match against China held at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou, in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo)

One last push, and the Socceroos can book their spot at the 2026 World Cup

The equation is simple for Australia after their 2-0 victory in China: win their next match and they’ll seal qualification for next year’s tournament.

  • Vince Rugari
Irvine

Socceroos player ratings: Irvine, Velupillay star but issues remain

Australia may now be in the driver’s seat, but the hard work is still to come. Here’s a look at how they performed in their World Cup qualifier against China in Hangzhou.

  • Paul Zalunardo
Nishan Velupillay.

World Cup qualifiers 2025 as it happened: Socceroos cruise to vital 2-0 win over China

Australia’s direct qualification hopes for next year’s World Cup will now come down to June’s clashes with Japan and Saudi Arabia after an important victory in Hangzhou on Tuesday night.

  • Vince Rugari
Then-German chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese President Xi Jinping greet players before a match between the U12 teams of Germany and China in Berlin, in 2017.

Xi’s plan to make China a football power is failing. Australia can deliver the killer blow

FIFA expanded the World Cup to 48 teams partly to give China a better chance to qualify. But unless they beat the Socceroos on Tuesday, they will likely fall short again.

  • Vince Rugari
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic.

The sooner the Socceroos qualify, the sooner they can try to solve their age-old problem

Injuries to Adam Taggart and Kusini Yengi have further exposed Australia’s lack of quality striking options - an issue coach Tony Popovic probably can’t fix until after 2026 World Cup qualification is clinched.

  • Vince Rugari
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Craig Goodwin.

Late-blooming Socceroos star was good enough to play with Europe’s best. But he hasn’t given up hope

Craig Goodwin is assessing his club options ahead of a likely move away from Saudi Arabia. On recent form, he could hold his own in a top five league in Europe.

  • Vince Rugari
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 20: Nishan Velupillay celebrates a goal during the round three FIFA 2026 World Cup AFC Asian Qualifier match between Australia Socceroos and Indonesia at Allianz Stadium on March 20, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

It’s early days, but Socceroos believe they can become ‘unstoppable’ under Popovic

Tony Popovic’s Socceroos are clearly a work in progress, as their first 15 minutes against Indonesia showed. But there is clear progress being made.

  • Vince Rugari
Socceroos on fire.

Socceroos one step closer to 2026 World Cup after 5-1 win against Indonesia

Tony Popovic’s Socceroos walked away with a solid victory against Indonesia at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night.

  • Billie Eder
Daniel Arzani at training on Wednesday in Sydney.

Daniel Arzani should have been a star. This might be his last chance to prove he still can be

It’s been a long time since Daniel Arzani was billed as the Socceroos’ next big thing. If Tony Popovic’s public bake can’t bring out his best, maybe nothing will.

  • Vince Rugari

Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/topic/socceroos-hpx