WORLD CUP BOUND: Three City stars named in Socceroos squad

Three Melbourne City stars are set for football’s biggest stage after being named in the Socceroos squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Mathew Leckie, Aziz Behich and Patrick Beach have all been selected by Tony Popovic for the tournament, with City strongly represented as Australia prepares for Group D clashes against Turkiye, the United States of America and Paraguay.

For Leckie, the selection sees the experienced winger bound for a record-equalling fourth FIFA World Cup – drawing level with some of the Socceroos’ greatest servants.

Already one of the most decorated players in Australian football history, Leckie’s selection caps off a remarkable comeback over the past few months.

The 35-year-old spent more than five months on the sidelines after undergoing hip surgery earlier this season, a procedure aimed at resolving a number of lingering soft tissue issues that had impacted him physically throughout recent years.

After a long rehabilitation process, Leckie returned for City’s final three regular season fixtures as he gradually rebuilt his match fitness, before producing a huge performance in our Semi Final against Auckland FC – battling through all 120 minutes in New Zealand.

One of the first players called into national team camp after City’s season concluded, Leckie has clearly impressed Popovic and his coaching staff enough to secure a World Cup place that looked highly unlikely just a few months ago.

Behich will meanwhile head to his third FIFA World Cup after once again proving himself as one of the A-League’s most reliable and consistent performers throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

The City skipper played every minute of Australia’s campaigns at both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and remains one of the Socceroos’ most experienced figures heading into the tournament.

After another standout season in City blue, Behich was recognised with selection in the PFA Team of the Season before also claiming both the Players’ Player award and Scott Jamieson Medal at the Club’s Player of the Year night.

Patrick Beach is set for his first FIFA World Cup following another impressive campaign as City’s number one goalkeeper.

Having become a regular part of Socceroos camps over the past 12 months, Beach made his senior international debut in November last year and has continued to go from strength to strength ever since.

The 22-year-old recorded 12 clean sheets across all competitions this season and now has the opportunity to experience football’s biggest tournament for the very first time.

There is also further City representation throughout the wider Socceroos squad.

Former City midfielder Aiden O’Neill and defender Kai Trewin – who departed the Club midway through the season – have both been selected, while City Academy graduates Jordan Bos and Connor Metcalfe are also set for their first FIFA World Cups.

Bos and Metcalfe are poised to become the first City Academy graduates to feature at a World Cup since Nathaniel Atkinson in 2022, with Daniel Arzani another former Academy product to previously appear on football’s biggest stage.

Australia’s World Cup campaign gets underway on Sunday 14 June (AEST) against Turkiye in Vancouver.