Socceroos Head Coach Graham Arnold today confirmed Australia’s squad for the nation’s forthcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ qualifiers against Vietnam and Oman in Melbourne and Muscat respectively.
Australia’s squad for the two fixtures features a total of 25 players, including senior Socceroos Mathew Ryan, Mathew Leckie, Trent Sainsbury, Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic, and Aziz Behich, as well as uncapped Isuzu UTE A-League trio Marco Tilio, Joel King, and Kye Rowles, who were members of the Olyroos’ squad at last year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Arnold said he’s pleased with the squad that will represent the green and gold over the next fortnight, and is delighted to welcome a clutch of youngsters into the Socceroos family as Australia’s quest to qualify for Qatar continues.
“There is no greater honour than to represent your country and the players we’ve selected for January and February 2022 are determined to help our nation take another positive step towards qualification for this year’s FIFA World Cup,” Arnold said.
“I believe we have selected a balanced roster, and one which offers tactical and positional flexibility and depth. There were some omissions that were extremely difficult to make this window, however as always we have sought to select the strongest possible squad to take on the challenges that we have ahead of us as a group.”
“I am delighted to call up Marco (Tilio), Joel (King), and Kye (Rowles) for the first time, and look forward to them making an impact in training and potentially on their Socceroos debuts. Marco, Joel, and Kye, as well as another Tokyo Olympian, Connor Metcalfe, have been rewarded for their form in the A-League, as well as their potential and attributes that they can add to the national team.”
Twenty four of the 25 players are set to assemble in Melbourne between Sunday and Tuesday, before taking on Vietnam at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Thursday, 27 January 2022 (kick-off 8.10pm AEDT).
Dynamic midfielder Ajdin Hrustic is suspended for the Vietnam encounter due to yellow card accumulation, and will meet his Socceroos teammates in the Middle East on Saturday week ahead of Australia’s matchday eight fixture against Oman at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
The Socceroos’ FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ qualifier against Vietnam will be broadcast exclusively live and free across Australia on Thursday on 10 Bold, and simulcast on 10 Play.
Limited tickets are available for next week’s home qualifier at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. The remaining seats can be purchased from Ticketek.
Australia’s match against Oman in Oman will be live and free on Network 10, and simulcast on 10 Play, from 3am on Wednesday, 2 February 2022.
