Football Australia and CommBank Socceroos Head Coach Tony Popovic have agreed to a contract extension through to the AFC Asian Cup 2027™.
The announcement comes on the eve of the CommBank Socceroos’ FIFA World Cup 2026™ opener against Türkiye.
Capped 58 times as a player, Popovic will become the first individual to represent the CommBank Socceroos at a FIFA World Cup™ as both a player and a Head Coach, 20 years after featuring in the drought-breaking 2006 tournament.
Appointed in September 2024, Popovic took charge of his first matches in October 2024. He went on to guide the team to its first direct qualification for the FIFA World Cup™ since 2014.
The qualifying campaign was underpinned by the Socceroos’ equal second-longest undefeated streak, while his first 11 games marked the second-longest undefeated start to a Socceroos coaching career.
Popovic has managed 18 matches as Head Coach of Australia, recording 10 wins and four draws.
Quotes attributable to CommBank Socceroos Head Coach, Tony Popovic:
“I’m delighted that I will continue to coach the Socceroos through to the AFC Asian Cup 2027.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to lead the Socceroos, and it is a role that I thoroughly enjoy and one I have never taken for granted.
“My absolute focus right now is on the FIFA World Cup 2026. I’m proud to lead my country into a World Cup, but most importantly, I want to ensure that our team is fully prepared and focused on our group matches against Türkiye, the United States, and Paraguay.
“From the moment I took over, I have tried to factor in the long-term interests of the Socceroos while ensuring that we achieve the short-term results, which in the first instance was qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026.”
Quotes attributable to Football Australia CEO, Martin Kugeler:
“Securing Tony Popovic’s contract extension on the eve of the FIFA World Cup is a fantastic outcome. Tony is a world-class coach, and he has proven his ability to deliver results while developing talent at the same time.
“Tony’s positive impact on the Socceroos and Football Australia has been clear, from securing direct qualification for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 12 years, to building out the depth of the squad and laying the foundations for future success. We can see the growing excitement among Socceroos fans.
“While the immediate focus is on the FIFA World Cup 2026, this extension provides clarity and enables Football Australia to plan with absolute confidence for the period following the tournament, leading into the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.
“Stability and continuity are vital, especially with our exciting, developing young Socceroos squad. With the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 coming so soon after the World Cup, this provides a natural progression and an opportunity for Tony and the team to build upon the positive momentum generated over the past 21 months.”
Quotes attributable to Football Australia Executive Director of Football, Heather Garriock:
“We are delighted to extend Tony’s contract. Since his appointment in September 2024, he has successfully guided the CommBank Socceroos to direct qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and reinforced why he is regarded as one of the game’s leading coaches.
“Tony has brought elite standards, strong leadership and a relentless commitment to high performance that has elevated the entire national team environment. Beyond results, Tony has created a culture of accountability, professionalism and belief that has driven both individual and collective growth.
“He has expanded the depth of the squad, provided opportunities for the next generation of Australian talent and positioned the team strongly for the future. With the FIFA World Cup days away and the AFC Asian Cup to follow, there is genuine excitement about what this group can achieve under the stability of Tony’s leadership as we continue our pursuit of success on the world stage.”
