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The FIFA World Cup is not just one of the biggest sporting shows on Earth but also the largest shop window the game has to offer.
Perform at this tournament and it could be life-changing.
It has happened before, but we’ll get to that in a moment.
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In 2025, a record AUD 18.32 billion (USD 13.08 billion) was splashed around football’s vast eco-system on transfer fees in men’s professional football according to FIFA’s latest Global Transfer Report.
It is big business.
The billions spent, however, slightly mask what large parts of the football pyramid are looking for. Value.
Data analytics help clubs searching for that more than ever before and during this World Cup several emerging Socceroos have the potential to pique the interest of those higher up the football food chain.
The average age of the Socceroos World Cup squad is 26; Australia’s second youngest ever behind the 2014 group of players named by Ange Postecoglou that headed to Brazil.
Eight of the 26 are 23 or under. All have talent that outweighs their current price tag.
Socceroos World Cup prep heating up! | 00:47
If Australia can pull off a deep run, the flow on effects for the players involved could mirror the experience of the squad that inspired Senegal’s iconic charge to the quarterfinals on World Cup debut in Japan and South Korea in 2002.
An upset 1-0 win over reigning world champions France in Seoul caught the attention of the globe 24 years ago, before draws with Denmark and Uruguay saw the Lions of Teranga advance to the Round of 16 after finishing second behind Denmark in Group A.
They’d get past Sweden 2-1 in extra time in the Round of 16 before an incredible run finished with a 1-0 defeat in the quarters against Turkey, also in extra time.
21 of the 23 members of the Senegal squad represented French clubs heading into the tournament and eight would move in the 36 months following their heroics.
El Hadji Diouf and Salif Diao signed for Liverpool and Aliou Cisse moved to Birmingham City in the Premier League immediately after the tournament.
The following season Khalilou Fadiga was signed by Inter Milan before moving on to then English topflight side Bolton. Henri Camara sealed a switch to Wolves, Amdy Faye put pen-to-paper with Portsmouth and Ferdinand Coly joined Birmingham on loan. Wolves, Portsmouth and Birmingham were all in the Premier League at the time.
Papa Bouba Diop, who scored the goal against France in Senegal’s opening match at the World Cup, signed for Fulham from Lens for the 2004/05 season. He passed away in 2020.
It’s not unthinkable that several Socceroos could attract similar attention after this tournament.
Eight young stars might potentially come under the microscope with eye-catching displays while another three have enough talent, and career circumstances that are ideal, to find themselves on the radars of those scouting for talent over the next 24 months.
“It’s really exciting,” said defender Jason Geria at the Australian base camp in Oakland, California.
“Honestly, these guys are 18 and 20 years old, 21 years old and they’re playing on the biggest stage and they’re excelling in their clubs.
“I think they’re inspiring not only the younger generation as well but I think the whole of football in Australia.
“The future of Australian football I think is in really good hands.”
The present doesn’t look too bad either with coach Tony Popovic not afraid to pit his young stars up against the best in the world.
“This is part of the process to keep evolving and getting a new generation into the Socceroos,” he said after naming his squad.
“I think we’ve shown that we’re not afraid to play the youngsters.
“Will they be better in four and eight years? Without a doubt, but that’s not to say they’re not good enough now. If they weren’t I wouldn’t play them and I wouldn’t have them in the squad.
“Hopefully they can keep growing in their club football, they need to keep playing regularly and they need to get the games.”
The last part – game time – is key to any move.
EIGHT SOCCEROOS AGED 23 OR UNDER
PAUL OKON-ENGSTLER
It has been a whirlwind year for Paul Okon-Engstler. The 21-year-old midfielder has just completed his first full season of senior football with Sydney FC after his switch from Benfica where he was part of the Portuguese club’s youth set-up.
Okon-Engstler, the son of former Socceroo and current national team assistant coach Paul Okon, made his debut for Australia against Venezuela in November last year and has looked right at home since.
A defensive midfielder, he’s a player who can instantly release his side from pressure situations in their own third. Not only does he have a huge amount of technical capability, but many within the game regard him as possessing one of the best football brains in Australia. There’s also a big engine to compliment all of that.
His rise from youth football, both at club and international level to this World Cup squad, has been swift – he’s one of only two members of the Young Socceroos squad that went to the under 20 World Cup in Chile last year, alongside Lucas Herrington, to be picked – but Okon-Engstler has already shown he can handle this level of football.
“It’s difficult to reflect in the moment just because so much is happening at the moment,” he said.
“I’ve had a lot of growth.”
He hasn’t looked out of place against Venezuela, Colombia, Cameroon, Curacao, Mexico and Switzerland so far. Each step has felt like natural progression instead of a giant leap and the environment in camp is also teaching him how to be a senior professional.
“We have a good mix between experience and youth,” he said.
“The older players, I think, just trying to give as much advice as possible to us young players and us just trying to take that on board, I think is just so important.
“Just being able to play my first full season professionally as a footballer has just helped me grow so much physically and mentally and I’m just so happy that I’m able to be here, to have the opportunity and at the end of my season to take part in the World Cup.”
Okon-Engstler is initially likely to have a huge role to play off the bench for Australia.
Sydney FC appear to have a gem on their hands and it won’t be long before someone else notices.
LUCAS HERRINGTON
Lucas Herrington will start the World Cup as the 11th youngest player at the tournament.
The defender is one of 12 eighteen-year-olds named by their respective nations. Mexico’s Gilberto Mora has the honour of being the youngest player. He’ll be 17 years and 240 days old when the tournament starts with his country facing off against South Africa in Mexico City.
Herrington, like Okon-Engstler, shows maturity beyond his years.
His ascension to the top table of the game has been so rapid that he has gone from spending the first two games of the Young Socceroos Under 20 World Cup campaign on the bench, to featuring prominently for the Brisbane Roar and then moving to the MLS in January where he’s become a mainstay of the Colorado Rapids backline. Now, a World Cup debut beckons.
“If you look at their line-up, he’s the only centre back that plays in every minute of every game.” Popovic said after unveiling his 26-player squad.
“The other two are getting rotated all the time and not him.”
His first national team call-up came in March and it took one training session for the coach to be convinced of the teenager’s quality.
He has four caps for Australia and has started all four games.
“He can be really good,” Popovic said with a huge smile.
The MLS is a fantastic league for Herrington to grow and develop, but if his progression continues at the same pace, it most likely won’t be long before other options become available.
JORDAN BOS
Jordan Bos is widely regarded as one of the best talents Australia has produced since the golden generation of 2006.
He’s a left back with a devastating turn of speed, huge engine, technical ability and an eye for goal. Are you not entertained?
Socceroos and Feyenoord fans certainly have been over the last 12 months.
His first season in Rotterdam after two campaigns in Belgium was nothing short of a success.
He made 36 appearances for the famous club, contributing four goals and 11 assists. Not bad for a defender.
Bos has made no secret of his desire to play at the highest level possible and while he has the ability to do so, each step needs to be considered carefully.
The Melbourne City product and the team around him have been exceptionally good at that so far.
PATRICK BEACH
Patrick Beach will fill one of the back-up goalkeeper roles.
He is the beneficiary of Popovic’s decision to try and give as many players as possible a chance to come into camp during his tenure.
The 22-year-old, who plays for Melbourne City, was handed a surprise debut for the Socceroos against Venezuela in Houston in November and was close to the best Australian player on the field.
Australia might’ve lost the match 1-0 but Beach could do little about the goal. He made several crucial interventions, including one stunning save from a close-range header in the 17th minute.
His performance against Switzerland in San Diego was just as good.
Game time will probably be hard to come by over the next few weeks but his inclusion in the squad shows he’s amongst the world’s elite for any club looking for a shot-stopper.
MOHAMED TOURE
There isn’t a radar around that Mohamed Toure is able to fly under anymore. 10 goals in 12 games in all competitions in the Championship in the UK, including two hat-tricks and three assists, will do that.
The pace of his adaptation to life at Norwich after a mid-season switch from Randers in Denmark got plenty of attention.
World Cup goals will take his newfound notoriety to another level. If, off the back of a successful World Cup, he can replicate his hot start to life in the second tier during his first full season with the Canaries in 2026/27, the sky is the limit for the 22-year-old.
NESTORY IRANKUNDA
Nestory Irankunda played 42 games for Watford in the Championship last season across all competitions. It’s the most games he has ever played in a single campaign as a professional footballer.
As a 20-year-old, the benefit that type of workload has on football development is not quite immeasurable, because the progress is obvious, but incredibly valuable.
The former Adelaide United, Bayern Munich and Grasshoppers winger is a human highlight reel. It won’t take much for his star to explode in the biggest and most internet-exposed World Cup ever.
Another season at Watford would most likely be the best thing for his career at this point. Then? Who knows.
Veteran Socceroo Mat Leckie, at a record equalling fourth World Cup, is all too aware of the power this tournament can have on blooming careers like Irankunda’s and Toure’s.
“Both very exciting players. We’ve seen that in the national team but also back at their clubs,” he said.
“They’re doing great things and they’re players that can make something happen out of nothing. They’re in a really good position to have a really bright future. The World Cup is something special and it’s a place where if you can, at a young age, do something in front of the world, it can take you to big places.”
ALESSANDRO CIRCATI
Alessandro Circati, at 22, is maturing into a great leader. The defender is viewed by many as a future captaincy candidate.
Circati has been with Italian outfit Parma since his teenage years and is in his second year in Serie A with the club.
His first season in the topflight in Italy was ruined by an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his knee, but he made it back in just seven months – two months quicker than even the faster end of the recovery scale – and has looked a tower of strength for club and country since.
Circati will no doubt have a long and successful career at Parma if that’s what he chooses but there’s no doubt there’ll be offers along the way.
CRISTIAN VOLPATO
Cristian Volpato was a late arrival in camp before the World Cup after deciding to pledge his allegiance to Australia, but it seemingly didn’t take long to impress his new teammates.
Every player who fronted the media after his arrival in camp appeared suitably impressed with the sharpness of the 22-year-old.
Volpato, like Circati, also plays in Serie A. He featured 26 times for Sassuolo in all competitions, scored two goals and provided four assists.
A big World Cup could either help him become a regular starter at Sassuolo next season or attract plenty of attention from clubs who see him filling that role.
TIMING RIGHT FOR THREE MORE WITH HUGE TALENT
Harry Souttar is under contract with Leicester City until the end of the 2028 season.
The Foxes will be playing in League One next season after their relegation from the Championship.
Souttar, when fit and firing as he appears to be once again after a long layoff due to a ruptured Achilles, has Premier League quality and has featured at that level before.
The giant defender made it back on the field for the last two games of Leicester’s season, after their relegation had been confirmed.
He’d be the perfect fit for a Championship club at the very least.
Nishan Velupillay is 25 and if an overseas move is going to eventuate it will most likely have to be off the back of this World Cup or soon after.
The Melbourne Victory man can play as a winger, attacking midfielder or striker and is highly thought of by Popovic.
It’s highly likely he sees minutes during the tournament.
Striker Tete Yengi’s next move could be where he spent the last five months of the season.
Yengi, the brother of injured Socceroos striker Kusini, moved to Japanese side Machida Zelvia from Scottish club Livingston on loan in January.
Whether Machida Zelvia intend to pursue the forward during the off-season remains unclear.
22 appearances across the J.League and Asian Champions League Elite returned six goals and an assist.
This World Cup call-up will only enhance his reputation.
