Adelaide United goalkeeper Joe Gauci’s incredible start to the 2023/24 Isuzu UTE A-League season has been rewarded with a call-up to the Subway Socceroos squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Second Round Asian qualifiers.
Gauci has been included in a 23-man squad named by head coach Graham Arnold for matches against Bangladesh on Thursday 16 November at AAMI Park in Melbourne and Palestine on Tuesday 21 November in Kuwait.
The squad is relatively unchanged from the one which faced England and New Zealand in October with Gauci among a handful of additions from the A-League.
The 23-year-old made his debut and only previous appearance for the national team in March against Ecuador. He currently leads the A-League for goals prevented, at an average of 2.8 per game. The next best is Central Coast shot stopper Danny Vukovic with 1.5.
Along with Gauci, fellow A-League players Brandon Borello (Western Sydney), Jamie Maclaren and Aziz Behich (Melbourne City) are in the squad, while former Adelaide United forward Kusini Yengi (Portsmouth, England) and Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer will join the Subway Socceroos camp for the first time.
Two other former Reds – Craig Goodwin (Al Wehda FC, Saudi Arabia) and Ryan Strain (St Mirren FC, Scotland) are also in the 23.
Next week’s fixtures are the start of a 16-game stretch to earn a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Rounds in what is one of world football’s longest qualification routes.
Subway Socceroos Head Coach Graham Arnold said would be focussed on making a strong start against Bangladesh and Palestine.
“It’s important that we build and maintain a momentum that will see us be successful throughout this campaign and beyond,” he said.
“We’re all really looking forward to playing in front of a home crowd, the connection we have with our fans and the energy and support they bring is a huge driver for us – I know the players can’t wait.”
The Second Round – which doubles as direct qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia – will see the Subway Socceroos play Bangladesh, Lebanon and Palestine in a home-and-away round-robin format between November 2023 and June 2024. Australia needs to either win the group or finish as runners up to qualify directly.
Fans in Australia will be able to watch the Subway Socceroos take on Bangladesh and Palestine live and exclusively on 10, 10Play and Paramount+.
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 SECOND ROUND ASIAN QUALIFIERS:
Subway Socceroos v Bangladesh
Thursday, 16 November 2023
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 7:30pm ACDT
Palestine v Subway Socceroos
Tuesday, 21 November 2023
Jaber Al-Ahmed International Stadium, Kuwait
Kick off: TBC
| Name | Current Club, Country | ‘A’ Caps (Goals) | Junior Club (Member Federation/Country) |
| Keanu BACCUS | St Mirren FC, Scotland | 10 (0) | Parklea FC / Football New South Wales |
| Aziz BEHICH | Melbourne City FC, Australia | 61 (2) | Meadow Park SC / Football Victoria |
| Brandon BORRELLO | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | 9 (1) | Modbury Jets SC / Football South Australia |
| Jordy BOS | K.V.C Westerlo, Belgium | 4 (0) | Hoppers Crossing SC / Football Victoria |
| Martin BOYLE | Hibernian FC, Scotland | 22 (6) | Lewis United FC / Montrose FC (Scotland) |
| Cameron BURGESS | Ipswich Town FC, England | 2 (0) | ECU Joondalup / Football West |
| Alessandro CIRCATI | Parma Calcio 1913, Italy | 1 (0) | Perth Soccer Club / Football West |
| Mitchell DUKE | FC Machida Zelvia, Japan | 30 (10) | Liverpool Rangers SC / Football New South Wales |
| Joe GAUCI (Gk) | Adelaide United FC, Australia | 1 (0) | Cumberland United / Football South Australia |
| Craig GOODWIN | Al Wehda FC, Saudi Arabia | 18 (2) | Munno Para City FC / Football South Australia |
| Jackson IRVINE | FC St Pauli, Germany | 58 (9) | Ringwood City SC / Football Victoria |
| Massimo LUONGO | Ipswich Town FC, England | 44 (6) | APIA Leichhardt FC / Football New South Wales |
| Jamie MACLAREN | Melbourne City FC, Australia | 30 (8) | Green Gully SC / Football Victoria |
| Ashley MAYNARD-BREWER | Charlton Athletic FC, England | 0 | ECU Joondalup / Football West |
| Connor METCALFE | FC St. Pauli, Germany | 11 (0) | South Cardiff FC / Northern NSW Football |
| Lewis MILLER | Hibernian FC, Scotland | 2 (0) | Pittwater RSL FC / Football New South Wales |
| Aiden O’NEILL | Standard de Liege, Belgium | 5 (0) | University of Queensland Football Club (formerly Kenmore FC) / Football Queensland |
| Kye ROWLES | Heart of Midlothian FC, Scotland | 12 (0) | Palm Beach SC / Football Queensland |
| Mathew RYAN (Gk) (Cpt) | AZ Alkmaar, Netherland | 84 (0) | Blacktown City FC / Football New South Wales |
| Sam SILVERA | Middlesbrough FC, England | 2 (0) | Blacktown City FC / Football New South Wales |
| Harry SOUTTAR | Leicester City FC, England | 19 (8) | Brechin City Boys Club (Scotland) |
| Ryan STRAIN | St Mirren FC, Scotland | 4 (0) | Aston Villa FC (UK) |
| Kusini YENGI | Portsmouth FC, England | 0 | Fulham United FC / Football South Australia |
