Australia’s road towards the 2027 Asian Cup will pass through tropical Townsville and Brisbane this month, where Tony Popovic’s Socceroos face Brazil in two home friendlies with a reshaped goalkeeping group and five newcomers in the squad.
Veteran Levante goalkeeper Matt Ryan has not been selected for the matches, despite remaining part of Popovic’s longer-term plans. The 105-cap international has lost his regular starting place since the most recent World Cup, and the coach has chosen this camp to assess another option in Jacob Hampman of Scottish club St Mirren.
Brazil fixtures form part of Asian Cup planning
Popovic has largely retained the group that gathered for the World Cup, while using the limited international window to introduce players who could feature in Australia’s next tournament cycle.
- Australia will meet Brazil on Friday 25 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville.
- The sides will play again on Tuesday 29 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
- It will be Australia’s first home double-header since March, against the nation with the most FIFA World Cup titles.
- Popovic will have only two camps and four matches before naming his squad for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
“We picked this squad with the 2027 Asian Cup in mind, and it is an important chance for us to continue developing as a team,” Popovic said.
The coach described the Brazil games as vital preparation for Australia’s next major competition, adding that the group was eager to return home for fixtures of this scale.
New faces across European and Asian clubs
Eli Adams of Gamba Osaka, QPR’s Kealey Adamson, Chapman, Yaya Dukuly of Celje and Marcus Younis from Brondby have each received a first senior call-up.
Several players absent from Australia’s World Cup group have also returned to contention. Middlesbrough midfielder Riley McGree is included alongside Nashville’s Patrick Yazbek, Cardiff City’s Alexander Robertson, Kasey Bos of Excelsior Rotterdam and Aachen player Dylan Leonard.
Ryan’s exclusion is therefore a selection decision rather than a final verdict on his international future. Popovic said the camp offers an opportunity to work closely with Hampman, while maintaining that the experienced Levante goalkeeper remains in his thinking.
Reset after World Cup exit
Australia arrive at the Brazil friendlies after their World Cup campaign ended in the round of 32. The Socceroos were eliminated by Egypt on penalties at the tournament held across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
With Brazil providing a rare visit from one of the game’s traditional powers, the two Queensland matches offer Popovic a demanding early test of the players he hopes will carry Australia into the Asian Cup in 2027.
