Tony Popovic said the door would stay open until deadline day. He meant it. Daniel Bennie and Raphael Borges Rodrigues — two English-based youngsters barely on the radar — are now training in Florida with the Socceroos ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Bennie, a former Perth Glory forward now at QPR in the Championship, qualifies for Australia, Scotland, and Hong Kong. He made his QPR debut in January, has played 17 of 20 games since, and announced himself with a stunning first senior goal against Hull. His coach Julien Stephan put it best: "He has scored like this during training sessions and I said at the end of the game, 'Okay, now you are able to do that as well during the game!'" One goal in senior football. Still worth a World Cup camp call-up — that's how much Popovic rates the ceiling.
Borges Rodrigues is the more textured story. Born in Maastricht while his father — former Adelaide United striker Cristiano — was playing in Europe, he came up through Melbourne City's academy, scored six in 35 for Macarthur FC, and has made 37 appearances this season on loan at Wigan Athletic in League One. He's been used as a wing back, which matters: Popovic wants depth there, and this kid has the profile to provide it.
The squad picture taking shape
The latest Florida intake also brought in Cameron Burgess, Mohamed Toure, Nestory Irankunda, Alex Robertson, Ajdin Hrustic, and goalkeeper Joe Gauci. Popovic needs to name a final 26 by June 1, and the goalkeeper spots are genuinely competitive — Mat Ryan expected at number one, with Gauci, Patrick Beach, and others scrapping for what's left. Beach edged ahead of Gauci over the past six months, earning his first cap in November's 1-0 loss to Venezuela, and Gauci hasn't been seen in a Socceroos squad since October.
Mo Toure's form continues to be one of Australian football's best stories. Twelve goal contributions in 11 Championship appearances since a January move from Denmark — and he's in the frame for Championship player of the month for April. "It's actually been crazy; it's wild as well, nothing I expected," he said. He's right. Nobody expected this. The betting markets on Australia's attacking output at the World Cup look more interesting with Toure in the form of his life.
Irankunda is drawing Premier League interest from Everton and Crystal Palace after his performances at Watford. Popovic called the speculation "positive" and didn't try to downplay it. At this stage of his development, that kind of noise is a good sign — for the player and for the national team's long-term outlook.
Jackson Irvine, meanwhile, is sweating through a relegation battle with St Pauli. They host Wolfsburg on Sunday in a straight shootout — both clubs on 26 points, both fighting to stay up. Irvine played 90 minutes in the 2-1 loss to RB Leipzig that left them second from bottom. A Bundesliga relegation for his captain heading into the tournament is not the preparation Popovic would have drawn up. There's also a concern around Patrick Yazbek, who suffered a quad injury at Nashville SC and won't return before the World Cup break. His coach confirmed it this week without giving a timeline. That's a worry.
Neymar slaps a teenager, scores a worldie, and somehow might be going to a World Cup
Neymar's week encapsulated everything about him in about 72 hours. First, Santos opened an internal investigation after he struck 18-year-old Robinho Júnior — son of former Brazil star Robinho — in training, apparently triggered by the teenager dribbling past him. Then he inspired a 2-0 win over Red Bull Bragantino with a goal that had Brazil talking about a shock World Cup recall under Carlo Ancelotti.
"I crossed the line," Neymar admitted. He apologised to the player and his family. Robinho Júnior accepted it. They hugged during the goal celebration. The teenager's response was generous: "It's a situation that upset me because he's been my idol since childhood." That one stings a bit.
Neymar hasn't played for Brazil since October 2023. He's 34. Ancelotti has put him on a 55-man long list. Whether that's genuine consideration or a courtesy nod to a legend, the next few weeks will clarify. Either way, he's doing exactly what he needs to do — performing, staying on the field, and dominating the conversation.
Pulisic's timing couldn't be worse
Christian Pulisic is on the cover of Time Magazine as "the most influential American men's soccer player in the country's 250-year history." He's also gone 17 club games without a goal in 2025 and missed AC Milan's 3-2 loss to Atalanta at the weekend with a glute injury. The gap between his cultural status and his current form is growing by the week.
The US hosts this tournament. They're in Group D with Australia, Paraguay, and Turkey. Pulisic is the face of the whole operation. Right now, Weston McKennie is quietly outperforming him — one of the best seasons of his career at Juventus, playing with confidence and clarity. "I feel like I'm a player that thrives under pressure," McKennie said. Pulisic needs that to be true of himself too, fast.
For context on what Australia are walking into: the US's most recognisable player hasn't scored a club goal in four months and is carrying a muscle injury weeks out from the tournament. There's a version of that Group D fixture where the Socceroos fancy themselves more than the current odds reflect.
Iran, for what it's worth, have confirmed they'll be at the tournament — but are demanding visa guarantees, particularly for players and staff who completed military service through the Revolutionary Guard. Captain Mehdi Taremi is specifically cited as a potential issue. The politics around this one are going to run right up to kick-off.
And across multiple squads, a groin condition called pubalgia is becoming this World Cup's recurring injury story — Cole Palmer, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Franco Mastantuono have all dealt with it. Palmer described months of not being able to sprint, shoot, or play long balls. "I couldn't even sprint. I could just about pass it." He's been through 20-plus missed matches this season. The injury is notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat. Messi dealt with it for years at Barcelona. It doesn't resolve quickly, and with the tournament weeks away, the players battling it now are racing a clock they may not beat.
