Breakout sensation Adrian Segecic has earned a maiden call-up while Nestory Irankunda’s hot start to life at Watford has delivered a recall for the Socceroos’ friendlies against New Zealand.
Portsmouth gun Segecic, 21, is one of four players called up for the first time, named in Tony Popovic’s experimental squad to play for the Soccer Ashes in Canberra next Friday and Auckland three days later.
Segecic’s call-up comes off scoring two goals in three Championship games for Portsmouth, along with notching an assist in the League Cup.
Irankunda, who moved from Bayern Munich to English Championship club Watford over the off-season, has already notched an assist and a wonderful free kick goal.
That has earned the 19-year-old his first call-up under Popovic since last October, having been overlooked since Australia’s clash with Japan.
With direct World Cup qualification already secured, Popovic has licence to experiment and test new players in the first of four windows ahead of selecting his squad for the 2026 tournament.
Former A-League Men stars Noah Botic (Austria Vienna), Nicolas Milanovic (Aberdeen) and Segecic (Portsmouth), plus surprise call-up Anthony Kalik (Hajduk Split) will all head into a senior camp for the first time.
There are no players from the out-of-season A-League Men competition, including Aziz Behich, while several other experienced players have been left out or overlooked.
Jackson Irvine is still on the comeback trail from his foot injury, while Mat Ryan has been left out after sealing his recent club move to Levante.
Luckless playmaker Riley McGree is seemingly still sidelined while Japan-based Mitch Duke and Jason Geria have been overlooked.
Defender Jordan Bos, who recently moved to Dutch powerhouse Feyenoord, returns from injury.
Ajdin Hrustic has been called up after signing with Heracles Almelo and Sammy Silvera’s form as a wingback at Middlesborough has been rewarded.
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“The players have done an outstanding job in securing World Cup qualification, and now the focus on 2026 begins,” Popovic said. “We’re in the early stages of this journey, but all our energies are now focused on continuing to drive the elite standards that we aspire to and achieving our best result at a World Cup.
“We want to do something special and make our nation proud. “We’re excited to be back in camp for the first time after qualifying for the World Cup and we’re looking forward to testing ourselves against another team that’s qualified for the World Cup, in New Zealand.”
Nectar Triantis, who recently registered a Fifa switch to Greece, has not been included, nor has veteran midfielder Massimo Luongo
Socceroos squad
Goalkeepers: Joe Gauci, Tom Glover, Paul Izzo; defenders: Jordan Bos, Cameron Burgess, Alessandro Circati, Milos Degenek, Fran Karacic, Hayden Matthews, Lewis Miller, Kye Rowles, Samuel Silvera; midfielders: Max Balard, Ajdin Hrustic, Anthony Kalik, Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O’Neill; Ryan Teague, Patrick Yazbek; attackers: Noah Botic, Martin Boyle, Nestory Irankunda, Nicolas Milanovic, Adrian Segecic, Mohamed Toure.
