Football Australia has named an under-strength Socceroos squad for this month's friendly against Jordan in Amman, amid player safety concerns over the fixture. Captain Maty Ryan and several senior players were omitted. The squad, released on Saturday night, includes seven uncapped players for the matches against Qatar on November 13 in Doha and Jordan three days later.
The Professional Footballers Australia said on Friday that players had overwhelmingly expressed their view that the match against Jordan should be rescheduled or relocated. Captain Maty Ryan and fellow veterans Jackson Irvine, Milos Degenek, and midfielder Aiden O'Neill are among the most prominent omissions from coach Tony Popovic's 26-man squad. It is unclear whether those players made themselves unavailable for safety reasons.
The friendlies were originally planned as preparation for the Asian Cup, which has been pushed back from January 2027 to December 2027 due to security concerns in host country Saudi Arabia. Indonesia recently cancelled their own planned friendly in Jordan.
“For the match against Jordan, we will continue to assess the security environment and provide players and staff with timely, comprehensive updates, including relevant safety advice and risk assessments,” Kugeler said in a statement. “The safety and wellbeing of our players and staff remains our highest priority.”
Popovic said the camp remained important despite the Asian Cup's postponement. “We have limited opportunities to be together as a group, so every camp and every game is important,” Popovic said in a statement.
Central Coast defender Diesel Herrington, older brother of Hull City's Lucas Herrington, is in line to make his Australian debut. Other new call-ups include Portsmouth striker Thomas Waddingham and FC St. Pauli midfielder Sam Klein. Attacker Daniel Arzani returns after finding form at Ferencvaros, along with defender Gianni Stensness.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Player safety concerns over the Jordan fixture could set a precedent for how Football Australia handles future matches in politically unstable regions.
- The omission of senior players and inclusion of uncapped rookies may affect the team's performance and preparation ahead of the rescheduled Asian Cup in December 2027.
- The dispute between the players' union and Football Australia highlights tensions over balancing competitive preparation with safety.
Background
Australia was due to host the Asian Cup in January 2027, but the tournament was postponed to December 2027 and moved to Saudi Arabia after security concerns in Saudi Arabia forced a change. The friendlies against Qatar and Jordan were intended as preparation for that tournament. Popovic signed a short-term contract extension earlier this year that officially ends in March, and his future beyond that is uncertain.
Key Perspectives
Professional Footballers Australia: Said players had "overwhelmingly expressed their view that the Jordan match should be rescheduled or relocated."
Football Australia (Martin Kugeler): Said the governing body would continue to assess the security environment and provide players and staff with updates, including safety advice and risk assessments, and that safety and wellbeing remain the highest priority.
Tony Popovic: Said the camp remains important for evolving the squad ahead of the World Cup 2030 qualifying campaign and the Asian Cup, both now in the second half of 2027.
What to Watch
- Whether Football Australia decides to reschedule or relocate the Jordan match, or if further player withdrawals occur.
- The upcoming Christmas deadline for a decision on Popovic's contract, with rival coaches including Kevin Muscat reportedly interested.
- How the squad's performance in these friendlies influences selection for future camps and the build-up to the Asian Cup.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedFootball Australia named an under-strength Socceroos squad amid player safety fears over the Jordan friendly.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Football Australia will continue to assess security ahead of the Socceroos’ planned friendly against Jordan after an under-strength squad was named amid player concerns over safety.”
- SupportedThe squad includes seven uncapped players.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “the most prominent omissions from coach Tony Popovic’s squad, which includes seven uncapped players.”
- SupportedMaty Ryan, Jackson Irvine, Milos Degenek and Aiden O’Neill are among the prominent omissions.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Captain Maty Ryan and fellow veterans Jackson Irvine and Milos Degenek, plus midfielder Aiden O’Neill, are the most prominent omissions from coach Tony Popovic’s squad”
- SupportedPFA said players overwhelmingly wanted the Jordan match rescheduled or relocated.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Professional Footballers Australia on Friday said players had “overwhelmingly expressed their view that the Jordan match should be rescheduled or relocated”.”
- SupportedThe friendlies are against Qatar in Doha on November 13 and Jordan in Amman three days later.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “upcoming friendlies against Qatar in Doha on November 13 (November 14, AEDT) and Jordan in Amman three days later.”
- SupportedThe Asian Cup was pushed back from January 2027 to December 2027 because of security concerns in Saudi Arabia.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The friendlies were initially meant to serve as preparation for the Asian Cup, which has since been pushed back from January to December 2027 due to security concerns in host country Saudi Arabia.”
- SupportedIndonesia recently cancelled its own planned friendly in Jordan.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “despite Indonesia recently cancelling their own planned friendly in Jordan.”
- SupportedKugeler said: “For the match against Jordan, we will continue to assess the security environment and provide players and staff with timely, comprehensive updates, including relevant safety advice and risk assessments,” and “The safety and wellbeing of our players and staff remains our highest priority.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““For the match against Jordan, we will continue to assess the security environment and provide players and staff with timely, comprehensive updates, including relevant safety advice and risk assessments,” FA chief executive Martin Kugeler said in a statement. “The safety and wellbeing of our players and staff remains our highest priority.””
- SupportedPopovic said: “We have limited opportunities to be together as a group, so every camp and every game is important,” in a statement.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““We have limited opportunities to be together as a group, so every camp and every game is important. “We will have an eye on continuing to evolve the squad”
- Reports differDiesel Herrington is the older brother of Hull City’s Lucas Herrington.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Diesel Herrington, the younger brother of Socceroo Lucas Herrington”
- SupportedNew call-ups include Central Coast defender Diesel Herrington, Portsmouth striker Thomas Waddingham and FC St. Pauli midfielder Sam Klein.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “New call-ups are Central Coast defender Diesel Herrington, older brother of Hull City ace Lucas Herrington, Portsmouth striker Thomas Waddingham and FC St. Pauli midfielder Sam Klein.”
- SupportedDaniel Arzani returns after finding form at Ferencvaros, along with defender Gianni Stensness.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Attacker Daniel Arzani returns after finding form at Ferencvaros, along with defender Gianni Stensness (Viking FK)”