Australia returns to a familiar place in Qatar, where they made a historical run to the knockouts of the FIFA World Cup 2022, for the AFC Asian Cup 2024. The 2015 winners will be aiming for a second title with the Socceroos drawn in Group B of the tournament alongside India, Syria and Uzbekistan. Their campaign starts against the Blue Tigers on 13th January 2024 in the opening group stage game at Al Rayyan in Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. The players selected for the Asian Cup 2024 will assemble for a tournament pre-camp in Abu-Dhabi on 1st January 2024.
Australia Squad for Asian Cup 2024
Goalkeepers: Joe Gauci (Adelaide United), Mat Ryan (AZ Alkmaar), Lawrence Thomas (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Defenders: Harry Souttar (Leicester City), Kye Rowles (Hearts), Cameron Burgess (Ipswich Town), Nathaniel Atkinson (Hearts), Thomas Deng (Albirex Niigata), Jordy Bos (Westerlo), Aziz Behich (Melbourne City), Lewis Miller (Hibernian), Gethin Jones (Bolton Wanderers)
Midfielders: Keanu Baccus (St Mirren), Aiden O'Neill (Standard Liege), Jackson Irvine (St Pauli), Connor Metcalfe (St Pauli), Riley McGree (Middlesbrough), Patrick Yazbek, (Viking FK)
Forwards: Craig Goodwin (Al Wehda), Martin Boyle (Hibernian), Marco Tilio (Celtic), John Iredale (SV Wehen Wiesbaden), Kusini Yengi (Portsmouth), Bruno Fornaroli (Melbourne Victory), Mitchell Duke (FC Machida Zelvia)
Head Coach: Graham Arnold
The Australia squad has retained most of its players who visited Qatar last year for the World Cup. However, Melbourne City duo Jamie Maclaren and Matthew Leckie have been left out of the squad with the latter suffering from a hamstring injury. Bruno Fornaroli, who has scored 12 goals in just 8 matches for Melbourne Victory this season, has been selected among the forwards instead. His position alike John Iredale and defender Gethin Jones are poised to earn their first international cap. Nathaniel Atkinson and Riley McGree have returned to the squad following injuries as is goalkeeper Mat Ryan after recently going through surgery on a fractured cheekbone.
Australia Fixtures for Asian Cup 2024
Saturday, 13 January 2024
Australia v India - Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
Thursday, 18 January 2024
Syria v Australia - Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Australia v Uzbekistan - Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Australia have faced all three opponents in their group previously in their Asian Cup history. The Socceroos will face India for the second time with the last meeting ending in a huge 4-0 victory in their favour. The game played in the 2011 edition was the tournament opener for both the teams back then as well. Australia faced Syria once before in the tournament only four years ago in UAE. They also face Uzbekistan in the same edition whom they beat on penalties in the last-16 to secure a quarterfinal berth and secured their biggest victory against in the tournament, 6-0 in 2011.
