Maty Ryan Omitted from Socceroos Squad for Brazil Matches

Maty Ryan has been dumped from the Socceroos squad altogether, as Tony Popovic rips into a new cycle with a bold, youth-heavy group for September’s clashes with Brazil.

The national captain, a mainstay for more than a decade, is out. Seven uncapped players are in. And Australia’s first squad since the World Cup looks and feels like a hard reset.

Ryan out, Beach in – and a new No 3

Ryan’s omission is the headline call. The 34-year-old Levante keeper has started the La Liga season strongly, yet finds himself on the outside looking in after a turbulent World Cup.

In Qatar, Ryan lost his starting spot to Patrick Beach, then was thrown back into the spotlight in bizarre fashion – substituted on solely for the penalty shootout in the round-of-32 defeat to Egypt. After the loss, Ryan said he was only told as extra time began that he might replace Beach if it went to penalties. Popovic later insisted the keeper knew that scenario was on the table before kick-off.

Now Beach stays, Ryan goes, and a fresh face arrives.

Uncapped St Mirren goalkeeper Jacob Chapman replaces Ryan in the squad, joining Beach and Paul Izzo for the two-game series against Brazil in Brisbane on 25 September and Townsville on 28 September. Chapman is one of seven players yet to debut at senior level.

New blood everywhere

Popovic has not tinkered around the edges. He has swung.

Untried left-back Kasey Bos – younger brother of injured star Jordan Bos – is back in camp and still chasing a first cap. He is joined by fellow uncapped defender Dylan Leonard, just 19, as the back line gets a sharp injection of youth.

Higher up the pitch, a cluster of former A-League livewires get their chance on the international stage. Marcus Younis, now at Brondby IF, and Eli Adams of Gamba Osaka both earn maiden call-ups. Kealey Adamson (QPR) steps into the defensive mix, while Chapman and winger Yaya Dukuly (NK Celje) round out the list of fresh faces.

Sixteen members of the 26-man World Cup squad return, giving the group a familiar spine, but the message is clear: places are no longer guaranteed.

Big absences and a looming Asian Cup

Injuries have forced change as well. Star left-back Jordan Bos is sidelined with a knee issue, and central defender Cam Burgess misses out with an achilles problem. Creative attacker Cristian Volpato is unavailable due to a hamstring injury.

Volpato’s situation hangs over this camp for another reason. The Sassuolo attacker was last week fined for driving with cocaine in his system in July, allegations he denies and will contest in court. Popovic is set to speak publicly for the first time since that case emerged.

There is some good news in midfield. Riley McGree and Patrick Yazbek return after missing the World Cup through injury, while Alex Robertson is recalled as Popovic looks to re-energise the engine room ahead of the Asian Cup.

Others fall away. Cameron Devlin, Nishan Velupillay, Mathew Leckie, Ajdin Hrustic, Kai Trewin and Awer Mabil are all omitted. Domestically, the representation is thin: Aziz Behich stands as the only A-League Men player in the squad.

Popovic made his intent plain in a statement.

“We are looking forward to coming together for the first time since the Fifa World Cup 2026,” he said. “We have picked a squad with an eye on the Asian Cup and an eye on the future, and it’s a great opportunity for us to continue growing as a team.

“We are also very excited to be playing at home for the first time since March in what are two crucial matches for us, against Brazil, the most successful team in Fifa World Cup history.

“We will only have two camps and four matches before we select our Asian Cup squad, so these matches are critical for us in preparation for our next major tournament.”

Two camps. Four games. Then the Asian Cup squad is locked.

For Ryan, on the outside for now, and for a wave of hopeful debutants, the stakes could hardly be higher.

Australia squad to face Brazil

• Goalkeepers: Patrick Beach, Jacob Chapman*, Paul Izzo
• Defenders: Kealey Adamson*, Aziz Behich, Kasey Bos*, Alessandro Circati, Milos Degenek, Jason Geria, Lucas Herrington, Jacob Italiano, Dylan Leonard*, Harry Souttar
• Midfielders: Jackson Irvine, Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O’Neill, Paul Okon-Engstler, Alexander Robertson, Patrick Yazbek
• Forwards: Eli Adams*, Yaya Dukuly*, Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure, Tete Yengi, Marcus Younis*

*Denotes uncapped