New Socceroos coach Popovic confident in saving bid to reach World Cup

Former Crystal Palace defender Tony Popovic insisted Monday there is plenty of time to save Australia's faltering 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, after he was appointed the new head coach of the Socceroos.

The 51-year-old took over from Graham Arnold, who stepped down last week after overseeing a shock 1-0 home defeat to Bahrain, followed by a scoreless draw with Indonesia, in this month's Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers for the 2026 global competition in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Those results left Australia's World Cup qualification hanging in the balance, with a must-win home game against winless China looming on October 10, before a tough away contest in Japan.

The Socceroos need to finish in the top two of their six-team group to guarantee a spot at the 2026 World Cup in North America, or potentially face another round of qualifying.

"This campaign hasn't started the best, but I know there's enough time, there's enough games," Popovic said after signing a two-year deal. "You know, we should be aiming for top spot to go through automatically."

Australia have qualified for the last five World Cups, reaching the round of 16 in Qatar in 2022. They were on fire earlier this year in the second stage of Asian qualifying, claiming six straight victories without conceding a goal.

But they were a shadow of their former selves against Bahrain and Indonesia.

Popovic, who had been out of work since leaving Melbourne Victory following their A-League grand final loss in May, said "that's football."

"Results can sometimes mask when something is good," he continued. "Look at the history of what's been done, a group of players that did remarkable things over there (in Qatar). I understand the responsibility that's required and the expectation of everyone."

Football Australia chief James Johnson called Popovic "the best possible candidate."

"Tony's proven leadership and strategic football acumen combined with his deep understanding of Australian football, our players, and what it means to be a Socceroo, makes him the ideal choice to lead our national team moving forward," he said. "His international experience, particularly across Asia, both as a player and a coach, further strengthens his ability to navigate the global football landscape and drive success for Australia on the world stage."