Maty Ryan Dropped from Socceroos Squad for Brazil Friendlies
Maty Ryan has been dumped from the Socceroos squad, with coach Tony Popovic swinging the axe on his captain and turning to a wave of fresh faces for Australia’s September friendlies against Brazil.
The 34-year-old Levante goalkeeper, in strong form in La Liga, has been left out entirely for the first camp since the World Cup, where his status as No 1 was already under siege. Ryan lost his starting spot at the tournament to Patrick Beach, then was thrown into the chaos of the round‑of‑32 penalty shootout against Egypt in one of the most debated calls of Popovic’s reign.
Ryan later revealed he was only told he might replace Beach as extra time began. Popovic has since maintained the veteran knew the plan before kick-off. Either way, that uneasy episode now feels like a turning point. This squad list underlines it.
New blood, old guard trimmed
Uncapped St Mirren keeper Jacob Chapman comes in for Ryan and joins Beach and Paul Izzo as the three goalkeepers. Chapman is one of seven uncapped players named for the two home clashes with Brazil, in Brisbane on 25 September and Townsville on 28 September.
The overhaul does not stop in goal. At left-back, 19-year-old Kasey Bos – younger brother of injured star Jordan Bos – is called up again, still waiting for a first cap. He is joined by another untested defender in 19-year-old Dylan Leonard, as Popovic leans hard into youth at the back.
The coach has also cracked open the door for a group of former A-League livewires now making their way in Europe and Asia. Marcus Younis (Brondby IF) and Eli Adams (Gamba Osaka) both earn maiden call-ups, as does Kealey Adamson from QPR. Chapman and Yaya Dukuly of NK Celje complete the list of fresh faces.
Sixteen players from the 26-man World Cup squad survive the cull. Plenty do not.
Cameron Devlin, Nishan Velupillay, Mathew Leckie, Ajdin Hrustic, Kai Trewin and Awer Mabil are all omitted. In a further sign of the shifting landscape, Aziz Behich stands alone as the only A-League Men player in the entire squad.
Injuries and off-field shadows
Popovic’s hand has been forced in key areas. Jordan Bos is sidelined with a knee injury, while central defender Cam Burgess misses out with an achilles problem, stripping Australia of two pillars from the left side of their defence.
Cristian Volpato is also unavailable with a hamstring issue, though his absence comes with extra scrutiny. The Sassuolo attacker was last week fined for driving with cocaine in his system in July. Volpato insists he is innocent and will challenge the charges in court. Popovic is set to address the matter publicly for the first time in this camp.
There is better news in midfield. Riley McGree and Patrick Yazbek return after injuries kept them out of the World Cup, restoring two energetic options in the centre of the park. Alex Robertson is also recalled as the Socceroos’ creative stocks get a timely boost.
Brazil, the Asian Cup and a narrowing window
Popovic made no attempt to hide the stakes in a statement announcing the squad.
“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.”
Australia’s opponents offer no soft landing. Brazil, the most successful team in World Cup history, arrive for two matches that will test the resilience of the Socceroos’ new generation and the resolve of those clinging to their places.
“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,” Popovic said. “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.”
The message is blunt: the audition window is almost shut. For Ryan, it may already be closed. For Beach, Chapman and a clutch of uncapped hopefuls, Brazil is not just a glamour opponent. It is the stage on which they can seize a spot on the plane to the Asian Cup – and perhaps redraw the hierarchy of this Socceroos era.
Australia squad vs 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*
*Uncapped
