Maty Ryan Dropped from Socceroos Squad for Brazil Matches

Maty Ryan has been dropped from the Socceroos squad altogether, as Tony Popovic swings hard towards the future for Australia’s first matches since the World Cup – and two high-profile clashes with Brazil.

The national captain, 34 and in strong form with Levante in La Liga, is the headline omission from a squad that includes seven uncapped players and a raft of bold selection calls.

Ryan out, Beach stays, Chapman in

Ryan’s international status has hovered in uncertainty since the World Cup. He lost his starting place to Patrick Beach during the tournament, only to be thrown on in bizarre fashion for the round-of-32 penalty shootout against Egypt.

After that defeat, Ryan revealed he was only told he might replace Beach as extra time began. Popovic has since insisted the goalkeeper knew that scenario was on the table before kick-off. The debate hasn’t cooled, and now the coach has made his most decisive move yet: Ryan is out completely.

In his place, uncapped St Mirren keeper Jacob Chapman comes in, joining Beach and Paul Izzo as the three goalkeepers for the September fixtures in Brisbane (25 September) and Townsville (28 September). Chapman is one of seven players yet to make their senior debut.

New faces, new edge

The squad list reads like a statement. Popovic is not tinkering; he is reshaping.

Untried left-back Kasey Bos, younger brother of injured star Jordan Bos, has been called into another camp as the coaching staff accelerate his integration. He is joined by fellow uncapped defender Dylan Leonard, just 19, who continues his rapid rise.

Former A-League livewires Marcus Younis (now at Brondby IF) and Eli Adams (Gamba Osaka) have earned maiden call-ups, rewarded for their progress abroad. Kealey Adamson (QPR), Chapman and Yaya Dukuly (NK Celje) complete the group of new faces.

Sixteen members of the 26-man World Cup squad return, providing a spine of continuity around the fresh blood.

Injuries, absences and a changing core

The reshaped list is not only about form and philosophy. Injuries have bitten into the core of the side.

Star left-back Jordan Bos (knee) and central defender Cam Burgess (achilles) are both unavailable. Cristian Volpato is sidelined with a hamstring injury, and his name will draw attention for another reason: Popovic is set to speak publicly for the first time since the Sassuolo attacker was fined last week for driving with cocaine in his system in July. Volpato has maintained his innocence and will challenge the charges in court.

There is good news in midfield. Riley McGree and Patrick Yazbek both return after missing the World Cup through injury, while Alex Robertson has been recalled to add creativity and control.

Others fall away. Cameron Devlin, Nishan Velupillay, Mathew Leckie, Ajdin Hrustic, Kai Trewin and Awer Mabil are all omitted. Aziz Behich stands alone as the only A-League Men representative in the squad, a stark snapshot of where Popovic believes the national team’s core now lies.

Popovic’s plan: Brazil, then Asia

Popovic did not hide the stakes.

“We are looking forward to coming together for the first time since the Fifa World Cup 2026,” he said in a statement. “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 in. Every minute against Brazil will count.

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

A captain left at home. Seven players chasing a first cap. Brazil waiting on Australian soil. Popovic has made his bet on what comes next; now the question is whether this new-look Socceroos side can grow up fast enough before the Asian Cup arrives.