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Looking to place a bet on Australia at the 2026 World Cup? You have come to the right place. This page provides a comprehensive wrap of all things Australia for the World Cup of Soccer: result history, statistical analysis, future matches and most importantly, the best odds and lines from a variety of top online sportsbooks. Review tournament performance, plan for upcoming fixtures and place your wager with confidence right here.
Australia’s World Cup 2026 Standings
Australia is the second team in Group C, which also includes France, Peru and Denmark. Below you will find their current tournament standings, updated after every matchday.
Australia’s Odds To Win The World Cup
Australia is ranked outside of the world’s top thirty teams, are short of a genuine striker and are without a coach, so naturally, they are huge outsiders to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Sports Interaction is offering odds of +30000 for them to win the tournament, however, if you would rather not throw your money away there are plenty of other lines that would be much more appropriate to place a bet on.
We believe Australia will defeat Peru, however, they will struggle against their strong European opponents France and Denmark and fall short of the second round. If they can manage a draw against either team they may be in with a chance though, and they have managed to progress with four points before.
Australia is paying +300 to make it out of Group C, which isn’t the worst possible wager, although Sports Interaction is giving them no chance, as indicated by the -455 on offer for them to be eliminated in the first round. Your best bet is perhaps in the match against Peru, where they will have the best chance of victory despite the likely event they will enter the match as an outsider.
Either way, Australia is certainly going to make for intriguing viewing at the World Cup, and with so many opportunities to place a wager, you’ll certainly be on the edge of your seat throughout the tournament.
Australia’s Squad & Key Players
All teams must declare a 30 man squad for the World Cup by the middle of May, while the final 23 man squads don’t have to be finalized until the first week of June, just days prior to the tournament start date. We will update you when the team sheets are announced, but first, let’s take a look at some of the most important players in the Australian team and who we think will play a big part in the competition.
Mat Ryan (Goalkeeper)
It won’t be easy to fill the boots of former keeper Mark Schwarzer, who boasted a fantastic career in both the English Premier League and for the Socceroos, however, Mat Ryan is certainly on the right track. A product of the Australian A-League, Ryan has had spells with Belgian and Spanish teams and is now between the sticks for Brighton & Hove Albion, facing strikers like Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku and Gabriel Jesus on a regular basis.
Ryan heads a list of strong Australian goalkeepers, which is probably the nation’s strongest position alongside their midfield. He has great feet and is an awesome shot-stopper, and will be the key to Australia grinding out the results they need against more-favoured opposition.
Tom Rogic (Midfielder)
The Celtic man hasn’t always been the first on the team sheet for Ange Postecoglou, however with the coach now gone he should definitely be starting. His initial good form for the Scottish club has wavered slightly in recent times, but on form, he is one of the best midfielders going around, with a peach of a left boot that isn’t shy to unleash from long range.
Aaron Mooy (Midfielder)
Establishing himself as the country’s best player is Aaron Mooy, who is another product of the homegrown competition. First recognized by Manchester City, Mooy is composure personified, and simply takes the right option at the right time, which is the perfect trait for an attacking midfielder. Mooy can cut open defences with his passing game and is also fantastic at keeping the ball away from opponents. Importantly, he is improving year on year and his experience with Huddersfield in the EPL will be vital to Australia’s success.
Tim Cahill (Striker)
He will be 38 years old when the tournament kicks off, but the talisman of all four World Cup campaigns this century will once again play a key role for the Australians in Russia. With over fifty goals for his country, he is easily Australia’s best ever outfield player, and if he can manage to score in Russia, he will become just the third player in history to have scored in four World Cups, after Germany’s Miroslav Klose and Brazilian legend Pele.
At the time of writing, Cahill was still looking for a club after leaving Melbourne City to gain more playing time. It is crucial that he can maintain form and fitness prior to the cup, so all eyes will be on his next move.
The Coach – Ange Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou led the Australians to the 2015 Asian Cup glory on home soil, and also managed to manoeuvre his country (eventually) to Russia, however, called it quits not long after the final game against Honduras. At the time of writing, Australia is yet to appoint a successor, with a list of local and international names linked to the role.
Australia’s World Cup 2026 Lineup
Australia’s latest international was played against Honduras on November 15th, 2017. The full lineup was as follows.
Starting Lineup (3-2-3-2): Mat Ryan (Brighton & Hove Albion) – Bailey Wright (Bristol City), Trent Sainsbury (Jiangsu Suning), Matt Jurman (Suwon Samsung Bluewings) – Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Mile Jedinak (Aston Villa) – Matthew Leckie (Hertha Berlin), Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town), Aziz Behich (Bursaspor), Tom Rogic (Celtic), Tim Cahill (Free Agent).
Reserves:
Josh Risdon, Massimo Luongo, Jackson Irvine, Tom Juric, Milos Degenek, Alex Gersbach, James Troisi, Nikita Rukavytsya, Danny Vukovic, Ryan McGowan, Mitch Langerak, Robbie Kruse.
Australia’s FIFA World Cup History
Australia will be making their fifth appearance at a FIFA World Cup when they travel to Russia in June, which will also be their fourth consecutive tournament. The country is still ranked as one of the outsiders when compared to the traditional football powerhouses like England, France, Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Spain, although the Socceroos have come a long way in the 21st century.
Their first-ever World Cup appearance came in the 1974 event hosted by West Germany, and the Aussies were placed in one of the toughest groups that included both the hosts, East Germany and Chile. Colin Curran was the first Australian to score at a World Cup, however, it was into his own net, as they finished up with two losses and a draw without troubling the scoresheet at the right end.
Australia had to wait 32 years before they returned to the world’s premier footballing tournament, and they did so in dramatic fashion. As part of the Oceanian Confederation (OFC), Australia needed to overcome a difficult home and away tie against Uruguay, the fifth-best South American side and two-time champions of the tournament.
After a 1-0 scoreline to the home side in each leg, the second match in Sydney went to extra time and penalties, and over 80,000 Aussies rejoiced as goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer made two incredible saves and John Aloisi scored the winning spot-kick.
At the 2006 tournament, Australia recorded their first goal (scored by Tim Cahill), their first win (in the same match against Japan), and their first and only appearance in the second round after a draw against Croatia saw them through. They were cruelly eliminated by a contentious penalty in stoppage time against eventual champions Italy, although this remains their best finish at a World Cup.
Australia did end up with the same points tally in the 2010 tournament in South Africa but was crippled by goal difference after a 4-0 opening loss to a strong German side and Ghana progressed at their expense. 2014 was their poorest showing to date, as they lost all three games in a strong group against Chile and both 2010 finalists Spain and the Netherlands. The silver lining was Tim Cahill, who joined an elite group who have scored in three World Cups.
Since 2010, the qualification has become slightly easier for the green and gold as they are now part of the Asian Confederation (AFC). However, their 2018 campaign did not go to plan as they finished behind Japan (by one point) and Saudi Arabia (on goal difference) in their final group. Play-off victories against Syria and Honduras confirmed their place in Russia, making them easily the most travelled side at the upcoming tournament.
