Socceroos squad announced for men’s World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia

Football Australia has confirmed the Socceroos squad to take on Saudi Arabia next week as the quest to qualify for their fifth consecutive FIFA men’s World Cup continues.

The match, on November 11 at Parramatta’s Western Sydney Stadium, marks the Socceroos’ first match on home soil in more than two years, their last being a 5-0 defeat of Nepal in Canberra.

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It comes after months of negotiations between FA and the New South Wales government, as well as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which has allowed eligible players to join the team without undertaking severe quarantine restrictions.

This agreement also saw the Matildas permitted to play a two-match friendly series against Brazil in a bio-secure bubble late last month.

“The players selected for our upcoming FIFA window are brimming with excitement to return home and to play in front of Australian supporters, as well as their family and friends,” Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold said.

“The players will get so much energy from playing in front of a strong home crowd at a first-class stadium.

“With border restrictions in some locations across the nation easing, we’ve been able to welcome some Australian-based players back into the Socceroos family this window. Mathew [Leckie], Jamie [Maclaren] and Andrew [Nabbout] have all been watching our campaign from afar over the past two months, and they are thrilled with the opportunity to re-join the squad and make an impact on our qualification campaign.

“Tom Rogic, Aaron Mooy and Adam Taggart were unavailable for selection this window due to injury or quarantine, however we have developed good depth in the Socceroos over the past few years and the squad that has been selected is one that we have full belief in to perform strongly for the Australian public.”

The Socceroos’ squad for the November window includes 20 overseas-based players and four representatives from the upcoming A-League Men’s competition: Melbourne City’s Leckie, Maclaren, and Nabbout, and Sydney FC’s Rhyan Grant.

The only uncapped player is Gianni Stensness, formerly of the Central Coast Mariners, who is now playing with Viking FK in Norway.

He recently pledged his senior allegiance to Australia after also being eligible for New Zealand.

Australia will play its second match of the window against China on Tuesday, November 16 (local time) in the United Arab Emirates.

Socceroos Squad for November window