Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic announced the inclusion of Cristian Volpato, a 22-year-old attacking midfielder who previously represented Italy at the under-21 level, in the 26-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Volpato, who was born in Sydney and currently plays for Sassuolo in Italy's Serie A, made a significant switch to represent Australia just a week before the tournament. He joins fellow uncapped player Tete Yengi, a striker based in Japan. The squad is captained by experienced goalkeeper Mat Ryan, who is set to make his fourth World Cup appearance, alongside Melbourne City forward Mathew Leckie, who is also a veteran of the tournament. Popovic acknowledged the tough decisions involved in finalizing the squad, especially after the injury to Middlesbrough midfielder Riley McGree, which opened the door for Volpato. Australia, competing in their sixth consecutive World Cup, will face Turkey, co-hosts the United States, and Paraguay in Group D.