The coach Tony Popovic has renewed his contract with the Australian national team and will continue in his role until the 2027 Asian Cup, the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) announced this Friday, on the eve of the debut in the 2026 World Cup. “It is a position that gives me immense satisfaction, but I have never considered it guaranteed. My absolute focus right now is the World Cup. I am proud to lead my country, but above all, I want to ensure that the team is fully prepared and focused for the group stage matches,” said the coach, in statements reproduced by the organization. Tony Popovic, 52, succeeded Graham Arnold in September 2024 and qualified Australia for the main international tournament for national teams for the seventh time, and sixth in a row, avoiding the need for the Socceroos to go through the Asian and intercontinental playoffs, as had happened in 2018 and 2022. The former central defender has achieved ten wins, four draws, and four losses in charge of Australia and will become the first to compete in the World Cup as both a player and coach for his country, 20 years after participating in reaching the Round of 16 in Germany. The Australians are in Group D of the 2026 World Cup and will face Turkey on Saturday in Vancouver, Canada, followed by matches against co-hosts the United States in Seattle and Paraguay in San Francisco Bay. After the 2026 World Cup, Tony Popovic will lead Australia in the Asian Cup, which takes place from January to February 2027 in Saudi Arabia, with the Socceroos looking to reclaim a trophy won in 2015 as hosts.
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