Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has insisted that veteran goalkeeper Mat Ryan's international career isn't over despite leaving him out of the latest squad for upcoming matches against Brazil. The 34-year-old, who has been capped 105 times and recently started strongly in La Liga, is replaced by uncapped players Jacob Chapman, Patrick Beach, and Paul Izzo. Popovic maintains that Ryan remains an important part of Australian football and his omission is not permanent, while emphasizing the need to assess other goalkeepers.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Tony Popovic, coach of the Socceroos, has called up seven uncapped players for upcoming friendly matches against Brazil in Brisbane on September 25 and Townsville on September 28. Among the new faces are 25-year-old goalkeeper Jacob Chapman from St Mirren, and untested defender Kasey Bos, brother of injured star Jordan Bos. Despite this fresh influx of talent, veteran keeper Mat Ryan, who has made 105 appearances for Australia, remains uncapped for these matches despite a strong start to the La Liga season with Levante. Popovic insists that while he's committed to developing younger prospects like Chapman, the door is not closed on Ryan’s career. Ryan lost his starting spot to Patrick Beach at the recent World Cup and was surprisingly substituted during the penalty shootout against Egypt.
Written for “Socceroos Roster Updates” on 2026-09-18,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Mat Ryan's Socceroos days are not over, coach Tony Popovic insists, despite the decorated captain being left out of his first squad since the World Cup.
asserted
captain → insist → Cup
Ryan is the most eyebrow-raising omission from Popovic's squad, which includes seven uncapped players, for games against Brazil in Brisbane on September 25 and Townsville on September 28.
asserted
which → raise → September
The 34-year-old lost his starting spot to young goalkeeper Patrick Beach at the World Cup, then was bizarrely substituted on for the round-of-32 penalty shootout against Egypt.
asserted
old → lose → Egypt
The Socceroos skipper, capped 105 times, said after that loss he was only told he might replace Beach as extra time kicked off, though Popovic has since insisted Ryan knew that was a possibility pre-match.
uncertain
that → cap → Beach
Levante goalkeeper Ryan has been omitted despite a strong start to the La Liga season.
asserted
Ryan → omit → season
"We know what Maty Ryan is to Australian football," Popovic said.
"
asserted
Popovic → know → football
A player that has a distinguished career, continues to have one, over 100 caps.
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that → have → one
"But we'd like to have a look at another keeper."
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we → like → keeper
Pressed on how Ryan, who the Socceroos boss also dropped in his first games in charge in 2024, had taken the omission, Popovic said: "He's good.
"
asserted
He → press → omission
He's the ultimate professional that he is, and that's why he's had such a distinguished career.
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he → have → career
He's still available for us, and he's certainly not out of the picture moving forward."
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he → move → picture
Uncapped St Mirren goalkeeper Jacob Chapman replaces Ryan, joining Beach and Paul Izzo in the squad.
Untried left-back Kasey Bos, younger brother of injured star Jordan Bos, has been called up along with fellow untested defender Dylan Leonard, 19.
asserted
Bos → replace → Leonard
Former A-League sensations Marcus Younis (Brondby IF) and Eli Adams (Gamba Osaka) earn maiden call-ups alongside Kealey Adamson (QPR), Chapman and Yaya Dukuly (NK Celje) after impressive stints overseas.
asserted
Younis → earn → stints
"They've been rewarded for the hard work they've put in to get an opportunity overseas," Popovic said.
"
asserted
Popovic → reward → opportunity
They've had to go through the struggles when you go outside of your comfort zone.
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you → have → zone
You go through the ups and downs; not playing, playing, injuries, and that helps you grow.
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you → go → ups
"And these players get mentally tougher; they know how to handle the difficult situations in games, and I believe they all deserve an opportunity."
Sixteen players from the 26-man World Cup squad return.
asserted
players → get → squad
Cristian Volpato (hamstring) is sidelined with injury.
asserted
Volpato → sideline → injury
The Sassuolo attacker was last week fined $722 for driving with cocaine in his system in July.
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attacker → fin → July
Volpato has maintained his innocence and will challenge the charges in court.
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Volpato → maintain → court
Riley McGree and Patrick Yazbek return after missing the World Cup through injury while Alex Robertson has been recalled.
asserted
Robertson → return → injury
Cameron Devlin, Nishan Velupillay, Mathew Leckie, Ajdin Hrustic, Kai Trewin and Awer Mabil have been omitted.
asserted
Devlin → omit → ?
The Socceroos could have played up to four games this window but have settled for two, which Popovic said allowed players to get back to their clubs.
uncertain
players → play → clubs
"We feel that with the games in November, we'll be ready for the Asian Cup," he said.
asserted
he → feel → Cup
The Aporia
