English based Australians Daniel Bennie and Raphael Borges Rodrigues will get their chance to make a late run for World Cup selection, having been called up by Tony Popovic to join the training pre-camp in Sarasota, Florida – their first call-ups to the senior national side.
Queens Park Rangers’ Bennie and Wigan’s Borges Rodrigues, on loan from recently promoted Coventry City, join Harry Souttar (Leicester City), Hayden Matthews (Portsmouth), Anthony Caceres (Macarthur FC), Mitch Duke (Macarthur FC), Brandon Borrello (Western Sydney), Nick D’Agostino (Brisbane Roar), Nishan Velupillay (Melbourne Victory) and Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City), who are already in camp after their selection last week.
In addition to the two uncapped youngsters, players who have ended their seasons in Australia, Netherlands and in the English Football League will also head straight to the States.
The duo will join Cameron Burgess (Swansea City), Mohamed Toure (Norwich City), Nestory Irankunda (Watford), Alex Robertson (Cardiff City) and Joe Gauci (Port Vale, on loan from Aston Villa), who have been chosen from the English Football Leagues, while Melbourne City’s Aziz Behich and Patrick Beach and Heracles Almelo playmaker Ajdin Hrustic are also selected.
Daniel Bennie’s first Championship goal was a STUNNER
Bennie joined QPR from Perth Glory ahead of last season after bursting onto the scene in the A-League, featuring in all but two matches in the league following a pre-season goal against Premier League side West Ham.
After opening his account with the above magnificent strike in the Championship, Bennie’s coach quipped: “He has scored like this during training sessions and I said at the end of the game ‘Okay, now you are able to do that as well during the game!’
“It’s tough for him. He’s a young player, very good mindset, came on with a lot of intensity and good quality,” Julien Stephan said.
After struggling to break into the squad for the first half of the season, 2026 has been more productive for the 20-year-old, who has five goals and an assist across all competitions.
Borges Rodrigues, meanwhile, earns his first call up in the same month his parent club, Coventry, earned promotion to the Premier League.
Speaking to football360.com.au earlier this season, the former A-League winger, son of former Adelaide United striker Cristiano, said playing for the national team would be a ‘dream come true’: “I just have to keep working hard, keep playing and hopefully one day that call will come,” he said.
Interestingly, at a time Popovic is looking for depth in the right wingback position, Borges Rodrigues has been transformed into that role at times for the League One club.
Aussie young gun Raphael Borges Rodrigues explains how Frank Lampard has ‘helped’ since he landed at Coventry City.
“I’m enjoying playing as a wing-back,” he told football360.com.au.
“If in the future I need to go to a club or with a manager that plays five at the back, then it’s good to have this year of experience that I’m doing now under my belt.
“I’m just kind of taking it as a learning experience and adding it to my game for the future if I do need it.”
Of the A-League contingent, it is a second batch of players called that does not include in form Melbourne City flyer Marcus Younis, however this squad will continue to be added to in the coming days and weeks as Popovic refines his selection down to 26 players by the 1 June cut-off.
Last week, speaking to Australian media, the Socceroos boss outlined how this camp is both an opportunity for the likes of A-League based players to put their case forward and maintain fitness while their seasons are finished, while also giving players who have had arduous seasons some extra time to recover.
Decisions on selections will loom large as the build-up to the June 1 deadline continues, with the final hit-out prior against Mexico at Los Angeles’ famous Rose Bowl Stadium on May 30.
ANALYSIS: Six words that show Popovic wants to pick Leckie: so who misses out and where does he play?
DEFENDER: Popovic explains trait ‘you can’t buy’ that has Souttar primed for World Cup deja vu
VETERAN: The reason behind Leckie’s shock Socceroos call: ‘A young player can’t do that’
EXPLAINED: Why Younis was NOT in list for Socceroos’ World Cup pre-camp – and could still be picked
CONCERN: Injury scare for key Socceroo as coach reveals ‘World Cup ambassador’ will sit out rest of season
Key Socceroos dates
May 5: Pre-camp in Sarasota commenced
May 30: Friendly – Mexico v Australia, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Los Angeles
May 31: Arrive at base camp in Oakland, Alameda
June 1: FIFA World Cup 2026 squads announced
June 6: Friendly – Switzerland v Australia, Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
June 13: Australia v Türkiye, BC Place, Vancouver
June 19: USA v Australia, Seattle Stadium, Seattle
June 25: Paraguay v Australia, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara
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