Mathew Leckie and the Socceroos’ Path to World Cup Glory
Mathew Leckie, a seasoned player with a history of making significant contributions to Australian football, is once again at the heart of a young and promising Socceroos squad. Having been part of the team that stunned the world in Qatar, Leckie now looks to build on that success with a new generation of talent, including Nestory Irankunda and Cristian Volpato. With their inclusion, there’s a growing sense that this Socceroos team has the potential to achieve even greater things.
Leckie, who famously scored the decisive goal against Denmark in 2022, is set to make his fourth appearance at the FIFA World Cup. As Australia prepares for its Group D matches, the Socceroos will face Turkey in Vancouver on June 14, followed by games against the United States in Seattle on June 20 and Paraguay in Santa Clara on June 26 (all dates AEST). Despite being underdogs, Leckie remains optimistic about the team’s chances.
“The belief’s always been there, I think it’s a big driver in what we do,” Leckie said. “Away from the change room and everyone here, a lot of people expect us to finish bottom of our group, and it was the case in Qatar. But we’re very aware that if you put two sheets of paper in front of the teams, on paper the other teams are probably stronger.”
However, Leckie believes that the collective strength of the Socceroos is what sets them apart. “But I think us as a collective is the reason why we always can compete, and were able to do what we did in Qatar. And we don’t see why it should be any different here, and we also think we can do the same, if not better this time around.”
Leckie, along with captain Maty Ryan, will join Tim Cahill and Mark Milligan as the only four-time World Cup participants for the Socceroos. Reflecting on this achievement, Leckie said, “It’s quite unbelievable to be in the same position as players like them. So it’s something that I probably can look back on in the future and be super proud of, but there’s still a long way to go.”
At 35, Leckie recently returned to international duty after a challenging injury period, playing his first match since June 2024 in a 1-0 loss to Mexico. During his absence, he had the opportunity to get to know some of the younger players who have emerged or solidified their positions, such as Irankunda, Mohamed Toure, and Lucas Herrington.
“I’ve enjoyed getting to know them, and they’re obviously super-talented players, doing well, even overseas,” Leckie said. “Sometimes when you’re young, you just go into a tournament like this, there’s not very little thought, and it’s just you go out and do your thing. That can be the key, I guess, not overthink things, and just go out there.”
Irankunda and Volpato were among the standout performers during an engaging attacking drill at Monday’s training session. Dynamo Irankunda demonstrated his quality with powerful shooting and quick bursts, while uncapped striker Tete Yengi and Volpato also played key roles. The 20-year-old had a momentary scare when he slipped, favoring his left foot before stepping off the field briefly. However, he soon returned and continued where he left off.
Sassuolo winger Volpato made his debut with the team following his defection from Italy, showcasing flashes of his class on the ball. “Obviously just today, but he looked really good, sharp, tidy,” Leckie remarked. “So he’s another left footer addition, which is always nice. So, yeah, it’ll be interesting to see.”
Players who started against Mexico were involved in the early stages of training before sitting out the second half ahead of this Saturday’s friendly against Switzerland in San Diego.
