Australia's national football team has officially appointed Tony Popovic as the new head coach, following the resignation of Graham Arnold on September 20, 2024. Arnold's departure came after a disappointing start to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where the Socceroos suffered a 1-0 loss to Bahrain and managed only a scoreless draw against Indonesia. With the next crucial match against China on October 10, the urgency for a new leader has intensified [3d53a212].
Popovic, a former Crystal Palace defender with 58 caps for the Socceroos, is expected to sign a two-year deal with Football Australia. He previously led the Western Sydney Wanderers to an Asian Champions League title in 2014 and has been without a coaching position since leaving Melbourne Victory in May 2024. His experience and familiarity with the team make him a promising choice as they aim to secure a spot in the World Cup [3d53a212].
The Socceroos currently sit five points behind Japan in Group C, with only the top two teams qualifying for the World Cup. CEO James Johnson had previously ruled out interim appointments, emphasizing the need for a permanent solution, which has now been achieved with Popovic's appointment [b08c3872].
In a broader context, the international football landscape is also seeing significant developments as teams prepare for various tournaments. Coaches across Europe are making critical decisions as they navigate the Round of 16 in Euro 2024, while Ukraine's national team grapples with a COVID-19 outbreak affecting their squad ahead of a qualifier against Switzerland [3f19156d].