Australia head coach Tony Popovic has suggested that James Overy, the highly rated 18-year-old Manchester United defender, could earn a place in the Socceroos’ 2026 World Cup squad, despite having yet to make a senior club appearance.
Overy has been named in Australia’s squad for upcoming friendlies against Venezuela and Colombia, as Popovic continues to assess emerging talent ahead of next year’s tournament in North America.
“He’s worth having a look at,” Popovic told reporters. “I’m very open-minded about what that looks like for both the immediate future and the long term.”
The right-back impressed during last month’s Under-20 World Cup in Chile, where he showcased his composure and tactical maturity beyond his years. Although Overy is yet to feature for Manchester United’s senior side, his performances at youth level and his growing presence in first-team training have caught the attention of both club and country.
“Watching him closely in Chile, I was impressed,” Popovic said. “We have good contacts at Manchester United, so we know what he’s doing in training—how often he works with the first team and the progress he’s making with the under-18s and under-21s.”
Popovic’s comments underline the Australian Football Federation’s renewed focus on integrating young overseas-based players early into the national setup, ensuring they gain experience within the Socceroos environment ahead of major tournaments.
Australia will face Venezuela on Friday in Houston, Texas, before taking on Colombia in New York next week. Both fixtures will serve as key testing grounds as Popovic experiments with his options and looks to strengthen depth across all positions.
Overy is one of seven uncapped players included in the squad, reflecting Popovic’s strategy to blend established names with emerging prospects. Another notable inclusion is Al Hassan Toure, the 25-year-old Sydney FC forward and older brother of Socceroos striker Mohamed Toure.
Al Hassan recently netted a hat-trick in the A-League, earning praise from national team staff for his pace and physicality.
“He’s a little bit different to what we’ve got,” Popovic explained. “We want to see how he adapts in our environment. He didn’t have the best pre-season in terms of fitness, but he’s shown glimpses of real potential. Whether it’s for this World Cup or the next, he’s definitely one for the future.”
As the Socceroos continue their preparations, Popovic’s willingness to trust youth signals a new era for Australian football—one where promising talents like James Overy could make the leap from academy prospect to World Cup stage within a single season.
