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World Cup predictions 🔥👀 With the 2026 FIFA World Cup starting in less than two weeks, plenty of supporters and pundits have placed their predictions ahead of the tournament. Three FPF contributors have had their say ahead of the world's biggest event: 👇 @IanPolska_99: Winner: Portugal 🇵🇹 Surprise: Austria 🇦🇹 Australia: R32 🇦🇺 Golden Boot: Kane 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Team to watch: Ecuador 🇪🇨 @MattOlsen294: Winner: Spain 🇪🇸 Surprise: DR Congo 🇨🇩 Australia: R32 🇦🇺 Golden Boot: Kane 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Team to watch: Jordan 🇯🇴 @rosspapadakis_: Winner: Brazil 🇧🇷 Surprise: Côte d'Ivoire 🇨🇮 Australia: R32 🇦🇺 Golden Boot: Raphinha 🇧🇷 Team to watch: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 📸: Commbank Socceroos

Opposition watch 👀🇹🇷🇺🇸🇵🇾 With the Socceroos just two weeks away from starting their 2026 FIFA World Cup run, here is a look at their opponents and their upcoming friendly matches before the tournament commences: 👇 Türkiye: vs North Macedonia 🇲🇰 (Istanbul) vs Venezuela 🇻🇪 (Miami) USA: vs Senegal 🇸🇳 (Charlotte) vs Germany 🇩🇪 (Chicago) Paraguay: vs Nicaragua 🇳🇮 (Asunción) Meanwhile the Socceroos will take on Mexico and Switzerland respectively before their opening World Cup match against Türkiye in Vancouver.

#ICYMI Chinese football takes a break and it's time to look how the Aussie managers are doing 🇨🇳🇦🇺👀 The 2026 Chinese Super League has taken a month-long pause due to the upcoming FIFA World Cup in North America. With 15 matchdays done, let's reflect on the managers who are based across China: 👇 1. Chengdu Rongcheng (John Aloisi) - 37pts (+20GD) - 3. Dalian Yingbo (Marko Rudan, assistant manager) - 22pts (-3GD) - - - 7. Zhejiang Professional (Ross Aloisi) - 17pts (-3GD) - - 10. Beijing Guoan (Nick Montgomery) - 15pts (+3GD) - - 13. Shanghai Port (Kevin Muscat) - 12pts (+2GD) - 15. (Relegation position) 16. (Relegation position) John Aloisi's Chengdu Rongcheng outfit sit 13 points clear at the top of the table and could secure Asian football for next season very early. 📸: sourced from Chengdu Rongcheng Instagram

"Australia is a country that has always had a high level of football" 🗣️🇲🇽 Ahead of the Socceroos clash against Mexico, Mexican head coach Javier Aguirre spoke to the press and gave his thoughts about the Australian men's national team 👇 "It's a team which we have seen, we have analysed," he said. "[Australia] has very important players with a lot of speed up top and this could trouble us. We are [expecting] a good match for both sides." Mexico is set to start a strong lineup against the Socceroos with Edson Alvarez, Cesar Montes, Jorge Sánchez and Luis Chavez expected to start.

An Aussie just can't stop lifting trophies in Asia 🇹🇭🇦🇺🏆 Australia international Kenny Dougall continues to lift silverware for his Buriram United side both domestically and internationally 👏 Most recently, the 33-year-old defender helped the Thai giants go back-to-back in the ASEAN Club Championship to add another trophy to their ever-growing cabinet. Dougall himself as been a significant figure for Buriram United as he features regularly in the domestic competitions and also in the Asian Champions League Elite. Here is a list of trophies Dougall has won in Buriram colours: 👇 Thai League: - 2023/24 🏆 - 2024/25 🏆 - 2025/26 🏆 Thai FA Cup: - 2024/25 🏆 Thai League Cup: - 2024/25 🏆 ASEAN Club Championship: - 2024/25 🏆 - 2025/26 🏆 📸: Buriram United

DISCUSS: Should Cristian Volpato be selected for the Socceroos final squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup? 🟢🟡🗣️ After years of controversy and selection talks, 22-year-old Cristian Volpato has been called up to Socceroos camp just before Tony Popovic submits his final 26-man squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Volpato has been on the Australian radar for a number of years and declined opportunities, most fondly before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Over the past few years, Volpato has represented Italy at a youth level numerous times from U19s to U21s. Due to the injuries of key Socceroos players, in particular Riley McGree, Tony Popovic has called up Volpato and could be included in the final squad. Here are Volpato's numbers in the @SerieA competition for @SassuoloUS: 👇🟢⚫️ - 24 games played (11 starts) - Two goals scored and four assists - An average of 44 minutes played per match 📸: sourced from Cristian Volpato Instagram

#ICYMI Australian manager Graham Arnold spoke to @CBSSportsGolazo about his time at the helm with the Iraqi men's national team and learning how to adjust in the Middle East region: 🇦🇺🇮🇶🗣️ "I had to learn very quickly how they are," Arnold said. "I couldn't change all the Iraqi boys and staff from Iraqis to Australians, I had to adjust and change my ways to the Iraqi ways in certain things. "It was a learning curve for me to go to Iraq initially where it's so hot and they have breakfast at midday, lunch at 5pm and dinner at 11pm and sometimes play their local club games at 11pm, obviously out of the sun. "I had to learn how their culture was, I felt if I didn't do that, if I didn't invest my time into [Iraq], we wouldn't have qualified."

"How did a veteran Australian coach end up as the coach of Iraq?" Graham Arnold explains his journey from Down Under to becoming the Iraq national team head coach 🇮🇶

#ICYMI A giant of Australian football returns to the national stage as @SydneyOlympicFC complete a second-half comeback to qualify for the @AustraliaCup 🔵⚪️ Last night saw one of the greatest comebacks in NSW Australia Cup preliminary round history as Sydney Olympic came back from two goals down at half-time to defeat FNSW Leagues Two side Fraser Park and qualify for the Australia Cup Round of 32 stage. Daniel Wong's 90th minute winner sees Sydney Olympic return to the national stage for the first time since 2021 and despite sitting last on the @NPLNSW Men's ladder, this could be the spark needed to turn around their season. 📸: sourced from Sydney Olympic FC Facebook

Palace lift European silverware 🏆 A massive congratulations to Australian assistant manager James Holland on helping his @CPFC be crowned UEFA Conference League winners 👏🦅 Crystal Palace defeated La Liga outfit Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in Leipzig to win their first-ever European trophy and it's now three trophies won for the club within the past year.

Aussies lift silverware in Asia as Buriram United go back-to-back 🇹🇭🇦🇺 A massive congratulations to Australian players Kenny Dougall and Curtis Good as they both lifted the 2025/26 ASEAN Club Championship 🏆 Led by former Central Coast Mariners manager Mark Jackson, the Thai giants defeated Malaysian outfit Selangor 3-1 on aggregate to see the club win another regional trophy. Attention now turns to the Thai FA Cup Final as Buriram United are set to take on Prachuap. 📸: Buriram United

#ICYMI Kewell keeps adding wins in Vietnam as @hanoifc continue battle for continental football 🇻🇳🇦🇺 Australian manager Harry Kewell continues to lead his Hanoi FC side in the top tier of Vietnamese football as the club from the capital enjoy a very positive 2026 under his leadership 🟣⚪️ Most recently, the former Socceroo led his side to a 2-1 home win over Nam Định Football Club to keep their slim Asian Champions League Two qualification hopes alive. Overall, it's been a remarkable 2026 for Kewell's managerial career with the 47-year-old winning nine from twelve league matches this year. 📸: sourced from Hanoi FC Facebook

Participants loading as member federation clubs compete for final spots 👀 The 2026 @AustraliaCup is taking shape with huge final stage qualifiers taking place across the country, including some that have already written their name in the upcoming tournament. Here is a list of member federation clubs that have qualified for the 2026 Australia Cup so far: 👇 - Azzurri United (Northern Territory) - Bulleen Lions (Victoria) - Heidelberg United (Victoria) - South Melbourne (Victoria) - SD Raiders (New South Wales) 📸: sourced from Azzurri United Facebook

Back-to-back @AustraliaCup appearances for SD Raiders 🟢🔴 Last season, they qualified as a FNSW Leagues One side and tonight as an NPL NSW Men's team - SD Raiders have qualified for back-to-back Australia Cup appearances after defeating Wollongong United at Ernie Smith Reserve. In a tight affair, the @NPLNSW outfit defeated Illawarra Premier League side Wollongong United 2-1 to advance to the national stage in consecutive seasons. They become the first non A-League Men's side to qualify for the 2026 Australia Cup as the team based in Sydney's southwest will also compete in the Waratah Cup. 📸: sourced from SD Raiders Facebook

As Major League Soccer takes a break due to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, let's look back at Australian defender Lucas Herrington and his first spell abroad 🇺🇸🇦🇺 After joining the @ColoradoRapids earlier this year, the 18-year-old has transitioned from the @aleaguemen to @MLS incredibly well as he has featured in every league match so far this season ⚫️🟤 Herrington's efforts in the States caught the eye of Socceroos manager Tony Popovic and there is a very high chance he could be selected in Australia's final squad for the upcoming World Cup. Here are Herrington's numbers this season (MLS only): 👇 - 15 games played (15 starts) - One goal scored and one assist - Three clean sheets - An average of 90 minutes played per match

Aussies in Europe for next season 👀🇦🇺 With the majority of European leagues wrapped up for the 2025/26 season, it's time to look at which Australian players are set to represent their clubs in next season's UEFA club competitions: 👇 Champions League: - Jordan Bos (Feyenoord, league phase) - Cammy Devlin (Heart of Midlothian, second qualifying round) - Calem Nieuwenhof (Heart of Midlothian, second qualifying round) - Garang Kuol (Sparta Praha, third qualifying round) - Gianni Stensness (Viking FK, play-off round) Europa League: - Daniel Arzani (Ferencváros, first qualifying round) - Fran Karacic (Hajduk Split, first qualifying round) - Anthony Kalik (Hajduk Split, first qualifying round) Conference League: - Marco Tilio (Rapid Wien, second qualifying round) - Tomi Juric (Zrinjski Mostar, second qualifying round) - Noah Botic (Austria Wien, second qualifying round) - Martin Boyle (Hibernian, second qualifying round) - Jack Iredale (Hibernian, second qualifying round) - Ante Suto (Hibernian, second qualifying round) - Oscar Priestman (Motherwell, second qualifying round) - John Koutroumbis (Motherwell, second qualifying round)

A European final coming up for an Aussie coach as Eagles look to make history 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇦🇺🦅 Wishing all the best to Australian assistant coach James Holland as he will look to help his @CPFC lift the UEFA @Conf_League trophy on Wednesday night local time 🔵🔴 Crystal Palace take on La Liga outfit Rayo Vallecano in the UEFA Conference League Final in Leipzig, Germany with the winner not only lifting the trophy but gaining a direct entry to next season's UEFA Europa League league phase. On their road to the final, Crystal Palace have overcome sides such as AZ Alkmaar, Fiorentina and Shakhtar Donetsk.

@skrapid SK Rapid Wien have been seeded ahead of their second qualifying matches which means they could play against sides as Motherwell, IFK Göteborg and Shelbourne.

Tilio with his first start since November as @skrapid qualify for Conference League football 🇦🇹🇦🇺👀 Australia international Marco Tilio capped off his first season in Austria by helping his Rapid Wien outfit qualify for European football next season 🟢⚪️ The 24-year-old attacker started and played 75 minutes for Rapid Wien in their 4-2 aggregate win over Ried in the Austrian Bundesliga Conference League playoff. The result means that Rapid Wien will be placed in the second qualifying round of next season's UEFA Conference League.