Australia World Cup squad: Socceroos coach Graham Arnold explains players picked and excluded for Qatar 2022

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has revealed his 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with some notable players making the cut and others left out. 

Australia only qualified for the tournament via the playoffs and have been drawn in a group alongside reigning champions France. 

Arnold developed a large pool of players over the past four years and was left with some big calls to make for the World Cup.

Some exciting new talents have been named, while more experienced players have missed out. 

MORE: Socceroos World Cup schedule | Brazil reveal World Cup squad

Garang Kuol, Jason Cummings seal World Cup spots

These two attackers have been lighting up the A-League Men all year with Central Coast Mariners.

Kuol, only 18, has impressed so much that he’ll be joining Newcastle United in January after the World Cup. 

Cummings, meanwhile, scored on his Socceroos debut in September and looms as a versatile option up front for Australia in Qatar.

Both players have only made one appearance for Australia’s national team leading up to the 2022 World Cup but Arnold had no choice but to include them based on their electric club form.

“Shouldn’t this be the most exciting moment – an 18-year-old kid that’s come out of nowhere,” Arnold said of Kuol.

“Garang has really shown at the Mariners how he can change a game. He’s fit into the Socceroos family so well.”

Garang Kuol + Jason Cummings = 🔥

Simple maths.#Socceroos

pic.twitter.com/xCU06LZ7AQ

— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) October 29, 2022

Why isn’t Mitch Langerak in the Socceroos squad?

One of the most surprising omissions from Australia’s World Cup side is Langerak.

The veteran goalkeeper has been starring at club level in Japan with Nagoya Grampus and was viewed by many as ideal back-up for Maty Ryan having recently come out of international retirement.

Arnold, however, has opted for Andrew Redmayne and Danny Vukovic instead.

“I’m not an expert in goalkeeping and we’ve got a great goalkeeping coach in John Crawley who has a process and studies these goalkeepers and understands these goalkeepers enormously,” Arnold said. 

“I’ve got to trust that process and I trusted John Crawley when we played Peru with that substitution (Redmayne) and I’ve got to trust again those type of decisions.

“Mitch is a fantastic guy, fantastic goalkeeper.” 

No room for Trent Sainsbury

Sainsbury has long been a regular of this Australian team but has been left out of their 2022 World Cup squad. 

Arnold has opted for younger centre-backs in the form of Harry Souttar and Kye Rowles with Sainsbury’s lack of recent game time counting against him. 

To further complete the call, Sainsbury is also Arnold’s son-in-law after the defender married his daughter a number of years ago. 

“Obviously it was a very, very difficult decision. I spoke to Trent obviously about where he’s at at this moment of time. He hasn’t played for a number of weeks,” Arnold said of Sainsbury. 

“Obviously, he’s playing here in Qatar but overall I’ve gone for players like Harry Souttar and Kye Rowles that have done exceptionally well and continue to do well.

“Trent was understanding of the situation but it was a decision which is hard to make.”

Socceroos veteran Tom Rogic misses out

Rogic has been one of Australia’s better players over the past few years but won’t be in Qatar with the team. 

The 29-year-old pulled out of the Socceroos’ playoff campaign for personal reasons in June and subsequently spent a number of months without a club. 

The former Celtic midfielder joined West Brom in September but left his push to earn a recall too late. 

“I spoke to Tommy, had Tony Vidmar go all the way from Australia to watch Tommy at West Brom..but at the end of the day I can only pick two players for every position,” Arnold said. 

“I would have loved to have picked 50 players but we’ve gone for Ajdin Hrustic and Riley McGree in that area.” 

What about Cristian Volpato?

Having recently scored in Serie A for Roma, Aussie teenager Volpato was once again linked with a national team call up in recent weeks. 

Arnold wanted to select the 18-year-old but he ultimately declined the call-up in favour of trying to play for Italy. 

“I spoke to Cristian yesterday three times. Before that I spoke to him on numerous occasions. I pretty much told him yesterday that he was in the 26-man squad,” Arnold said. 

“He wanted to go away and think about it. Wanted to speak to the people around him that help guide his career and he came back last night and declined the offer to come and play for Australia at the World Cup.” 

Socceroos 2022 World Cup squad

Here’s Australia’s confirmed World Cup squad: