Riley McGree suffered a hamstring injury and was consequently ruled out of the FIFA World Cup 2026, set to be played between June 11 and July 19. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Australia playmaker Riley McGree has been ruled out of the World Cup in a ​blow for the Socceroos following a hamstring injury playing for ‌English club Middlesbrough over the weekend.

One of ​Australia’s most creative players, McGree’s injury comes ⁠days before coach Tony Popovic confirms his 26-man squad for the June 11 to July 19 tournament in North America, ‌where they play Turkey, co-hosts the United States and Paraguay.

With the experienced Craig Goodwin unselected ‌for a pre-World Cup training camp in Sarasota, ‌Florida, ⁠McGree’s absence leaves Australia light on depth for ⁠attackers on the left flank.

Mitch Duke’s hopes of returning to the World Cup are effectively over, with the veteran striker among ​a group of eight ‌mostly fringe players cut from the training camp.

Duke scored the goal in a 1-0 group stage win over Tunisia at Qatar 2022 to help Australia advance ‌to the knockout phase.

With Scotland-based striker Ante Suto ​also released, Popovic has given a first call-up to another uncapped forward in Tete ⁠Yengi, the younger brother of Kusini, who played a role for Australia in World Cup qualifying but was ruled ‌out of the tournament by a thigh injury.

Yengi, like Kusini, is a Japan-based striker.

He was among a group of eight called up, including defenders Alessandro Circati, Lucas Herrington, Kai Trewin and Kye Rowles, seasoned winger Awer Mabil, goalkeeper Mat Ryan and holding midfielder ‌Paul Okon-Engstler.

Three names will need to be cut from the training ​squad of 29, with either Patrick Beach or Joe Gauci set to miss out as ⁠the third goalkeeper behind captain Ryan and Paul Izzo.

Australia ⁠will warm up for the World Cup with friendlies against Mexico in Pasadena on May 30 ‌and Switzerland in San Diego on June 6 before meeting Turkey in their World Cup opener ​in Vancouver on June 13.

Published on May 26, 2026