The Australian national soccer team, the Socceroos, pose for a photo before the start of a friendly soccer international against New Zealand in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. Socceroos' Head Coach Graham Arnold has named his 26-man squad, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, to represent Australia, at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. (AP Photo/Dan Peled, File)

Goalkeeper Mathew Ryan and winger Mathew Leckie were picked for a third World Cup, with Ryan leading the squad in Qatar.

Awer Mabil, born to South Sudanese parents in a Kakuma Refugee camp in northwestern Kenya, was also picked for the World Cup.

Mabil said he had arrived in Australia as a child just in time to see the "Golden Generation" of Socceroos play at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Arnold said 32 players had made a debut for Australia over the last four years and 68 players were picked for national duties in that time, with the bulk of World Cup qualifying games played away from home because of travel restrictions in place in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australia clinched its spot at a fifth consecutive World Cup after back-to-back knockout wins, beating the United Arab Emirates in an Asian playoff before edging Peru on penalties in the intercontinental playoff.

"It's been a unique and difficult qualification campaign," Arnold said, "and we now arrive in Qatar with an exciting squad."

The 34-year-old Langerak had been coaxed out of international retirement this year and given more shot at representing the Socceroos but, despite being a standout for Nagoya Grampus in Japan, lost his place in the squad to Australian-based Danny Vukovic.Australia kicks off is Group D campaign against defending champion France on Nov. 22.

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Squad:

Goalkeepers: Mat Ryan, Andrew Redmayne, Danny Vukovic.

Defenders: Nathaniel Atkinson, Aziz Behich, Milos Degenek, Thomas Deng, Fran Karcic, Joel King, Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar, Bailey Wright.

Midfielders: Keanu Baccas, Cameron Devlin, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, Riley McGree, Aaron Mooy,

Forwards: Martin Boyle, Jason Cummings, Mitchell Duke, Craig Goodwin, Garang Kuol, Mathew Leckie, Awer Mabil, Jamie Maclaren.


World Cup 2022 squad Australia