Tony Popovic knocked back four-year Socceroos contract extension
Posted Tue 8 Sep 2026 at 5:19pmTue 8 Sep 2026 at 5:19pmTue 8 Sep 2026 at 5:19pm
In short:
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has revealed he turned down a four-year contract extension to take the team through to the 2030 World Cup.
Popovic signed a six-month contract in June to coach the Socceroos until the end of the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
What’s next?
The Socceroos play Brazil over two matches in Townsville and Brisbane later this month.
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has revealed he turned down a four-year contract offer from Football Australia (FA) to take the team through to the 2030 World Cup.
Popovic instead signed a six-month extension during the World Cup to take the team through to the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, which begins in January.
“It was my choice to go until the Asian Cup. Although I was offered a four-year deal, I decided to go to the Asian Cup,” Popovic told journalists on Tuesday.
“And I think that is something that I think is good.
“It gives the FA the opportunity if they want to go in a different decision they can, and I’m very comfortable with the decision that’s been made.”
Popovic led the Socceroos to the round of 32 knockout stage of the World Cup in the United States, where the team lost to Egypt in a penalty shoot-out heartbreaker.
His side won its opening match against Türkiye, lost to the United States and drew with Paraguay before the fateful match against Egypt ended the Socceroos’ dream run.
He led the youngest side at the World Cup of all 48 nations with an average of 25 years and 155 days.
Some of the Socceroos stars of the tournament have since signed transfer contracts worth up to $33 million, including Lucas Herrington (Hull City), Nestory Irankunda (Sporting Lisbon), Alessandro Circati (Benfica), Patrick Beach (Troyes) and Paul Okon-Engstler (Köln).
When asked directly whether he wanted to continue coaching the Socceroos, Popovic declined to give a direct answer, instead elaborating on his focus on fostering young talent.
“I love coaching the Socceroos,” he said.
“When we qualified there was obviously 12 months before the World Cup.
“I ended up signing [his six-month contract] the last week before the first [World Cup] match, and we started this evolution of the team for 12 months without knowing whether I’d be there or not.
“I’ve never shied away from the expectation of results.
“But I’ve always had an eye on the future, and I think that was reflected in the squad we chose, the players we played and how much the team changed in 12 months.”
He said he was happy to make those decisions without the security of a long-term contract.
“I had no concerns about whether I signed or not and if I hadn’t signed I would have been happy with what I had done and what I have left behind,” he said.
“The same will be after the Asian Cup.
“I know the legacy that I will leave behind.
“And if it’s someone else that takes it forward, that’s fine; if it’s me, great, if we agree to do this together,” he said.
Popovic’s decision to not take up the four-year contract offer gives him the option of pursuing a club contract now that he’s been able to shop his talents through the World Cup window.
In his first press conference since returning from the World Cup, Popovic reflected on the decisions he made at the tournament and said there was little he would change.
He drew criticism from commentators for the goalkeeper substitution minutes before the penalty shoot-out against Egypt, which the Socceroos ultimately lost 4-2 when Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington missed penalties.
Popovic introduced captain Matt Ryan, who hadn’t played a minute in the World Cup, for Patrick Beach, who had been outstanding, conceding just three goals in four matches.
He said he would make the same decision again.
“There are many reasons why Matty came in,” he said.
“Matty has experience; Matty saved two penalties for us in the qualifiers; Matty saved penalties for [his Spanish club team] Levante.
“Patrick Beach has not saved one penalty in any shoot-out, pretty much.
“In that moment it was very clear to me that Matty should come in.
“And like I said the next day I would have done the same thing.”
The Socceroos play their first Asian Cup match against Singapore on January 9, where Popovic said he would continue his youth policy.
There will be a lot of young players probably at the Asian Cup, and that will be done without losing any expectation that I believe that we should be challenging for the Asian Cup,” he said.
“Once you’re there, you want to win it.
“I think that should happen for Australia.”
The team has two friendlies later this month against the might of five-time world champions Brazil in Townsville and Brisbane.
Popovic said the team would have a chance to play another round of matches during the November friendly window, most likely in the Middle East.