When Nishan Velupillay came off the bench for Australia against China in October 2024, he had seven minutes to make an impression. He scored. That goal, his first in a Socceroos shirt, sealed a 3-1 win and announced him to the country.
On Monday, head coach Tony Popovic named the 25-year-old in Australia's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For Australia's South Asian community, it was a history-making announcement. Velupillay is the first footballer of Tamil heritage ever selected for a FIFA World Cup. His father, Sasinath Velupillay, is Malaysian with Sri Lankan Tamil heritage. His mother, Gillian, is Anglo-Indian. Nishan was born and raised in Melbourne.
For Nishan Velupillay This Is Just The Start
Velupillay Mazenod College — a Catholic school in Mulgrave that has produced more than one A-League player. He worked through the junior system at Glen Eira FC before Melbourne Victory signed him at 18.
“Nish has worked exceptionally hard since he first walked into this club as a junior footballer to put himself in this position,” said Melbourne Victory Director of Football, John Didulica.
“I couldn’t think of any player more deserving of this honour and it is a proud moment for him, his family and everyone associated with Melbourne Victory – the coaches, team-mates, staff and members – who have supported his journey.
“Nish will know better than anyone that making the World Cup team is just the start, and that he has been given an opportunity to achieve something special as part of this really exciting Socceroos team,” added Didulica.
The Road To Australia’s FIFA World Cup Squad
Velupillay’s road to the World Cup was not easy. He signed his first professional contract with Melbourne Victory in 2019 and made his professional debut in May 2021. In the years since, he has been one of the A-League's most consistent attacking players, and the international goals followed once Popovic came calling.
Beyond his debut goal against China, he scored in back-to-back World Cup qualifiers in March, against Indonesia, then China again. Three goals in seven appearances for the Socceroos.
He missed the 2025 A-League Grand Final after an ankle injury, and subsequently underwent surgery in the off-season. He then returned to pre-season nursing a hamstring injury sustained in a friendly against Adelaide United.
Two surgeries in the space of months, and a grand final he could only watch from the sidelines as Victory fell to Melbourne City. For a player at the peak of his powers, it was a brutal stretch.
He pushed through it. The 2024/25 season had been his best yet – 12 goals and nine assists in all competitions for Victory, making him the club's top scorer across all competitions.
Socceroos’ 26-Man FIFA World Cup Squad
On Monday, Popovic selected a 26-man roster that combines World Cup experience with a new generation of talent.
Seventeen players are set to make their World Cup debut this summer. The squad includes five Australian-based players: Patrick Beach, Aziz Behich, Mathew Leckie, Paul Okon-Engstler, and Velupillay.
The spine of the team is experienced. Captain Mat Ryan and Mathew Leckie are poised to equal the national record held by Tim Cahill and Mark Milligan by being selected for a fourth FIFA World Cup.
Midfielders Jackson Irvine and Ajdin Hrustic provide leadership, while defenders Harry Souttar, Cameron Burgess, and Alessandro Circati (Parma) anchor the backline.
Among the headline inclusions is Cristian Volpato, who previously represented Italy at youth level and recently completed his switch of international allegiance. He is in line to make his senior Australia debut at the tournament.
Notable omissions include Martin Boyle, Joe Gauci, Kye Rowles, and Brandon Borrello.
Australia are placed in Group D alongside Turkey, the United States, and Paraguay. They open against Turkey on 13 June in Vancouver. It is the Socceroos' sixth consecutive World Cup appearance, with the team hoping to build on their run to the round of 16 in Qatar in 2022.
The Full Squad – AUSTRALIA FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 Goalkeepers: Maty Ryan (Levante), Paul Izzo, Patrick Beach Defenders: Milos Degenek, Alessandro Circati (Parma), Jacob Italiano, Harry Souttar (Leicester City), Cameron Burgess, Jordan Bos, Jason Geria, Aziz Behich, Kai Trewin, Lucas Herrington. Midfielders: Connor Metcalfe, Ajdin Hrustic, Aiden O'Neill, Cameron Devlin, Jackson Irvine, Paul Okon-Engstler. Forwards: Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City), Nestory Irankunda (Watford), Awer Mabil, Mohamed Touré (Norwich City), Nishan Velupillay (Melbourne Victory), Cristian Volpato (Sassuolo), Tete Yengi.
