Bonetig Earns Socceroos Nod as Australia Ramps Up World Cup Preparations

In a significant step forward in his young career, Western Sydney Wanderers centre-back Alex Bonetig has been drafted into the Subway Socceroos training squad as preparations intensify for next month’s 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifiers.

Bonetig, 22, has been selected alongside Lecce defender Sebastian Esposito, with both players receiving the nod from head coach Tony Popovic following the withdrawal of Nectar Triantis, who did not travel with the squad to Abu Dhabi.

The training camp brings together a group of players now available following the conclusion of their club seasons. It presents Popovic and his coaching staff a golden opportunity to work in-depth with a mix of established names and fresh faces, ensuring everyone is at their physical and tactical peak ahead of high-stakes qualifiers against Japan on June 5 and Saudi Arabia on June 11.

Bonetig’s call-up is no surprise to fans of the Wanderers. The young defender was a standout performer during the 2023–24 A-League season, helping lead Western Sydney to the Elimination Final, where they narrowly fell to Melbourne Victory. His composure on the ball and ability to marshal the backline earned him praise as one of the league’s best emerging defenders.

He now joins a growing contingent of Wanderers players in the national squad, alongside Brandon Borrello, Alex Gersbach, and Nicolas Milanovic—the latter recently securing a move to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

Also in the mix are Perth Glory’s Adam Taggart, the A-League Men’s Golden Boot runner-up, and Sydney FC midfielder Anthony Caceres, as Popovic maintains a strong local presence within the squad.

Full Subway Socceroos Training Squad – May Camp, Abu Dhabi

(Selected players include):

• Alex Bonetig – Western Sydney Wanderers (0 caps)
• Brandon Borrello – Western Sydney Wanderers (15 caps, 2 goals)
• Anthony Caceres – Sydney FC (3 caps)
• Adam Taggart – Perth Glory (22 caps, 7 goals)
• Nicolas Milanovic – Western Sydney Wanderers (0 caps)
• Sebastian Esposito – Lecce, Italy (0 caps)
• Mat Ryan – RC Lens, France (98 caps)
• Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe, Keanu Baccus, and more

This squad is a blend of experience and youthful promise, with players from top European clubs, the A-League Men’s competition, and even the unattached Kusini Yengi, all vying to make an impression before the final squad announcement.