FIFA World Cup: Australia lose Italiano and Leckie to injury before Round of 32
Synopsis
Australia enter the FIFA World Cup knockout stage without two key players — Jacob Italiano and Mathew Leckie — after injuries struck at the worst possible moment. Leckie, the hero of Qatar 2022 whose goal sank Denmark, is out with a hamstring strain, leaving the Socceroos to rely on a reshuffled backline that held firm in a 0-0 draw with Paraguay.
Key Takeaways
Jacob Italiano (adductor) and Mathew Leckie (hamstring) are both ruled out of the rest of the FIFA World Cup .
Both players missed Australia's 0-0 draw with Paraguay on Thursday, which secured their place in the Round of 32 .
Leckie, 35 , scored the winner against Denmark at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to send Australia into the knockout stage.
Coach Tony Popovic shifted Jordan Bos to inverted right wing-back and deployed Aziz Behich at left-back against Paraguay — a move practiced in training.
Bos was named Australia's Man of the Match and combined effectively with Cristian Volpato .
Australia's campaign at the FIFA World Cup has been dealt a significant blow ahead of the knockout stage, with full-back Jacob Italiano and veteran forward Mathew Leckie both ruled out of the remainder of the tournament through injury. The Socceroos confirmed the setbacks on Saturday, 27 June, casting a shadow over their preparations for the Round of 32.
The Injuries Explained
Italiano sustained an adductor injury during a training session, while Leckie picked up a hamstring strain in Australia's group-stage encounter against the United States. Both players were absent for Australia's 0-0 draw with Paraguay on Thursday — a result that was enough to keep the Socceroos alive in the competition and secure their place in the knockout round.
Leckie's Absence Hits Hard
Leckie's unavailability carries particular weight given his iconic contribution at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where his decisive goal against Denmark propelled Australia into the last 16. The 35-year-old had battled through an injury-plagued club season with Melbourne City to earn a fourth World Cup appearance, making his early exit all the more painful for the squad.
Teammate Aziz Behich paid tribute to Leckie's determination, saying: 'I saw first-hand this year what he had to do to get back on that pitch for us at Melbourne City and then what he did in Sarasota. He left no stone unturned and it's a credit to him, it's not easy, not just physically but also mentally at his age.' Behich's reference to Sarasota pointed to Australia's pre-tournament training camp in Florida.
Tactical Reshuffle Against Paraguay
Coach Tony Popovic was forced to reorganise his defensive shape for the Paraguay match following Italiano's absence. Regular left-back Jordan Bos was deployed as an inverted wing-back on the right flank, with Behich slotting in on the left. The tactical experiment proved effective — Bos earned the Australia Man of the Match award and combined impressively with Cristian Volpato to generate much of Australia's attacking threat.
Behich confirmed the setup had been rehearsed ahead of the match: 'It's something we worked on during the week in our tactical session and it worked really well, and I think it worked well again last night. That's why we got the result that we deserved.'
What Lies Ahead for the Socceroos
Australia now head into the Round of 32 short of two key players but with a degree of tactical flexibility demonstrated against Paraguay. The dual injury blow tests the squad's depth at a critical juncture, and Popovic will need to settle on a reliable defensive configuration before their next fixture. How the Socceroos cope without Leckie's experience and Italiano's physicality could prove decisive in the knockout rounds.
Point of View
And his absence removes a proven big-game reference point from a group that will need belief as much as tactics in the knockout rounds. The 0-0 against Paraguay showed Popovic can adapt, but improvised solutions that work once in a group-stage low-stakes draw face a sterner test against knockout-round opponents with more to analyse. Australia's path forward depends on whether Bos and Behich can replicate that performance under pressure — and whether Volpato can carry the creative burden Leckie would otherwise have shared.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Jacob Italiano and Mathew Leckie out of the FIFA World Cup?
Jacob Italiano sustained an adductor injury in training, while Mathew Leckie suffered a hamstring strain during Australia's group-stage match against the United States. Both have been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.
How did Australia perform without Leckie and Italiano?
Australia drew 0-0 with Paraguay on Thursday without both players, a result that kept them in contention and confirmed their place in the Round of 32. Jordan Bos was named Man of the Match in a reshuffled defensive setup.
What is Mathew Leckie's significance to Australia at the World Cup?
Leckie scored the decisive goal against Denmark at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, sending Australia into the knockout stage. The 35-year-old had overcome an injury-hit club season with Melbourne City to earn a fourth World Cup appearance before this setback.
How did coach Tony Popovic adapt to the injuries?
Popovic moved regular left-back Jordan Bos to an inverted wing-back role on the right, with Aziz Behich covering the left. Behich confirmed the system had been practised in training ahead of the Paraguay match.
What are Australia's prospects in the Round of 32 without these players?
Australia enter the knockout stage with reduced squad depth but with a tactical blueprint that worked against Paraguay. Their prospects depend on whether the reshuffled defensive unit can hold firm against stronger opposition and whether other attackers can compensate for Leckie's absence.
