Written by Rhea Alison, Sports reporter, covering international sports since 2020

Mathew Leckie has backed the Socceroos to perform beyond expectations at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Australia continue their preparations for the global tournament in North America. Speaking ahead of the competition build-up, the experienced forward said the squad believes it can compete strongly against higher-ranked nations, with belief growing inside the camp after recent international performances. The timing is important, with Australia aiming to fine-tune their squad depth and tactics before the tournament kicks off in June 2026 across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The statement adds momentum to Australia’s campaign narrative, where consistency and big-match confidence will be key if they want to progress deep into the knockout stages.

Leckie pointed to team unity and recent progress as reasons for optimism, while the squad continues to sharpen its attacking structure and defensive discipline in training camps.

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