Socceroos coach Tony Popovic is ready to embrace the familiar underdog tag at the World Cup after hearing the US reaction to their Group D draw. But don't mistake his quiet acceptance for a lack of conviction.
When American soccer media made bold claims about the tournament, with commentators saying "We are number one, baby" and "We should win this group," Popovic simply noted it. He stated that anyone underestimating the Socceroos will receive a rude shock. The Australian coach knows what's coming in Seattle on June 19.
What triggered the American confidence was the World Cup draw in December. The Socceroos will begin their campaign against the UEFA qualifier in Vancouver, then face the US at Lumen Field in Seattle on June 20, before meeting Paraguay. For many American analysts, the draw was gift-wrapped.
Landon Donovan took issue with Popovic's reaction to the 2026 World Cup draw, calling the confidence he projected "unusual." Donovan said Popovic was 'satisfied' with the team's draw and "just had this smugness about him." But Popovic's actual words tell a different story.
Popovic said "I'm sure you'd expect the U.S. to be a favorite. They'd expect to go through as a host nation, playing at home. If that's the case, I'm happy for them, as long as we're with them and join them." There's nothing smug about that; it's confidence balanced with realism.
The deeper context matters. Popovic told Football Australia: "We will have a tough group regardless of who qualifies from UEFA, but we will go in with a lot of optimism and confidence." That's hardly the language of a coach underestimating his opponents. Popovic sent a clear message that World Cup opponents face a "rude shock" if they underestimate the Socceroos.
Australia have earned the right to that confidence. The team suffered their first loss under Popovic, a 2-1 defeat to the United States in October, but that loss came after winning seven consecutive matches and coming off qualification for the World Cup. Popovic says "we have been preparing for many months but now we can plan with certainty, knowing our match schedule and kick-off times for the World Cup 2026".
Australia will face the world No. 14-ranked American side for the first time they have played a host nation since 1974 in Germany. That's historic context that adds weight to June's fixture. But between now and then, both teams have preparation to do, and neither can afford complacency.