Five Wanderers Academy players have been selected in CommBank Joeys’ Head Coach Carl Veart’s 23-player squad for the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ to be held between 5 – 22 May.
Australia has been drawn into Group D and will face India (6 May – local time) and Uzbekistan (13 May – local time).
DPR Korea, originally drawn in Group D, has withdrawn from the tournament.
The U17 continental tournament – which serves as qualifying for the FIFA U17 World Cup Qatar 2026™ – will see the top eight teams earn their place at the age group’s showpiece event to be held in November 2026.
This means that should the CommBank Joeys secure passage out of their Group, they will punch their ticket to the FIFA U17 World Cup for the first time since 2019.
Quotes attributable to CommBank Joeys Head Coach Carl Veart:
“As a group we’ve been clear about our ambition, which is to perform strongly at this Asian Cup and to put ourselves in a position to qualify for a World Cup.
“Our focus is on what is immediately in front of us and we know what we’re capable of when we play to our potential. The players have been outstanding in their application and commitment to both our playing style and our off-field standards.
“Competing in an Asian Cup, with World Cup qualification on the line, is exactly the type of exposure that helps prepare players for the demands of international football.”
For more information on the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ please click here.
MATCH DETAILS:
CommBank Joeys v India U17
Wednesday, 6 May 2026
King Abdullah Sports City Training Stadium (Pitch C), Jeddah
Kick-off: 7.00pm local / 2.00am AEST (Thursday, 7 May)
Uzbekistan U17 v CommBank Joeys
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
King Abdullah Sports City Training Stadium (Pitch A), Jeddah
Kick-off: 7.00pm local / 2.00am AEDT (Thursday, 14 May)
COMMBANK JOEYS SQUAD | AFC U17 ASIAN CUP SAUDI ARABIA 2026™ | 5 – 22 MAY
| Name | Position | Current Club | Junior Club / Member Federation |
| Akol AKON | Attacker | Sydney FC, Australia | St Marys Convent SC / Football NSW |
| Lachlan ALLEN | Goalkeeper | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | Ramsgate RSL / Football NSW |
| Winston ASHBURNER | Defender | Melbourne Victory FC, Australia | Yarraville Glory FC / Football Victoria |
| Luke BECVINOVSKI | Attacker | Melbourne City FC, Australia | Pascoe Vale FC / Football Victoria |
| Harrison BOND | Defender | FC Red Bull Salzburg, Austria | All Saints Hunter Hills FC / Football NSW |
| Fraser BROWN | Defender | Melbourne City FC, Australia | Croydon City SC / Football Victoria |
| Max COURT | Midfielder | APIA Leichhardt FC, Australia | APIA Leichhardt FC / Football NSW |
| Corey DA CRUZ | Midfielder | Sydney FC, Australia | Bankstown United FC / Football NSW |
| Luka DEMUTH | Midfielder | Melbourne City FC, Australia | Aspendale Stingrays SC / Football Victoria |
| Akeem GERALD | Attacker | Melbourne City FC, Australia | FC Bulleen Lions / Football Victoria |
| Georgio HASSARATI | Attacker | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | Putney Rangers FC / Football NSW |
| Emile KATRIB | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | Panania Diggers SC / Football NSW |
| Besian KUTLESHI | Defender | Melbourne City FC, Australia | North Sunshine Eagles SC / Football Victoria |
| Miles MILLINER | Defender | Sydney FC, Australia | Collaroy Cromer Strikers FC / Football NSW |
| Archie MITCHELL | Defender | Brisbane Roar FC, Australia | Narangba Eagles FC / Football Queensland |
| Sajjad NASIRI | Midfielder | Adelaide United FC, Australia | Ingle Farm SC / Football SA |
| Hugo NG | Goalkeeper | Adelaide United FC, Australia | Metrostars / Football SA |
| Oliver O’CARROLL | Midfielder | Melbourne City FC, Australia | Middle Park SC / Football Victoria |
| Henrique OLIVEIRA | Midfielder | Macarthur FC, Australia | Port Adelaide Pirates / Football SA |
| Aston REID | Midfielder | Sydney FC, Australia | Lilli Pilli FC / Football NSW |
| Stevan RUJAK | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | White City SC / Football NSW |
| Marcus SAVIC | Defender | Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia | Moorebank Sports SC / Football NSW |
| Charlie WILSON‑PAPPS | Goalkeeper | Brighton & Hove Albion FC, England | Sheen Lions FC / England |
