Twenty years after playing in the World Cup for Australia, Popovic is now guiding the Socceroos

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Maybe when Australia's World Cup journey is over, Tony Popovic can reflect on his legacy with the Socceroos.

For now, though, the United States awaits.

Popovic is back at the World Cup as Australia's head coach, 20 years after he played for the Socceroos at the sport's premier tournament.

Australia made a statement in its Group D opener, defeating Turkey 2-0 on Saturday night in Vancouver, British Columbia. Turkey, making its return to the World Cup for the first time in 24 years, was widely considered the stronger side going into the match.

“I think, as a coach, you’re proud of the group, you’re proud of the staff, you’re proud that you made so many people happy in the stands. You don’t really reflect too much on what it does for you, but I think that’s normal for a coach, because you’re already thinking, is there anyone that’s injured?” Popovic said. “We need to recover well, and we need to get the boys focused quickly on the next challenge. So personally, of course, I’m proud, but maybe one day in the future I can look back on this and reflect and remember, and it’ll probably be a very special moment for me, my family.”

The Socceroos, training during the World Cup in Oakland, California, head to Seattle on Friday to face the United States, which also won its opener 4-1 over Paraguay to assume the top spot in the group standings.

Popovic was a defender for the Socceroos, earning the nickname “The Enforcer.” Detail oriented, he was known for his focus not just on the field, but also on nutrition, training and recovery — attributes he brings to the team as coach.

He made 58 appearances and scored eight goals with the national team during his playing career. He announced his retirement shortly after the World Cup in 2006, when Australia lost to eventual champion Italy in the round of 16. Popovic scored in a friendly against Paraguay in his final appearance with the squad that year.

On the club side, he was best known for a lengthy stint with Crystal Palace in the English Premier League.

Following his playing career, he became an assistant with Sydney in the Australian top tier before taking over as the inaugural head coach of Western Sydney Wanderers. He guided the Wanderers to the Asian Champions League title in 2014, becoming the first Australian club to win that continental tournament. More recently he was coach of the Melbourne Victory until taking over the Socceroos in September 2024 when Graham Arnold resigned following a pair of poor results.

“He challenges me a lot, not just on the pitch, but I think off the pitch, as a professional, and even just as a man,” Australia goalkeeper Paul Izzo said during camp earlier this month. “For that, I’m extremely grateful. He’s a coach that I tend to really respond well with. Sometimes it may seem quite intense, that’s what I prefer.”

Football Australia gave Popovic a contract extension before his first game in charge at a World Cup.

Popovic responded by making some bold moves with his starting lineup against Turkey, starting 22-year-old Patrick Beach in goal over Mathew Ryan, who has played 104 times for Australia. He also left veteran midfielder Jackson Irvine on the bench and had 10 players on World Cup debut in the starting lineup.

Afterward Popovic said the win was great for the young Socceroos' confidence, while at the same time admitting there's a ways to go before they reach their full potential.

“Yes, they should get a boost, of course,” he said. “Ceiling? They’re nowhere near it, because they’re a young group with no experience in the World Cup, very limited experience playing for their national team. So their ceiling should come in four or eight years, really, most of these boys. So we know we need that, but we are delighted with the result.”

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Australia's Tony Popovic, second left and Australia's Alessandro Circati celebrate following the World Cup Group D soccer match between Australia and Turkey in Vancouver, Canada, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Australia manager Tony Popovic greets players after an international friendly soccer game against Switzerland Saturday, June 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Australia head coach Tony Popovic gestures during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Australia and Turkey in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Australia's head coach Tony Popovic answers a question during a press conference, Friday, June 12, 2026, in Vancouver, British Columbia, ahead of the team's World Cup soccer match against Turkey. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Leaders of the Group of Seven are discussing Russia's war in Ukraine along with a tentative deal struck by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the conflict with Iran as they meet for the first full day at the G7 summit of leading industrialized nations on Tuesday in the French town of Evian-les-Bains.

Trump said he would focus again on Ukraine following a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron shortly after arriving late Monday in the lakeside spa town.

“Now that this (Iran) is finished, we’re going to be focusing on that,” Trump said.

Macron said he will seek to persuade Trump to continue supporting Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia to help reach a peace agreement more than four years after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the war. Trump said he had good conversations on Sunday with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is attending the summit at France’s invitation.

The leaders also will have a working session focused on ending crises and ensuring stability in the Middle East. They are expected to discuss the global economic crisis resulting from the war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will join the talks.

Shortly before his arrival, Trump announced an agreement to end the 3 1/2-month-old U.S. war against Iran.

The G7 includes France, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom. Guest nations at this summit include Brazil, Egypt, India, Kenya, South Korea, Qatar, Ukraine and the UAE.

Here is the latest:

Zelenskyy is getting some time for private talks with Macron before he is scheduled to meet with the other G7 leaders, according to the French government.

Five of the seven leaders, representing Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy and Japan, were huddled in conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen before the start of the first session on Ukraine.

Trump was missing. Macron, too, hadn’t arrived yet because he was with Zelenskyy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the morning working session with G7 leaders to discuss the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine.

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One, Monday, June 15, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

French President Emmanuel Macron waves from a car leaving after meeting security forces ahead of G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One, Monday, June 15, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

U.S. President Donald Trump talks as he greets France's President Emmanuel Macron and first lady Brigitte Macron at the G7 summit, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Evian-les-Bains, France. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)