First Touch ’26 - Australia featuring CB Miloš Degenek

Australian football has always been defined by a “never say die” mentality—and the 2026 Socceroos will need every bit of it.

In this World Cup Capsule, David Gass traces how a sport brought by British immigrants in the late 1800s became a lifeline for migrant communities, producing ethnic clubs, a unique football culture, and eventually a national team known for its grit.

We revisit the golden generation of 2006—from the epic, drought-breaking playoff win over Uruguay and Mark Schwarzer’s penalty heroics to Tim Cahill’s historic World Cup goals—and follow Australia’s move from Oceania to the Asian confederation, an Asian Cup title on home soil, and six straight World Cup qualifications.

With former 2006 legend Tony Popovic now in charge, the Socceroos play a high-intensity pressing style, lean on veterans like Mathew Ryan and Milos Degenek (interviewed in this episode) and pin big hopes on rising stars Alessandro Circati and Nestory Irankunda as they head into a brutal group with the United States, Paraguay, and a European wildcard.

Along the way, we celebrate Aussie legends like Cahill, the sacrifices that got him to Europe, and even learn why Australia somehow has more camels than Egypt.