Western Sydney Wanderers star Alex Bonetig has been called into the Subway Socceroos squad for their intensive training camp ahead of next month’s 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifiers.
Bonetig and Lecce defender Sebastian Esposito have been drafted in by head coach Tony Popovic after Nectar Triantis withdrew and did not make the trip to Abu Dhabi.
Bonetig enjoyed a career-best season in Western Sydney, where the 22-year-old defender helped the Wanderers reach the Elimination Final before falling to Melbourne Victory.
The talented centre-back also emerged as one of the best defenders in the competition.
He joins Wanderers team-mates Brandon Borrello, Alex Gersbach and Nicolas Milanovic, who has since signed for Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership. Perth Glory captain Adam Taggart and Sydney FC star Anthony Caceres are also in the squad as the other A-Leagues-based players.
Squad for Subway Socceroos training camp
Name | Current Club, Country | ‘A’ Caps (Goals | Junior Club / Member Federation (Country) |
Keanu BACCUS | Mansfield Town, England | 21 (1) | Parklea FC / Football New South Wales |
Max BALARD | NAC Breda, Netherlands | 0 | Maccabi Hokoah FC / Football NSW |
Alex BONETIG | Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia | 0 | Shellharbour Juniors FC / Football NSW |
Brandon BORRELLO | Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia | 15 (2) | Modbury Jets SC / Football SA |
Martin BOYLE | Hibernian, Scotland | 32 (10) | Lewis United FC / Montrose FC (Scotland) |
Cameron BURGESS | Ipswich Town, England | 15 (0) | ECU Joondalup / Football West |
Anthony CACERES | Sydney FC, Australia | 3 (0) | Marconi Stallions / Football NSW |
Jason DAVIDSON | Panserraikos F.C., Greece | 23 (1) | Hume City FC / Football VIC |
Miloš DEGENEK | FK TSC Bačka Topola, Serbia | 47 (1) | Blacktown City FC / Football NSW |
Sebatian ESPOSITO | US Lecce, Italy | 0 | Brunswick City SC / Football VIC |
Joe GAUCI | Aston Villa, England | 7 (0) | Cumberland United FC / Football SA |
Alex GERSBACH | Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia | 6 (0) | Miranda Magpies / Football NSW |
Thomas GLOVER (GK) | Middlesborough, England | 0 | Menai Hawks / Football NSW |
Jack IREDALE | Hibernian, Scotland | 0 | ECU Joondalup / Football West |
Paul IZZO (GK) | Randers FC, Denmark | 0 | Campbelltown City SC / Football SA |
Riley McGREE | Middlesborough, England | 29 (1) | Gawler Eagles FC / Football South Australia |
Connor METCALFE | St Pauli, Germany | 24 (0) | South Cardiff FC / Northern NSW Football |
Nicolas MILANOVIC | Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia | 0 | Sydney United 58 / Football NSW |
Lewis MILLER | Hibernian FC, Scotland | 11 (1) | Pittwater RSL FC / Football NSW |
Paul OKON-ENGSTLER | S.L Benfica, Portugal | 0 | Marconi Stallions / Football NSW |
Mat RYAN (GK) | RC Lens, France | 98 (0) | Blacktown City FC / Football NSW |
Ryan STRAIN | Dundee United, Scotland | 6 (0) | Aston Villa FC (UK) |
Adam TAGGART | Perth Glory, Australia | 22 (7) | ECU Joondalup / Football West |
Kusini YENGI | Unattached | 12 (6) | Fulham United FC / Football SA |