Australia

Once dubbed "the most hated man in football," Kevin Muscat is quietly becoming one of the most in-demand coaches in the world.

Struck down by sickness, drained by travel, and up against high-calibre opponents, the Socceroos' US tour didn't go to plan -- but in adversity, Popovic may have learned more than any friendly could promise.

The Socceroos will get their home send-off before next year's World Cup final adventure in North America by hosting a special FIFA-backed tournament on Australian soil.

There's no shame in falling 3-0 to Colombia given the circumstances Tony Popovic's Socceroos found themselves in. The spotlight, however, will only shine brighter over the coming months.

The Socceroos will finish 2025 on a three-game losing streak and off the back of their heaviest defeat under Tony Popovic after collapsing to a 3-0 loss to Colombia.

New players in the Australian camp tend not to see any game-time under Tony Popovic, in what is fast becoming almost a Socceroos rite of passage.

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic will look to quickly move on from a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Venezuela and hope his younger, inexperienced players learn from it too.

The benefit of qualifying early means Tony Popovic and the Socceroos have been afforded the luxury of time. However, the scope for experimentation is rapidly shrinking. Sooner rather than later, the process of actualisation needs to occur.

Max Balard is confident he can play alongside or even compete with Jackson Irvine as the Socceroos stalwart makes his long-awaited return from injury.

The OFC Professional League begins on Jan. 17, 2026. But which clubs are participating? And where will you be able to watch it? Joey Lynch answers some FAQs about Oceania's first foray into professional soccer.