MELBOURNE, May 4 (Reuters) – Australian coach Tony Popovic said it would be “great” if Donald Trump watched their World Cup match against the United States in Seattle, saying the presence of the American president would motivate his team.
Trump is expected to attend the co-hosts’ matches, including a group match against Popovic’s Socceroos at the 72,000-seat Seattle Stadium on June 19.
“I don’t know if he would want to come and watch the American games. I’m sure I would expect him to come and watch them in the stadium.” World CupPopovic told reporters in Sydney on Monday. “If he chooses to watch Australia, that’s great for us. It would make it even more special to win that match.”
Andy Cheung via Getty Images / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Australian midfielder and occasional captain Jackson Irvine said last week that FIFA presenting Trump with the inaugural Peace Prize was a bull’s-eye “mockery” of the governing body’s human rights policy, and expressed concerns about LGBT rights in the US
However, Popovic said he was not bothered by the political climate in the US as he prepared to go to Sarasota, Florida for a pre-World Cup camp.
The World Cupalso co-hosted by Canada and Mexico, starting June 11.
“We have already been to the US in October and November. We have had no problems there,” Popovic said of Australia’s friendly tour of the country.
“We enjoyed both experiences, on and off the park. We were well looked after. We had a great time, whether casually or clearly professionally training and playing. Jackson is a big boy. He has his opinions. My focus is on the team and that’s not really something I’ve wasted energy on.”
A contingent of eight players will arrive at the Australian camp in Florida this week, including 2022 World Cup heroes Harry Souttar and Mathew Leckie.
There will be more to come as the club seasons come to an end.
British central defender Souttar has played just a year and a half since suffering an Achilles injury in late 2024, while 35-year-old Melbourne City winger Leckie is making a comeback after a long recovery from hip surgery.
Popovic suggested both would be included in his final World Cup whether they could prove their fitness in Florida as they raved about Leckie’s performance in City’s shootout defeat to Auckland FC in the A-League play-offs at the weekend.
“Mathew Leckie was the best player on the park at the age of 35, without football,” he said. “That’s the difference, and that’s what you need at a World Cup. Now he will World Cup? That will come down to his body.”
