There was a period, around the turn of the century, where Australia’s U-20 side was not only a regular participant at the FIFA U-20 World Cup™ but also a regular title contender.
Back-to-back semi-final appearances at Portugal 1991 and the following edition, which the Australians hosted, were a high-water mark. Those squads contained a host of players, including Mark Bosnich, current Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic, Craig Moore and Kevin Muscat, who would go on to enjoy fine senior careers.
Another among those ranks was the current Socceroos assistant coach Paul Okon, who – in a lineage extending-moment – gets to watch his son, Paul Okon-Engstler star in the current iteration of the U-20s.
Far removed from those heady days, the nation’s qualification for Chile 2025 marks the first time that the Young Socceroos have returned to this global showpiece in 12 years.
Hopes are high, though, that this current crop could be poised to return the nation to global prominence. Their title success at this year’s AFC U-20 Asian Cup, which secured their passage to Chile, was the first time that any Australian youth team had won an Asian tournament.
Driven on by the midfield heartbeat Okon-Engstler, who has a solid defence behind him and pace, creativity and goals in front, the Young Socceroos head to South America looking to make a real mark on the global stage.
Australia’s Group D fixtures
28 September
Italy-Australia (17:00 local time, Estadio Elias Figueroa Brander)
1 October
Argentina-Australia (20:00 local time, Estadio Elias Figueroa Brander)
4 October
Australia-Cuba (20:00 local time, Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos)
The coach: Trevor Morgan
Widely regarded as one of the finest youth coaches that the nation has produced, Morgan is both a fantastic tactician and motivator. The 54-year-old has worked, either as a head coach or an assistant, at every level of the Australian men’s national team programs.
That includes leading the Joeys (the U-17 side) to the knockout phase at the FIFA U-17 World Cup™ in 2019 and a spell as the National Technical Director from 2020-2022.
At the helm of the Young Socceroos since mid-2023, Morgan has been instrumental to the growth and development of a swathe of Australian football talent.
Speaking with FIFA earlier this year, he declared Australia is heading to Chile fearing no opponent.
“We want to take a team that reflects the way we want to play and to prepare a team that can then beat anybody… a team that really believes in itself and plays a positive style of football. It’s crucial that we maintain this momentum and make sure that the squad really believes that they can beat anybody.”
Star player: Paul Okon-Engstler
Son of one of the finest Socceroos the nation has produced, Okon-Engstler was born in Belgium while his father was playing with Oostende. It was also the nation where he took some of the first steps in his youth career, with Club Brugge.
A three-year stint with Portuguese power SL Benfica followed before he signed for A-League giants Sydney FC in July, where he is poised to grace the domestic stage for the first time in his career this season.
A cultured central midfielder, the 20-year possess exceptional tactical awareness, vision and passing, and is poised to be the Young Socceroos’ tempo-setter in South America.
One to watch: Steven Hall
The one position that Australia has consistently produced star players in is unquestionably in goal. Mark Schwarzer, Mark Bosnich, Zeljko Kalac, Mathew Ryan and many more besides all shone at the very highest levels of the game.
Hopes are high that in Steven Hall that production line may continue. Having pulled off a remarkable one-handed save, going against the direction of his initial dive, to win the Young Socceroos the penalty shoot-out in the final of the U-20 Asian Cup showed that Hall is a player for the big moments.
Currently on the books of Brighton & Hove Albion, the 20-year-old – who was born exactly a week earlier than Okon-Engstler – will be looking to impress in Chile and make the step up to the Seagulls’ senior side.
