Meet the FIFA World Cup Squad: The Midfielders

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Graham Arnold announced his 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ on Tuesday.

Over the next few days, we will take a closer look at the players selected in each position.

We have covered the goalkeepers and defenders, it is now time to take an in-depth view at our midfielders.

Aaron Mooy

Debut: 07/12/2012 v Guam
Socceroos Cap Number: 558
Socceroos Caps: 53
Socceroos Goals: 7
Major Tournaments: FIFA World Cup 2018, FIFA Confederations Cup 2017
Current Club: Celtic
Junior Club: Carlingford Redbacks FC (NSW)

Aaron Mooy figures as arguably one of Australia's most important players in the midfield engine room, responsible for dictating the tempo of matches. The 32-year-old has been a regular in the Socceroos system since 2015 as he heads to his second FIFA World Cup. He laid the foundation at Western Sydney Wanderers and spectacularly hit top gear with Melbourne City, an irresistible run of form proving impossible for parent club Manchester City to ignore.

Sent on loan to Huddersfield Town, Mooy proved a hit in the Championship as the club won promotion and parted with £8million to take him on a permanent basis, a decision he justified by helping them avoid relegation in their first season, the second season was less fortunate for The Terriers, culminating in Mooy's departure to Brighton in order to retain regular top-flight football.

He had a highly profitable first year with the south coast club, making 33 appearances as they secured their highest points tally in a Premier League season. However, the midfield maestro departed Brighton in August 2020 to link up with Chinese powerhouse outfit Shanghai SIPG and in July of this year linked up with Ange Postecoglou's Celtic on a two-year contract.

Jackson Irvine

Debut: 15/10/2013 v Canada
Socceroos Cap Number: 568
Socceroos Caps: 49
Socceroos Goals: 7
Major Tournaments: FIFA World Cup 2018, AFC Asian Cup 2019, FIFA Confederations Cup 2017
Current Club: FC St. Pauli
Junior Club: Ringwood City SC (Victoria)

Scooped up as a teenager by Celtic in 2012, Irvine spent time with Kilmarnock and Ross County where he developed a reputation as a versatile and energetic midfielder or centre-back. His form in Scotland was noticed by Championship side Burton Albion, who successfully converted him into a box-to-box midfielder. After finishing his debut season in England with 10 league goals and Burton's player of the year award, he was rewarded with a move to Hull City.

The midfielder spent three seasons at Hull and wore the captain’s armband on a handful of occasions in his final season at the club. After 11 months without a club, Irvine returned to Scotland in January 2021, signing for Hibernian.

He immediately impressed with Hibs, establishing himself as a starter alongside his international teammate Martin Boyle. Irvine carried his form onto the international stage, finishing with more goal contributions than any Socceroo during round two of qualifying.

Following the international window, he sealed a move to German outfit FC St. Pauli. After a season-and-a-half of strong performances, he is now co-captain of the club and recently signed a new long-term contract extension.

Ajdin Hrustic

Debut: 13/06/2017 v Brazil
Socceroos Cap Number: 589
Socceroos Caps: 20
Socceroos Goals: 3
Current Club: Hellas Verona
Junior Club: Heatherton United SC (Victoria)

Ajdin Hrustic heads to his first major tournament with the Socceroos after breaking into the midfield in 2021, injecting a classy touch and knack for set-piece taking into the squad.

With Australia, the attacking midfielder has scored three goals including two top-drawer free-kicks, one in a 3-0 win over Kuwait and the second arriving against Japan in a 2-1 defeat. Hrustic later netted the winner against the UAE in the final AFC round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification process to set up a meeting with Peru in the intercontinental playoff.

The Melbourne-born midfielder moved overseas as a teenager and featured in Nottingham Forest, Austria Wien and Schalke 04’s youth systems before breaking through at Dutch Eredivisie outfit FC Groningen in 2017.

Hrustic amassed 64 appearances for Groningen's first team, leading to the midfielder's move to Eintracht Frankfurt where Hrustic spent two years there which including winning the 2022 UEFA Europa League against Rangers – converting a penalty in the shootout. The 26-year-old penned a four-year deal with Serie A side Hellas Verona on the penultimate day of the summer transfer window.

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Riley McGree

Debut: 03/06/2021 v Nepal
Socceroos Cap Number: 609
Socceroos Caps: 11
Socceroos Goals: 1
Current Club: Middlesbrough
Junior Club: Gawler Eagles FC (South Australia)

Riley McGree is plying his trade in the Championship with Middlesbrough. McGree joined the English side midway through the 2021/22 season following an 18-month loan with Birmingham City from his parent club Charlotte FC after acquiring him from Adelaide United in 2020.

McGree is a versatile midfielder with a keen eye for goals, as was displayed in his breakout 2019/20 A-League season spent at Adelaide where he notched 10 goals and five assists in 23 A-League appearances.

In June 2021, McGree made his debut for the Socceroos as a second-half substitute in a 3-0 victory against Kuwait. In his second appearance and his first start just days later, McGree delivered a top performance in a 5-1 drubbing of Chinese Taipei, as the now 23-year-old provided two assists for his country.

McGree became an Olympian a month later, starting every one of the Olyroos’ Tokyo 2020 fixtures. His first goal for the Socceroos was scored in a 4-0 win over Vietnam during a FIFA World Cup 2022 qualification match in Melbourne.

Cameron Devlin

Debut: 25/09/22 v New Zealand
Socceroos Cap Number: 625
Socceroos Caps: 1
Socceroos Goals: 0
Current Club: Heart of Midlothian

Cameron Devlin made his Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 as a midfielder for the Olyroos. Born in Sydney, Devlin is a defensive midfielder. He achieved his A-League debut for Sydney FC, where he made seven appearances over the 2018-19 season. In search of more playing time, he joined Wellington Phoenix and accumulated 45 appearances for the team.

At the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, Devlin agreed to sign a two-year contract to play for the Newcastle Jets, however never moved to the club - instead joining Scottish Premiership outfit Heart of Midlothian where the young midfielder has continued to impress. That form would culminate into a Subway Socceroos call-up in September 2022 and maiden appearance against New Zealand in Auckland.

Keanu Baccus

Debut: 25/09/22 v New Zealand
Socceroos Cap Number: 628
Socceroos Caps: 1
Socceroos Goals: 0
Current Club: St Mirren

As a youth product of the Western Sydney Wanderers, Keanu Baccus made his A-League debut in 2016 and was eventually rewarded with a two-year professional contract the following year.

Since his first appearance, Baccus would quickly become a mainstay in the Wanderers’ senior team and the Australian U23 side.

Throughout the Olyroos’ World Cup Qualifying process, Baccus was an integral part of the unit that booked the team a place in Tokyo playing in all three group matches off the bench.

At the end of the 2021/22 A-League Men's season, Baccus signed with Scottish outfit St Mirren and earned his first Socceroos call-up in September 2022, completing his debut as a second-half substitute against New Zealand at Eden Park.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ - Australia's Group D Matches

France v Australia
Date: Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Venue: Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Kick-off: 6:00am (AEDT)
Watch: Live and Free on SBS and SBS On Demand

Tunisia v Australia
Date: Saturday, 26 November 2022
Venue: Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Kick-off: 9:00pm (AEDT)
Watch: Live and Free on SBS and SBS On Demand

Australia v Denmark
Date: Thursday, 1 December 2022
Venue: Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Kick-off: 2:00am (AEDT)
Watch: Live and Free on SBS and SBS On Demand