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Squad confirmed for AFC U23 Asian Cup adventure

Football Australia has confirmed the 22 players who are set to represent the Olyroos at the AFC U23 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan next month.

The squad for next month's AFC U23 Asian Cup has been released. Don't forget that you can catch every match from the tournament live and free on 10 play.

The bulk of Australia’s squad for next month’s AFC U23 Asian Cup has today been revealed, with twenty-two (22) of the twenty-three (23) players set to represent the Olyroos in Uzbekistan locked in.

The green and gold have been drawn in Group B of the tournament alongside Kuwait, Iraq, and Jordan, and will play its group matches in the cities of Qarshi (two matches) and Tashkent (one match) between June 1 and 7.

Each of Australia’s matches at the AFC U23 Asian Cup will be broadcast exclusively live in Australia on Paramount+, with the first cohort of players in the squad assembling in Uzbekistan from Monday, 23 May 2022 for a pre-tournament training camp.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 12: Ramy Najjarine of the Olyroos controls the ball during the match between the Australian Under 23 Olyroos and Sydney FC at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on November 12, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Any players with A-League Finals – or potentially A-Leagues All Stars – commitments will travel to Uzbekistan following the completion of their respective domestic campaigns.

One additional player will be added to Australia’s squad prior to the commencement of the tournament.

READ: AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2022 Fixtures

MORE: Australian Internationals live and free on 10 play in June

Trevor Morgan, who will coach Australia’s U23s at the upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup with the assistance of former Socceroos attacker Richard Garcia, said he’s excited by the pool of players that will represent the nation in Central Asia.

“We have assembled a strong squad of young Australian talent to compete at the upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup, with one additional player to be added in the coming days,” Morgan said. “The players in the squad are making an impact in senior football, and with many age-eligible for Paris 2024 this tournament will provide an important moment in their development. While some players won’t be eligible for the next Olympic cycle, the opportunity for them to go to a high-level international competition will assist them in their careers, and help to create further depth for the Socceroos.”

“In recent youth national team camps we have placed a strong emphasis on having former Socceroos, such as Paul Okon, Craig Moore, Mark Milligan, and Luke Wilkshire involved, so I am delighted that Richard Garcia has accepted our invitation to travel with us for this tournament as an Assistant Coach. Richard represented Australia at U23 level, played 17 internationals for Australia including at the FIFA World Cup in 2010, and enjoyed a fantastic club career, so the advice and experiences he will be able to impart on the players will be crucial.”

Australia finished third at the last AFC U23 Asian Cup, then known as the AFC U23 Championship, in Bangkok, Thailand in January 2020 to secure qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Men’s Football Tournament. Since competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, multiple young Australian players have secured club moves abroad, and/or progressed into the senior Socceroos’ set-up, illustrating the importance of Australia’s U23 program.

The upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup does not serve as part of the process for qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Men’s football qualifying for Paris 2024 is set to commence in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) next year.

Football Australia announced last week that former Socceroo Tony Vidmar will take charge of Australia’s U23 men’s program at the completion of the Socceroos’ FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 campaign.

Australia U23 Squad (one player to be added) | AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2022

Name Club, Country Junior Club (Member Federation)
Hosine BILITY Fram Reykjavik, Iceland Croydon Kings FC (Football South Australia)
Nicholas BILOKAPIC (Gk) Hartlepool United, England Sydney United 58 FC (Football NSW)
Jordan BOS Melbourne City FC, Australia Hoppers Crossing SC (Football Victoria)
Lachlan BROOK Adelaide United FC, Australia Gawler Eagles FC (Football South Australia)
Jacob CHAPMAN (Gk) Huddersfield Town AFC, England Epping Eastwood Tigers FC (Football NSW)
Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS Rakow Czestochowa, Poland Newmarket SFC (Football Queensland)
Louis D’ARRIGO Adelaide United FC, Australia West Torrens Birkalla SC (Football South Australia)
Jacob FARRELL Central Coast Mariners FC, Australia Wyoming FC (Football NSW)
Tyrese FRANCOIS Fulham FC, England Campbelltown Uniting Church SC (Football NSW)
Joe GAUCI (Gk) Adelaide United FC, Australia Cumberland United FC (Football South Australia)
Tristan HAMMOND FK Austria Wien II, Austria Fairfield Hotspurs SC (Football NSW)
Alou KUOL SV Sandhausen, Germany Shepparton SC (Football Victoria)
Lewis MILLER Central Coast Mariners FC, Australia Pittwater RSL FC (Football NSW)
Ramy NAJJARINE Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia Mounties Wanderers FC (Football NSW)
Joshua NISBET Central Coast Mariners FC, Australia St Marys FC (Football NSW)
Bernardo Oliveira (BERNARDO) Adelaide United FC, Australia Port Adelaide Pirates SC (Football SA)
Cameron PEUPION Brighton Hove & Albion FC, England Wakehurst FC (Football NSW)
Joshua RAWLINS Perth Glory FC, Australia Dianella SC (Football West)
Jay RICH-BAGHUELOU Accrington Stanley FC, England Palm Beach SC (Football Queensland)
Kai TREWIN Brisbane Roar FC, Australia Gungahlin United FC (Capital Football)
Patrick WOOD Sydney FC, Australia Collaroy Cromer Strikers FC (Football NSW)
Patrick YAZBEK Sydney FC, Australia Austral Soccer Club (Football NSW)