Herrington Joins Socceroos Squad for Middle East Trip

Central Coast Mariners defender Diesel Herrington is among eight changes to the Socceroos squad for the November international window.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Soccer

Herrington Joins Socceroos Squad for Middle East Trip

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Football Australia made eight squad changes for the November international window, with Central Coast Mariners defender Diesel Herrington joining the Socceroos. The squad is set to face Qatar in Doha next Saturday morning (AEDT), with a match against Jordan in Amman scheduled four days later, though that fixture is not certain to proceed.

Why it matters

The changes follow the postponement of the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia for security reasons, and several players had raised safety concerns about travelling to Jordan. The uncertainty over the Jordan match leaves the Socceroos' November schedule open to change as Football Australia monitors the security situation.

Eight players were brought into the squad, including Joe Gauci, Tom Glover, Gianni Stensness, Sam Klein, Daniel Arzani, Thomas Waddingham and Kusini Yengi, while eight were removed, among them Jackson Irvine and Aiden O'Neill. The Jordan fixture's status is not confirmed.

The players

Diesel Herrington

A defender for the Central Coast Mariners in Australia's A-League, he is the older brother of fellow footballer Lucas Herrington.

Football Australia

The governing body for soccer in Australia, responsible for selecting the national teams including the Socceroos.

The details

Diesel Herrington, a defender with the Central Coast Mariners and older brother of Lucas Herrington, was included in the squad. Football Australia said it would continue to assess the security environment and provide players with updates.

Timeline

  1. The Socceroos are scheduled to play Qatar next Saturday morning (AEDT) in Doha.

  2. The Socceroos are scheduled to play Jordan four days later in Amman, though this is not certain.

  3. The Asian Cup was originally scheduled to start in January in Saudi Arabia before being postponed.

Season Trajectory

The squad overhaul comes after the 2026 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia was postponed for security reasons, reshaping Australia's international fixtures. Eight changes from the September series against Brazil signal a rebuilding of the squad for the Middle East matches.

Fans following the Socceroos should note the Jordan match is not confirmed, so the schedule could change. Fantasy and betting interest in the squad changes will depend on which players take the field against Qatar.

The takeaway

Fans should watch for updates from Football Australia on the Jordan fixture before making plans, as security assessments may still change the schedule.

What happens next

The Socceroos are due to play Qatar in Doha next Saturday morning (AEDT), followed by a possible match against Jordan in Amman four days later, subject to security assessments.

Further reading

Find more on the national team in our Soccer coverage.

Live Poll

Do you think it is safe for national teams to travel to the Middle East now?