Nishan Velupillay says he’s ready to help Australia start their 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup campaign the right way, with the opening match against Türkiye on Sunday at 2pm AEST in Vancouver. Selected for the squad, the 25-year-old credits his family’s sacrifices
When Nishan Velupillay talks about the World Cup, the emotion doesn’t sound rehearsed. It sounds like a feeling that’s been building for years—through late drives to training, long days of work, and the quiet choice to put his dream first.
He’s about to take that dream onto the world’s biggest stage.
Australia kick off their 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup campaign this Sunday against Türkiye at 2pm AEST, in Vancouver. After the trip to Canada, the Socceroos return to the States to face the hosts, USA, on June 19th, and then meet Paraguay in their third and final group stage fixture on June 25th.
Since his selection to Australia’s 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup squad, Velupillay has tried to put words to a moment that still feels unreal. In his first attempt at describing the news, he explained how the excitement shifted the instant it became real.
“You always think about these things, but once they become a reality, it’s a different feeling. I’m really happy and just ready to go.
“To make an appearance in the World Cup and to help this team would be a dream come true. Obviously, I’m an attacking player, and if I can contribute with a goal or assist, or an action that helps the team, I think it’ll make the country and my family proud.”
Velupillay has already shown he can deliver under pressure, celebrating a sweet strike against Perth Glory at AAMI Park back in January. But in the World Cup build-up, it’s not just about what he wants to do on the pitch. It’s about who he wants to repay.
He’s kept himself grounded by remembering the people who carried him to this point.
“A lot of days where they’re driving you to training and they come back from long, hard days of work and they’re willing to put your dream first, I’m forever grateful for that.
“If I can repay them with a World Cup appearance, I’m sure they’ll be happy with that.”
With the tournament just days away, Velupillay will also be stepping into the team’s rhythm with the kind of momentum that comes from being seen as ready to affect games.
Leading into the World Cup this June, Socceroos and former Victory Head Coach Tony Popovic spoke highly of Velupillay after his stint off the bench against Mexico, pointing to a specific moment from that match. Popovic described it as a sign of what’s possible at this level.
“There was a moment last night in the game where he won a duel on the halfway line, and he powered away from the players… I think that was a sign that at this level, that he can actually make an impact.
“We always call him a bit of a hybrid, because he plays well between the lines, but he also likes to run in behind when it’s a high line.”
Popovic, who led the Boys in Blue for three seasons and memorably guided the Club to Australia Cup glory in 2021, remains part of Velupillay’s story through that shared football journey.
In this World Cup camp, Popovic is also joined by two more familiar faces from Vuck hearts—goalkeeper Paul Izzo and experienced defender Jason Geria—both carrying their own reasons for feeling excited.
Izzo, brought to the Club in 2022, spoke about how Popovic influenced his path while in Melbourne. Izzo says the push was about standards and what it takes to become a professional at the elite level. and he points to his rise into the national team setup after thriving for Randers in the Danish Superliga.
“(Tony Popovic) made me realise the standards and what it takes to be a professional footballer at the elite level… I’m very grateful to have worked with him in a few clubs now, because he does get the best out of me.”
For Geria, the World Cup opportunity is personal in a different way. With 189 league appearances to his name in navy blue. he will represent Australia in a major tournament for the first time. In the lead-up to World Cup squad selection. he described the experience as something that kept slipping between dream and reality.
“It feels surreal, honestly. When this campaign started at the end of 2024, it’s something that’s in the back of your mind, but there’s still a lot of distance, so it didn’t feel too real back then.
“But then, as qualifying goes on and we qualify in the way that we did… it does start to build up, and it does start to become more tangible. You’re very close to achieving something that you’ve dreamt of for so long.”
There’s a particular weight to the timing of all of this. Sunday’s match against Türkiye arrives not long after qualifying became a reality—after the long wait, the preparation, and the pressure that comes with knowing the world is watching.
For Velupillay, the first question isn’t about nerves. It’s about turning that buildup into impact.
And with his family’s sacrifices always close in his mind, the next step feels less like an invitation and more like a promise he intends to keep—one match at a time.
Watch Nishan Velupillay’s full press conference ahead of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup below:
Nishan Velupillay Australia Socceroos 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup Türkiye USA Paraguay Tony Popovic Paul Izzo Jason Geria Vancouver AAMI Park