Socceroos WAGs – As the Socceroos chase glory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, their partners are in the spotlight too—backing players through ambition, heartbreak, and life-changing challenges. From a Supreme Court lawyer and expecting parents, to a cancer survivor’s unwavering su
The dream start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has placed Australia’s Socceroos in the glare of the global stage—but the roar doesn’t come only from players on the pitch. It comes from the women in the stands and the ones cheering from home. carrying their own battles. moving countries for careers. and turning personal milestones into something shared with the national team.
In Perth, Chloe Gelmi is doing it all at once. The lawyer and model—who graduated from Curtin University with Law and Commerce degrees before being admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2019—is expecting her first child with Socceroos captain Mat Ryan later this year. The couple announced they were expecting their first child in 2025 and later revealed they were having a boy after a football-themed celebration in France.
For Charlize Mackenzie, the World Cup moment arrived with emotion already running hot. Her partner. country singer Charlize Mackenzie. has been a constant presence alongside Patty Beach after his surprise rise in Australia’s opening match. When Beach was named starting goalkeeper in the Socceroos’ World Cup opener against Turkey. Mackenzie responded with a social media tribute that included: “Screaming. crying. throwing up. so incredibly proud of my boy”. She later added: “I know right so proud of him. can’t wait to be there with him soon !!!!” Their relationship has lasted two years. and they regularly share milestones online.
In Melbourne, Rose Behich is preparing to watch her husband’s third World Cup after a fight that changed everything. Rose will be in the stands for Aziz Behich’s third World Cup after overcoming lymphoma. The diagnosis came shortly after the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Rose underwent chemotherapy and is now in remission. Ahead of Australia’s clash with Turkey. Behich said his wife continued to support his career throughout her treatment and “made sure I was playing my football” despite her own battle. Aziz has said he was “forever grateful” to have Rose by his side in Canada. adding that she has attended every World Cup of his international career.
Not every supporter can be in the stadium. but Jordan Bos’ partner Tanaya Baker made sure she was close to the moment anyway. Baker travelled to Vancouver to support Bos as he made his World Cup debut for Australia against Türkiye. where she watched him impress at left-back with a composed defensive display and a crucial block. Their life together has taken them from Rotterdam, where they live, and across Europe—sharing trips including Paris and Mallorca. Baker’s support is rooted in the rise Bos earned after a standout season for Feyenoord. scoring four goals and providing seven assists in 28 appearances.
Away from matchday drama. Aimée Grindley has been building a steadier kind of momentum behind the scenes—one shaped by love. family. and work. Grindley, an HR professional, became engaged to Jacob Italiano during a romantic Tuscany proposal in 2025. The relationship became public in a memorable way when Italiano’s Grazer AK teammate Leon Klassen. jokingly. asked him on a Socceroos vodcast whether he missed his dog or his girlfriend more—prompting Italiano’s quick reply: “My girlfriend.” Grindley’s professional life is anchored in human resources. working as a Human Resources Intern with Imdex Limited since 2022 after previous roles in healthcare. retail and fashion.
For Aleksandra Degenek, support has meant juggling ambition and responsibility across borders. Born in Serbia, she has built a career in both modelling and medicine while raising a young family. She is the wife of Socceroos defender Miloš Degenek. and she is studying to become a doctor—balancing university commitments with modelling work and motherhood. The couple have two children and have spent much of their married life moving between countries as Degenek’s football career has taken him across Europe. the Middle East and Australia. Aleksandra has documented family life and overseas travels too, including trips to Miami and Dubai.
Jackson Irvine’s world looks different because Jemilla Pir brings her own one with it. Yorkshire-born tattoo artist and illustrator, Pir has built a following for her distinctive artwork while living in Germany with Irvine. The couple married in Copenhagen in 2024 after Irvine famously forgot his passport and was forced to postpone their registry appointment by a day. Pir regularly creates artwork. tattoos and even piercings for Irvine. and the pair have embraced a creative. alternative lifestyle that doesn’t fit the traditional WAG template. While Irvine was with FC St. Pauli, Pir lived in Hamburg and became familiar to the club’s passionate fan base. She was also by his side when the team secured promotion to the Bundesliga.
In Harry Souttar’s corner, Jodi Ogilvie’s support has been measured in years—and in patience. Ogilvie stood by Souttar during his long injury recovery from the Achilles injury that sidelined him for much of 2023 and 2024. The couple announced their engagement in September 2025 after several years together. generally keeping their relationship out of the spotlight while still sharing major milestones through social media. Their engagement came as Souttar returned to full fitness and resumed his place as one of Australia’s most important defenders.
And for Mathew Leckie, the bond stretches across a full football life. Laura Friese has supported Leckie throughout his international career and multiple FIFA World Cup campaigns. The couple began their relationship in November 2011 and married on May 28, 2016. Born in 1991. Laura speaks both German and English and supported Leckie during his years playing in Germany before the family returned to Australia. They have three children together—a Henry and two daughters—and have built their family life around Leckie’s globe-trotting career. Laura has been a familiar presence at major tournaments. cheering on the Socceroos star across multiple FIFA World Cup campaigns and throughout his club career with Melbourne City and abroad.
The through-line across these stories is plain: the World Cup isn’t only a test of fitness and form. It is also the stage where private sacrifices become impossible to hide—whether that means celebrating a baby’s arrival. sharing the shock of a World Cup debut. watching someone recover from lymphoma. or maintaining a life rooted in art. medicine. law. and love while the football world moves on around them.
MISRYOUM Sports News Socceroos 2026 FIFA World Cup Mat Ryan Chloe Gelmi Patty Beach Charlize Mackenzie Aziz Behich Rose Behich Jordan Bos Tanaya Baker Jacob Italiano Aimée Grindley Miloš Degenek Aleksandra Degenek Jackson Irvine Jemilla Pir Harry Souttar Jodi Ogilvie Mathew Leckie Laura Friese
WAGs always seem like the real story lol.
So she’s a lawyer *and* a model and also pregnant? That’s a lot. I don’t even know how people balance all that, but good for them I guess.
Wait isn’t the whole point of World Cup that it’s “about the players”? Now it’s like we’re writing biographies of girlfriends and wives… also the Supreme Court thing sounds fake or like clickbait. Cancer survivor tattoos cheering Australia?? like are they all getting tattoos or just one person? I’m confused.
Not gonna lie, I like the idea of them backing the team from the sidelines, especially the cancer survivor part. But calling them “WAGs” is kinda weird though, like they’re not props. And France football-themed celebration for the baby?? that’s just wild. I bet half of these women are only famous because of who they married, but at the same time if she’s literally a Supreme Court lawyer that’s pretty impressive.