Popovic says Trump attending Socceroos World Cup game would be 'special'

[p]Trump is expected to attend the ‌co-hosts' matches, which include a group stage game against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/popovic-tony/ttgVDVCA/"]Popovic[/a]'s Socceroos at the 72,000-seat Seattle Stadium ‌on June 19.[/p][p]"[b]I don't know if he wants to come and ‌watch the U.S. play, I'm sure I'd expect him to come and watch ‌them at the World Cup,[/b]" Popovic told reporters in Sydney on Monday.[/p][p]"[b]If ‌he chooses to watch Australia, that's wonderful for us. It would make it even more special in trying to win that game.[/b]"[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/xSrf6qMM/"]Australia[/a] midfielder and occasional captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/irvine-jackson/SvwMecZH/"]Jackson Irvine[/a] ‌said last week that FIFA awarding Trump its inaugural ⁠Peace Prize made a "mockery" of the ‌governing body's Human Rights Policy, and voiced concern for LGBT rights in the ​U.S.[/p][p]Popovic, however, said he was not bothered by the political climate in the U.S. as he prepares to head to Sarasota, Florida, ​for a pre-World Cup camp.[/p][p]The World Cup, also co-hosted by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/canada/x4toKORL/"]Canada[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a], starts on June 11.[/p][embed guid="54e78103-714f-4964-961b-c4d84802e41b" url="https://x.com/football360au/status/2049295520926212128" social-type="twitter" /][p]"[b]We've already been in the U.S.[/b] (in)[b] October and ⁠November. We've had no issues ​there,[/b]" Popovic said of Australia's tour of the nation for friendly matches.[/p][p]"We've enjoyed both experiences - on and off the park. We were well looked after. We had a great time, whether that was casually or obviously professionally with ‌training and playing.[/p][p]"[b]Jackson's a big boy. He has his opinions. My focus is on the team and that's not really something that I've wasted any energy on.[/b]"[/p][p]A contingent of eight players will arrive at Australia's Florida camp this week, including 2022 World Cup heroes [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/souttar-harry/Aw73uj0d/"]Harry Souttar[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/leckie-mathew/pxSEDSGF/"]Mathew Leckie[/a].[/p][p]More will follow as club seasons wind down.[/p][p]Britain-based centre-back Souttar has barely played in a year and a half since an Achilles injury in late-2024, while 35-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/melbourne-city/OKfoGJBe/"]Melbourne City[/a] winger Leckie has been on the comeback trail after ‌a long recovery from hip surgery.[/p][p]Popovic suggested both would be included in ​his final World Cup squad if they could prove their fitness in ‌Florida, while raving about Leckie's performance over the weekend in City's shootout defeat by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/auckland-fc/2J7jacL6/"]Auckland FC[/a] in the A-League playoffs.[/p][p]"[b]Mathew Leckie was the best player on the park at 35, with no football under his belt,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]"[b]That’s the difference, and that’s what you need ⁠at a World Cup. Now will ⁠he make the World Cup? ‌That will come down to his body.[/b]"[/p]