In the 119th minute of a knockout match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Australia made one of the more dramatic decisions you’ll see in international football: they pulled their starting goalkeeper and brought on 104-cap veteran Mathew Ryan specifically to face a penalty shootout.

How Australia got here

The road to this moment started before the tournament even kicked off. Head coach Tony Popovic made a bold call by dropping Ryan, one of the most experienced players in Australian football history, from the starting lineup for the World Cup opener against Turkey on June 13.

In Ryan’s place, Popovic chose 22-year-old Patrick Beach, a decision that raised eyebrows across the footballing world given Ryan’s resume.

Ryan has been to three World Cups, representing the Socceroos in 2014, 2018, and 2022. He’s played for clubs including Valencia, Arsenal on loan, Roma, and Levante. He also served as captain of the national side.

Beach justified the selection with a performance that silenced at least some of the critics. He made eight saves in that opener against Turkey.

Ryan also wasn’t the only high-profile omission. Popovic dropped vice-captain Jackson Irvine alongside him, signaling a broader generational shift in how the coach envisions this squad.

The weight Ryan carries into this moment

During a 2025 World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia, Ryan made a critical penalty save. That match was his 100th cap, meaning he hit a personal milestone and saved Australia’s World Cup hopes in the same 90 minutes.

Ryan was born on April 8, 1992, which puts him in his early 30s during this tournament.