Football Australia has moved swiftly to appoint a new Socceroos coach just three days after the resignation of Graham Arnold. Former international defender Tony Popovic has been handed the reins on a two-year deal, with a priority to promptly reverse the team’s fortunes ahead of two imminent World Cup qualifiers. Popovic described it as a “dream come true” and said he felt honour and pride at his appointment. “This is the ultimate challenge, and I’m excited by it,” he said. The Socceroos host China in Adelaide on 10 October before facing undefeated Japan in Saitama on 15 October after going winless in two matches against Bahrain and Indonesia. Those results put Australia in fifth place in the group of six, three points adrift of a direct path to the 2026 World Cup in North America in the third round of qualification. “This campaign hasn’t started the best, but I know there’s enough time and enough games to really be aiming for that top spot to go through automatically,” Popovic said. The top two teams automatically qualify. Finishing third or fourth would leave the Socceroos needing to progress through a subsequent round in Asia, and then potentially an inter-continental playoff. Popovic, 51, played 58 times for the Socceroos and has coached in Australia, Turkey and Greece. He won the Asian Champions League with the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2014 and worked for three seasons at Melbourne Victory until earlier this year. After his side lost the A-League Men grand final to Central Coast in extra-time in May, Popovic left the club at the expiry of his contract. “Five years ago, I wasn’t ready for this role,” Popovic said. “Three years ago, two years ago, I wouldn’t have looked at this role. I’m ready, I want this job, so I’m here because I want to be here.” He said it was too early to outline the type of football he’d like the Socceroos to adopt, but promised a “different style” to recent performances. “I expect us to be very dynamic in the China match,” he said, adding he hoped to play “quicker”, create more opportunities and be better connected as a team. The expansion of the World Cup in 2026 to 48 teams, was expected to ease the qualification pressure on the Socceroos, who are the fourth highest-ranked team in Asia. FA chief executive James Johnson said conversations with Popovic began early last week, after he had spoken to Arnold. Popovic has been living in Croatia and only watched the Socceroos’ last two qualifiers over the weekend, and he said he hadn’t decided yet whether he would bring in new staff. Arnold formally resigned on Friday and said he had struggled after a surprise quarter-final exit from this year’s Asian Cup, and it was time for someone else to come in. “Myself, and the staff, have done everything we possibly can.” He guided the Socceroos to their best finish at a World Cup, after they reached the round of 16 in Qatar 2022 before losing to eventual champions Argentina.