How discipline and mental toughness paved the Socceroos’ road to the 2026 World Cup
Expert Commentary By Dr Alberto Filgueiras
This month, the Socceroos secured qualification for their sixth consecutive FIFA World Cup – a milestone that places Australia among a select group of national teams with a record of consistent appearances on football’s biggest stage. Only a handful of countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Japan, South Korea and Mexico, can boast the same.
It’s an impressive achievement, especially considering the strategic gaming style under coach Tony Popovic. The team adopted a five-man defensive line – a tactical decision aimed at creating a solid back structure – while trusting the attacking players to make the most of their finishing skills. The plan worked, even against technically strong sides like Japan and Saudi Arabia.
What’s most interesting isn’t just the defensive setup or the finishing up front — it’s how the team managed to stay mentally sharp while spending most of the game without the ball. Against Japan, Australia had only 30 per cent of possession. Against Saudi Arabia, it was just 32 per cent.
This kind of transitioning game style demands more than physical fitness. It calls for concentration, razor-sharp focus, discipline and resilience – all hallmarks of strong psychological performance. In other words, it was more than great physical conditioning, it was great mental skills.
Tactical Discipline and Mental Toughness
In elite football, it’s one thing to follow the coach’s plan – it’s another to know when to adapt. Do you track the attacker making a dangerous run, or hold your position to protect your zone? The answer isn't always clear. Game situations shift quickly, and players must make fast and smart decisions that go beyond simply following orders.
The best players are those who can interpret what’s unfolding on the pitch through the lens of their coach’s instructions. In other words, it’s not about blind obedience – it’s about understanding and applying tactical knowledge in real time.
A 2022 study involving 81 elite youth Brazilian footballers found that strong planning abilities and tactical awareness were key predictors of smart decision-making and, ultimately, high performance. These cognitive skills – including visuo-spatial perception and strategic thinking – help players visualise what the coach wants and respond flexibly to changing game conditions.
Trust, unity and values
But cognitive skills alone don’t build a disciplined team. Trust matters too. Recent research from Canadian scholars highlights how the quality of the coach-athlete relationship plays a critical role in building that trust. According to the study, trust is often given early in a relationship – especially when a coach is new to a team – but it’s only sustained through consistent, trustworthy behaviour and shared commitment to goals. In this sense, discipline goes both ways. Coaches must model the same values they ask of their players.
The Socceroos’ recent performance in World Cup qualifying suggests this trust is firmly in place. Under Tony Popovic’s leadership, the team didn’t just adopt a new tactical approach – they embraced it. Even in games where the Socceroos had little possession, the players remained disciplined, focused and mentally sharp. This brings us to another key ingredient: mental toughness.
Resilience under pressure
Defined in sport psychology as the ability to stay composed under pressure and thrive in challenging situations, mental toughness has long been seen as a cornerstone of elite performance. A recent meta-analysis published in 2024 confirmed the strong link between mental toughness and athletic achievement, particularly in elite sports.
Importantly, mental toughness isn’t just an individual trait – it can be cultivated at the team level. Shared values, clearly defined goals, and role clarity all contribute to this psychological edge. In fact, a 2016 study of 263 youth footballers in Africa found that defenders and defensive midfielders tended to report higher levels of mental toughness, a quality that appeared to influence teammates within the same defensive line.
The Socceroos’ success in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers isn’t just about tactics or technical ability – it’s also about discipline, trust and mental resilience. Whether these qualities will carry them deep into the tournament remains to be seen. But one thing’s certain: the foundation is strong, and the road ahead looks promising.
Dr Alberto Filgueiras is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at CQUniversity, with Masters and PhD degrees in developmental and cognitive neuroscience, and post-doctorates in Sport Sciences and Physical Education. He is a registered sport psychologist in Brazil and has worked with athletes from 13 nationalities, including Olympic medallists, world champions and professional footballers. His current research focuses on decision-making to enhance sport performance.
