The Socceroos have been dealt a worrying blow less than six weeks out from the World Cup, with midfield mainstay Aiden O’Neill forced off early during New York City FC’s 2-0 loss to DC United. O’Neill went down twice after being stepped on and was substituted just 36 minutes into the match, raising immediate concerns within Australia’s camp.
The timing could hardly be worse. O’Neill has become a central figure in Tony Popovic’s plans, forming a reliable defensive midfield partnership with Jackson Irvine. The 27‑year‑old has started Australia’s past seven matches and already earned 29 caps, cementing himself as one of the first names on the team sheet.
His absence would leave a significant gap, even with emerging options like Paul Okon Jnr and Max Balard showing promise in recent fixtures. With Australia’s opening World Cup match scheduled for June 14, the Socceroos will be hoping the injury proves minor and that O’Neill can recover in time for the tournament.
For now, all eyes are on medical assessments as Australia anxiously awaits clarity on the severity of the setback.
Aiden O’Neill injury, Socceroos World Cup concerns, NYCFC midfielder injury, Australia football news, Tony Popovic squad
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