Cristian Volpato has chosen to play for Australia, with the Sydney-born footballer telling Football Australia he wants to become a Socceroo — even after he turned down the green and gold for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar because he wanted a chance at representing Italy at the senior level.
Volpato is a very handy addition for the Socceroos, especially considering he plays for Serie A side Sassuolo and has been quite decent for them recently. He plays midfield and would slot in for the injured Riley McGree as a like-for-like.
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“Football Australia has received a release letter from the Italian Football Federation. Once cleared, Volpato will be eligible to officially represent the Socceroos,” Football Australia told Oz football fans in a statement on Friday, May 29.
Volpato’s switch of allegiance from Italy to Australia was then officially approved by FIFA a day later, meaning coach Tony Popovic can pick him in the 26-man squad.
Born and raised in Sydney, Volpato turned down a spot for the Socceroos in 2022 and, in March, declared he was “waiting for Italy.” That declaration came after Popovic and assistant coach Paul Okon visited him to gauge his interest. On the call at the time, Australia’s leading helmsman said, “If that’s the choice he’s made, then I wish him well.”
This week, he said: “I’ve already spoken many times about the conversations we had and where it was left. What’s changed? The player wants to play for Australia. That’s what’s happened.”
“We didn’t chase him up or [ask] ‘Have you changed your mind? Can you come to the World Cup?’ We’ve always appreciated him as a footballer. That hasn’t changed, but I have to always respect the player’s decision. And I’ve always done that.
“And once he made a decision that he wants to represent Australia, well, now there’s a decision that we have to make. Do we go through the process? How quickly can that process be? Is it worth doing now?
“Putting everything together, we’ve come to the conclusion that we’ll take that process further. Fortunately, that’s all been ticked off.
“He’s actually eligible to play tomorrow, which he may. He may sit on the bench and come on.”
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Volpato played academy for Sydney FC and Western Sydney while he was a teenager, before leaving to take up an AS Roma youth deal. He debuted under Jose Mourinho in late 2021 and has had his international allegiance as a question ever since.
Volpato has been, up until this 2026 World Cup decision, very infamously non-committal whenever asked about which footballing nation he would choose to represent.
Popovic has to submit his final 26-man roster to FIFA by Monday (local time), and considering how quickly they rushed to submit all the paperwork, there’s no doubt that Volpato will be included in that 26-man squad heading to North America.
The coach also laughed off any suggestions that Volpato’s entry into the squad last minute – especially after his old stance – would rock the boat in any real way.
“When you have a talented player, I’m not sure what the risk is.”
