Sydney FC midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler reflects on his whirlwind rise to the Socceroos and the emotional message from his dad, a decorated Socceroos player. The 20-year-old earned himself a spot in Socceroos Head Coach Tony Popovic’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after enjoying a breakthrough season with Sydney FC, where he established himself as a key figure under both Ufuk Talay and Patrick Kisnorbo. Speaking to media at the Socceroos’ Oakland training base on Thursday morning, Okon-Engstler reflected on the rapid progress he has made over the past 12 months. “Obviously I think it’s difficult to reflect in the moment, just because so much is happening,” he said. “Since the start of the season, I’ve had a lot of growth. Being able to play my first full season professionally as a footballer has helped me grow so much physically and mentally. I’m just so happy that I’m able to be here and have the opportunity at the end of my season to be able to take part in the World Cup. I’m just so grateful for this opportunity that I’ve been given.” The World Cup call-up carries extra significance for the Sydney FC midfielder, whose father Paul Okon enjoyed a decorated career with the Socceroos and now serves as an assistant to Popovic. However, despite representing the Socceroos with distinction, the elder Okon never had the opportunity to play at a FIFA World Cup. That made the message he delivered to his son after selection all the more meaningful. “When I made the squad, he congratulated me and said, ‘You’ve already done something that I haven’t been able to do’,” Okon-Engstler said. “I never got the opportunity to play in a World Cup’, so me being able to do that and take part in that is such an achievement for me and my family. I’m just so grateful for that.”