Way-too-early World Cup capsule: Australia

To fill the days until Atlanta United resumes play, here is a country-by-country, way-too-early alphabetical look at each team that has qualified to play in the World Cup in Russia next summer:

Australia

FIFA rank: 39

Coach: Vacant

Previous appearances: 4 (1974, 2006, 2010, 2014)

Best finish: Round of 16 (2006)

Nickname: Socceroos

Goals scored/allowed during qualification: 16/11

Population: 24.1 million

GDP (rank): 1,359.732 (13)

Players you should know: Tim Cahill formerly played at Everton in the EPL and New York Red Bulls in MLS. Yes, he’s still playing.

Aaron Mooy plays for Huddersfield Town in the EPL.

Cool fact: Australia’s Aboriginal population is believed to have arrived on the island 50,000 years ago. They grew to 500 clans and spoke 700 languages.

Any ties to Atlanta United? No

Has Australia ever been mentioned in the Simpsons? Yes

OK, but what about Modern Family? Yes

Australia in the news right now: The country passed a same-sex marriage bill

Previous World Cup capsules:

Argentina.

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