CHARLOTTE—Riley McGree has been called up to the Australian national team squad for a series of World Cup Qualifiers this summer.
The 22-year-old, currently on loan with English Championship side Birmingham City, previously gained national recognition in his homeland when he captained Australia’s U23 side.
The Charlotte FC midfielder will now join the senior squad’s training camp ahead of qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup. Australia, who currently top their qualification group, will face Kuwait, Chinese Taipei, Nepal and Jordan in a series of matches this June.
McGree will also be eligible for the Socceroos’ Olympic Team that will be traveling to Tokyo for the 2020 Summer Games.
“At a young age, Riley has already forged an impressive track record in international soccer, and we are delighted to see him play a role in Australia’s 2022 World Cup qualification campaign,” said Charlotte FC Sporting Director Zoran Krneta.
“With a place in Charlotte FC’s inaugural squad and the potential to travel to Qatar with his national team for the World Cup, 2022 is shaping up to be a landmark year for a player with a very bright future ahead of him.”
McGree was first called up to the Socceroos’ senior squad at the age of 18, during the successful qualification campaign for the 2018 World Cup. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the forthcoming qualifiers mark Australia’s first senior games since November 2019.
In addition to his international call-up, McGree’s loan period with Birmingham City has been extended until January 1, 2022. The former Puskas Award nomineehas been virtually ever-present during manager Lee Bowyer’s tenure, featuring in each of Birmingham’s final seven games of the 2020-21 campaign.
“We are happy with Riley’s progress in Birmingham,” said Charlotte FC Scouting Director Thomas Schaling. “It is a big jump in level going from the A-League to the Championship, but Riley has really shown himself whenever he’s been given the opportunity. This call-up, and his loan renewal, are great rewards for him.
