By Ian Rainsom

MELBOURNE, June 1 (Reuters) - Australia coach Tony Popovic said his young squad for the 2026 World Cup is better than the one that played in Qatar in 2022 and expectations should be high ahead of the tournament in North America.

Popovic’s list included 26 players, 17 of whom are participating in the tournament for the first time, as well as two players who have never played an international match: striker Tete Yingji (25 years old), who plays in Japan, and striker Cristian Volpato (22 years old), who changed his sporting nationality from Italy to Australia in the last few days.

In addition, the squad included 11 players who had played fewer than ten international matches, including defender Lucas Herrington (18 years old) and striker Mohamed Toure (22 years old).

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the team, led by former coach Graham Arnold, reached the round of 16, becoming the first Australian team to win more than one match in the World Cup.

Popovich told reporters today that he wants his players to set high expectations for themselves despite their relative lack of experience.

He added, "We weren't a mediocre squad four years ago. They were very good players."

"We were a fantastic team. After four years we are much better, so these players will be good now. I don't want to disappoint anyone. It's a young team. Will this team be better in four or eight years? Undoubtedly."

"But that doesn't mean they aren't good enough now. If they weren't, I wouldn't play them in matches."

Yenge, the younger brother of Australian national team striker Kossini Yenge, was called up at the last minute for the training camp in Florida, while Volpato joined the team in California earlier this week.

Neither of them participated in the 1-0 loss to Mexico at the Rose Bowl last Saturday.

Popovic said that the towering striker Yingji (1.97 meters), who plays for Japanese side Machida Zelvia on loan from Scottish club Livingston, could add something different to the attack because of his height and presence.

Volpato, who previously represented Italy at the under-20 level, declined Arnold's invitation to play for Australia in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but he was rewarded for his recent decision to abandon Italy and join the Australian national team.

Popovic said, "He is a very talented player... he still has a lot to offer and the opportunity to develop, which largely sums up the current state of our players."

Australia will play their final friendly against Switzerland in San Diego next Saturday before kicking off their World Cup campaign in Vancouver against Turkey on June 13. They will also play against the United States, one of the tournament's host nations, and Paraguay.