Cameron Burgess, Ipswich Town player, envisions participating in the 2026 World Cup with Australia.
Cameron Burgess, Ipswich Town player, envisions participating in the 2026 World Cup with Australia.
Unrestricted internationally until a month prior to turning 28, Ipswich Town's Cameron Burgess stands on the brink of donning the Australian jersey at the World Cup.
Brought up in the northern Scottish city of Aberdeen, Burgess harbored no dreams of playing for the Socceroos. His grandfather, Campbell Forsyth, had donned the Scottish goalkeeper's kit four times in 1964, and his father, Stuart Burgess, also a defender, had an illustrious career in the Scottish leagues.
However, when his family relocated to Perth at the turn of the century, Burgess' allegiances shifted to Australia. Despite representing Scotland at the under-18 and under-19 levels, he quickly pledged his loyalty to the nation that had been his home during his teenage years.
Arriving at the age of 11, he discovered a nation bursting with soccer fever. The Socceroos had made it to the Round of 16 of the World Cup for the first time in 32 years, narrowly missing out on advancing past eventual champions Italy.
Burgess shared his observations, "Football over there is extremely popular. There's a lot of competition between different sports, but there are numerous teams and opportunities, and a huge number of kids playing football. So, it's a massive sport over there, and it's growing as well."
A part of that Australian side in 2006 was central defender Tony Popovic, who would later become the head coach of the men's national team in the autumn of 2022. Currently, Australia sits in an automatic qualification spot in the Third Round of Asian qualification, aiming to reach their sixth consecutive finals tournament.
Burgess expressed his desire to play in the 2026 World Cup, "Of course, I hope so. That's the goal, to reach the top two spots by June's end and qualify for the World Cup. I suppose it's a medium to long-term goal, but if I can make it to the World Cup, it would be a significant personal achievement for me."
Australia has one win and four draws from their first six qualifying matches, navigating a tight group. Burgess emphasized the challenges of playing across such a vast continent, "Absolutely. It's challenging to explain, I guess. It's one thing to experience, but another to explain it."
"The away games, especially, are incredibly demanding. The conditions are tough. The travel is also grueling, with many elements to take into account. I definitely think it's underestimated how difficult it is to emerge victorious against these teams that play drastically different styles compared to what we're used to in club football. I would certainly agree."
Recent months have seen Burgess travel from Suffolk to Bahrain, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, in addition to domestic matches throughout Australia. Despite the long-haul flights and traveling, he relishes the experience, "I truly enjoy traveling with the team. To represent my country is special for me."
The extended trips can lead to Burgess returning to the club later than expected after international breaks, but both Ipswich Town and Soccer Australia provide comprehensive support. "The national team is extremely proficient in this area. They've been doing it for years, and the care we receive is top-notch. Similarly, here, we have all the necessary treatments and advice."
Burgess has been impressed with Popovic's tenure as the Socceroos' head coach, "Things have certainly improved in that aspect. I'd say that it's gotten eerily similar to the environment we have here at Ipswich in terms of training and how he wants us to approach things. I hope this trend continues to better our performance as a team and help us achieve our objectives for the national team as well."
Activating a one-year extension option in his contract during the summer, Burgess remains a free agent at the end of this season. Nonetheless, he is unfazed about the future, "It's just the same. I'm just doing my best to perform, help the team. I haven't really given it much thought. I'm not one for dwelling on such matters. I merely focus on working as hard as possible and letting things unfold naturally."
If Burgess continues playing for Ipswich Town in the summer of 2026, he will become the eleventh player from the Suffolk side to feature in the World Cup. Six of those made their appearances in the 1982 finals, signifying Ipswich Town's heyday. He shared, "To be able to represent the club and everyone who helped me reach this moment would be a special feeling."
Burgess may not be alone at the 2026 World Cup, as his teammate Massimo Luongo could join him. Having participated in two World Cups in Brazil and Russia before joining Ipswich Town in 2023, Luongo retired from international football later that year. However, Burgess' persistent encouragement led to Luongo reconsidering his decision.
"Every single day!" Burgess joked about their conversation. "We share a room when we go on trips. He's a great friend of mine. Any squad with Mass in it is a stronger squad in my opinion. So, it's fantastic to have him back and available for selection."
Burgess is currently on a roll for his team, playing in five out of the last six games and coming close to scoring his first Premier League goal last Sunday, only for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to chalk it off due to a foul by Liam Delap. "Guess that's the thin line in the Premier League," Burgess admitted, adding that he felt the disallowed goal was a tad harsh. "Whatever floats your boat," he said, "gotta roll with the punches."
However, he was awarded the Man of the Match title in that very game and even set up Conor Chaplin for Ipswich Town's goal. "Chaplin must've screamed his lungs out for me to even hear him," Burgess said, "and let me tell you, he's done that all his career. Like a bloody referee's whistle, always loud and clear! It was a simple pass, but it felt good setting him up and seeing that first goal."
In practice sessions, Burgess finds himself shadowing Delap, the star performer of their Premier League comeback after 22 years. "He's got a knack for bumping into your toes," Burgess chuckles, "but he's bloody talented and works his socks off. Just like all the other lads in the gym, Delap's been a great addition to the squad, and here's hoping he keeps up the good work."
Burgess mentioned his aspiration to represent Australia in the 2026 World Cup, expressing, "I hope so. That's the goal, to reach the top two spots by June's end and qualify for the World Cup."
In the 2006 World Cup, Tony Popovic, who later became the head coach of the Australian national team, played as a central defender for Australia.
Ipswich Town has produced several players who have represented Australia in the World Cup, with six of them debuting in the 1982 finals. If Burgess continues playing for Ipswich Town in 2026, he could become the eleventh player from the club to participate in the World Cup.
Despite having his goal disallowed due to a foul by Liam Delap, Burgess was awarded the Man of the Match title in a recent game and set up Conor Chaplin for Ipswich Town's goal.
Burgess has been impressed with Tony Popovic's coaching style, stating, "Things have certainly improved in that aspect. I'd say that it's gotten eerily similar to the environment we have here at Ipswich in terms of training and how he wants us to approach things."