ALAMEDA, California -- Lucas Herrington is aware of the hype surrounding his rapid rise to the Socceroos and the growing talk of European club interest. But with the chance to become the youngest player to ever start for Australia at a World Cup looming, he's not allowing that noise to distract him.
After only making his senior international debut in March, Herrington, 18, was the youngest member of the 26-player squad Tony Popovic named on Sunday and will be the 11th youngest player at the tournament overall -- one of a group of 13 players, highlighted by Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal, who will be aged 18 years or younger when the tournament begins.
After completing a switch from Brisbane Roar in January, Herrington has played every minute of every MLS fixture for the Colorado Rapids in 2026, having signed a contract through 2029, with a club option for a further year. However, given that reports have suggested that European sides were trying to sign him from the Rapids even before he landed in the United States, and that he's now a World Cup player, it feels unlikely Herrington will still be in the Mile High City in 2030. The teenager, however, isn't allowing that to distract him.
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"I just want to keep enjoying it, taking it day by day," he said on Wednesday, following a community session in which the Socceroos welcomed Oakland locals to observe training. "I'm not really thinking too far in the future. It's just Colorado, and now just focusing on the World Cup. That's where my focus is at the moment; we'll see what happens after that. But loving my football in Colorado, and we'll see what happens.
"It's the people in my circle, they keep me grounded and keep me humble. They tell me just to focus, take it day by day. They'll sort everything else out. Just me, focus on the field, and just play the best I can every week, and that's just sort of what I keep doing, just taking it week by week, and just game by game."
Herrington's rise has been an incredible one, given it will be just 546 days between his professional debut and World Cup bow debut should he take the field against Türkiye on June 13. Further, while he can't supplant Garang Kuol as the youngest Socceroos player in World Cup history, he will be the youngest player to start for Australia should he take a place in any of Popovic's XIs in the weeks ahead.
It would make most teenagers' heads spin, but helping Herrington in his adjustment has been the presence of several former teammates in the Australian ranks.
"I was roommates with Nestory [Irankunda] back in 2022 [during Australia's under-17 Asian Cup qualifiers]," Herrington recalled. "It's really special to be back in the camp with them, back in the Socceroos, the highest level you can get to. Also, [with] Paul Okon [Jr], I spent my under-20s journey with him, so it's great to be here with him as well.
"Especially those first few days in camp, we don't know some of the [older] boys, they're sort of the boys to bring you in, and they're always so helpful. It's great to like have some boys you know that you've played with already. Yeah, it's awesome."
Also aiding Herrington's adjustment, both to the World Cup stage and his growing presence in the transfer rumour mill, is an air of confidence and unflappability. It's a coolness that's visible during games, too, and something that his teammates have taken note of.
"Lucas, I think he has a really high ceiling," said Jason Geria. "He's a really good kid, really nice, respectful, does all the right things, willing to learn, he just wants to come here and improve. He's enjoying himself, and he has the right approach for everything.
"He's just embracing everything, he doesn't put too much pressure on himself, I think that's why he looks so almost carefree on the pitch, he looks so relaxed and just at ease when he's on the ball. It's really, it's really nice to watch. He's fit in seamlessly here, from that March camp. He was someone who you think: 'This is like a glove for Lucas.'
"I'm really happy he's here; he's going to be one to watch this tournament."
