Now, the 25-year-old is the surprise No.9 living his World Cup dream.
The younger brother of 11-cap striker Kusini Yengi was on Monday named in Popovic's 26-man squad despite being uncapped and only joining the pre-World Cup training camp on May 26.
"I believe Tete probably sums up the whole process since we've started in giving players an opportunity and not closing the door on anyone," Popovic said.
"I saw some games online of him playing in Scotland and we saw him, we were monitoring him, we wrote some notes on him and left it at that at that stage."
Cerezo Osaka striker Kusini, 27, once loomed as a genuine starting striker but last played for the Socceroos in November 2024, when he scored twice in a qualifier against Bahrain.
His journey since has been derailed by injuries and struggles for game time at club level.
But his younger brother - whose journey has involved a short stint at the Newcastle Jets then bouncing through Finland, League One, League Two and the Scottish premiership and championship, has kicked on in style.
Tete Yengi sealed a surprise loan move to Machida Zelvia, formerly home to Mitch Duke, in January, then played a role in their run to the Asian Champions League Elite final.
"Then he moved to Japan and we saw he was playing well, playing regularly for a very good club. Obviously challenging in the Champions League and challenging for the J League," Popovic said.
"Then I went to watch him personally, watch him play a game and he's just stayed on our mind in terms of the profile that he has.
"It's very different to anything that we have here in terms of his size and presence on the pitch. And he's really improved and he's got a lot of game time in the last four months.Â
"So we felt that that gives us a different option, a different avenue up front and yeah, I'm delighted for the young man."
Yengi joins fellow South Australians Mohamed Toure and Nestory Irankunda in the squad.
Popovic, a former Socceroo himself who played at the 2006 World Cup, couldn't hide his delight at making other players' dreams come true.
"I'll always remember seeing their faces today," Popovic said.
"... Having been fortunate to be there myself, it was a real honour to tell them today. So a very proud moment for me."
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