While the Australian men's football team readies itself for the World Cup opener against Turkey on Sunday (AEST), Westfields Sports High School has been helping to prepare them for decades.

Known for its production line of Matildas, the Fairfield West 'Football Factory' has also schooled a stream of Socceroos including current goalkeeper and captain Maty Ryan, his back-up Patrick Beach and defender Milos Degenek.

Ryan will become just the third Australian man to play in four World Cups, Degenek has now featured in three squads, and 22-year-old Beach is getting his first taste of the big time.

The trio continues an incredible World Cup roll call from the school, with Westfields boasting players in every squad since the Socceroos re-entered the competition in 2006.

They join Harry Kewell (2006, 2010), Jason Culina (2006), Michael Beauchamp (2006, 2010), David Carney (2010), Dimitri Petratos (2018), Aaron Mooy (2018, 2022), and Matthew Jurman (2018), Danny Vukovic (2018, 2022) as 11 Westfields alumni to feature in football's premier men’s tournament.

Few people are better placed to reflect on that legacy than the school's Deputy Principal David Barrett.

Arriving in 1991, Mr Barrett would go on to play almost 400 games in the National Soccer League with clubs including Sydney Olympic and Parramatta Power. He knows a thing or two about the game himself.

"Maty Ryan was a pretty special talent from quite a young boy," Mr Barrett said.

"He was identified before he even hit high school. I believe he was part of our primary school program, so the school probably knew about his talents when he was 11 or 12 years old."

What set the future Socceroos captain apart wasn't size or power, but something subtler.

"He was always really good with his feet, even as a young kid. So, he was always going to be comfortable in the modern game as it developed."

Beyond the football, Mr Barrett remembers a young man who was grounded well beyond his years.

"He was well liked - by his teachers, by his peers. Always very down to earth. You know, things in life didn't come easy to him, but that's where you get a strong mentality from."

As for Degenek, Mr Barrett recalls a driven young man.

"You can tell when you see Milos interviewed now that he's a strong character," Mr Barrett said.

"He's adaptable, he's had a lengthy career across several continents. I would imagine (Socceroos coach) Tony Popovic is using him as part of his leadership group, because he's just got that wealth of experience."

But for Mr Barrett the deeper story isn't trophies or caps, it's the kind of people the school produces.

"We're not a club; we're not driven by collecting trophies. Our approach is holistic. We're trying to develop good young men and women, and it's important to get that balance right."

It's a philosophy at the heart of the school's High Potential and Gifted Education approach: flexible, student-centred, and committed to developing the whole person rather than just the athlete.

"We have kids in our football program for six to eight years," Mr Barrett said. "We get to build a lot into that time - not only out on the sporting field but developing young men and women. I truly think that's the secret."

The strength and depth of talent from the school is such that a speculative all-time XI would trouble most nations, let alone represent Australia on the world stage.

Westfields All-Time XI (4-3-3): Keeper: Mat Ryan; Defenders: Milos Degenek, Matthew Jurman, Michael Beauchamp, David Carney; Midfielders: Jacob Burns, Jason Culina, Aaron Mooy; Forwards: Mark Bridge, Alex Brosque, Harry Kewell.