And he'll be happy to see US President Donald Trump watch on in person as the Socceroos attempt to beat the co-hosts in Seattle.
Popovic will travel to Sarasota, Florida on Wednesday to link up with his staff and eight initial players for a pre-selection training camp.
The Socceroos will be in the thick of the most controversial and headline-creating World Cup in history.
Ongoing speculation surrounding Iran's participation and the domestic political situation in the United States, especially around immigration and border control, plus the country's interference in Venezuela, have so far outshone the football.
Last month, Socceroos mainstay Jackson Irvine said FIFA awarding Trump its inaugural FIFA Peace Prize made a "mockery" of the organisation's own human rights charter.
But Popovic doesn't consider the political climate a factor that could throw off his detailed preparations.
"No, that hasn't crossed my mind," the 52-year-old said.
"We've already been in the US (in) October and November. We've had no issues there.
"We've enjoyed both experiences - on and off the park. We were well looked after. We had a great time, whether that was casually or obviously professionally with training and playing.
"Jackson's a big boy. He has his opinions. My focus is on the team and that's not really something that I've wasted any energy on."
Trump is widely expected to attend the US's games, including against Australia in Seattle on June 19.
"I don't know if he wants to come and watch the US play, I'm sure I'd expect him to come and watch them at the World Cup," Popovic said.
"If he chooses to watch Australia, that's wonderful for us. It would make it even more special in trying to win that game."
Popovic feels no sense of trepidation ahead of his first World Cup as a coach.
More than anything, he said he would feel proud and at peace to board the flight and officially start his World Cup journey.
"I know now that when I go, I'm not coming back. So it's real. It doesn't get more real than this," Popovic said.
"You keep ticking things off ... and then this morning with my son, I got the suitcase out and started putting a few things in.
"He said, 'Dad, you're packing to go to the World Cup'. And I said, 'Yes son, I am'.
"So this is it now."
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