The Roosters fullback replaces Boyd Cordner, who was skipper for the Kangaroos' last Test in 2019.
South Sydney forward Cameron Murray will be Australia's vice-captain.
There are 13 debutants in Meninga's squad, who begin their World Cup defence in Leeds against Fiji on Saturday, October 15.
Among them is premiership-winning Penrith captain Nathan Cleary, who will jostle with Daly Cherry-Evans to wear the No. 7 jersey.
In the hotly-contested battle for the No. 9 roles on tour, Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook has missed out on the 24-man squad but will remain on standby.
Meninga has banked on Queensland's winning State of Origin formula with Maroons duo Ben Hunt and debutant Harry Grant set to rotate the hooking role as the Kangaroos seek a third-straight World Cup title.
Cook, Dally M medallist Nicho Hynes and Clive Churchill medallist Dylan Edwards are three players on standby.
AUSTRALIA'S SQUAD: Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Patrick Carrigan, Daly Cherry-Evans, Nathan Cleary, Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter, Angus Crichton, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Campbell Graham, Harry Grant, Valentine Holmes, Ben Hunt, Liam Martin, Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Munster, Cameron Murray (vc), Jeremiah Nanai, Murray Taulagi, James Tedesco (c), Jake Trbojevic, Jack Wighton, Isaah Yeo.
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