Australia has clinched its sixth consecutive FIFA World Cup berth after a thrilling 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Needing to avoid a heavy defeat to ensure qualification for the 2026 tournament, the Socceroos showcased resilience and determination on the field.
The match began with Saudi Arabia’s Abdulrahman Al Oboud scoring in the 19th minute, putting the hosts ahead and intensifying the pressure on Australia. However, the Socceroos responded fiercely. Connor Metcalfe netted an equalizer before halftime, and Mitchell Duke secured the winning goal in the second half, sealing Australia’s spot in the global showdown.
Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea wrapped up successful qualifying campaigns with emphatic home victories. In Osaka, Japan dominated Indonesia with a staggering 6-0 win. Daichi Kamada opened the scoring in the 15th minute, followed by goals from Takefusa Kubo, Ryoya Morishita, Shuto Machino, and Mao Hosoya.
South Korea, celebrating an impressive 11th straight World Cup qualification, defeated Kuwait 4-0 at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. Goals came from Jeon Jin-Woo, Lee Kang-in, Oh Hyeon-Gyu, and Lee Jae-Sung, cementing their top position in Group B.
In the third round of Asia’s qualifiers, the top two teams from each of the three groups automatically advance to the World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Alongside Australia, Japan, and South Korea, Jordan, Uzbekistan, and Iran have secured their spots in the expanded 48-team tournament.
Oman claimed the last automatic qualification place with a 1-1 draw against Palestine. They join Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia in the fourth round, scheduled for October. The teams finishing third and fourth will compete for Asia’s two remaining World Cup berths.
