Australia's national football team, the Socceroos, booked their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The result marks their sixth consecutive qualification for the global tournament, solidifying their status as one of Asia's most consistent football forces.
Facing a determined Saudi side in Riyadh, Australia fell behind early when Abdulrahman Al Oboud scored in the 19th minute. However, second-half goals from Connor Metcalfe and Mitchell Duke sealed the crucial win, sparking celebrations across Australian football communities worldwide.
Meanwhile, Asian powerhouses Japan and South Korea concluded their dominant qualifying campaigns with commanding victories. Japan routed Indonesia 6-0 in Osaka through goals from Daichi Kamada, Takefusa Kubo, and Mao Hosoya, while South Korea defeated Kuwait 4-0 in Seoul with Lee Kang-in and Lee Jae-Sung among the scorers.
The qualification structure for Asia's expanded 48-team World Cup sees the top two teams from each third-round group advance automatically. Jordan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Japan, and South Korea have already secured their spots alongside Australia. Six third and fourth-placed teams will compete in October's fourth round for Asia's final two automatic berths.
This qualification cycle highlights Asia's growing football competitiveness, with 45 national teams initially vying for eight direct qualification spots. The 2026 tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature record Asian representation, reflecting the continent's rising influence in global football.
