The Socceroos’ hopes of direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are on the line tonight, facing another must-win clash as they travel to face China. Live from 10pm AEDT!
Australia remains second in its qualifying group, in position to directly qualify for the next World Cup hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, after thumping Indonesia 5-1 in Sydney last week.
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But with three games left in this stage of AFC qualifying it’s still all to play for, with Saudi Arabia breathing down their necks – ahead of what could be a do-or-die clash on the final matchday in June.
Japan has already qualified and hosts Saudi Arabia tonight, kicking off half an hour before the Socceroos’ clash with China, and the Aussies would greatly prefer a Japanese win.
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With a win tonight over China, Australia would be virtually guaranteed at least a place in the next round of qualifying (which involves another, shorter group stage).
Combined with a Saudi Arabia loss tonight, the Socceroos would be four points clear with two games to play, needing just one more win in their last two matches to clinch a spot at the World Cup.
In that scenario, even with a loss to Japan in Perth in June, a draw away to the Saudis would be enough for the Socceroos to qualify.
But if Saudi Arabia draws with or beats Japan tonight, and/or if Australia draws with or loses to China, the path gets much tougher with the automatic qualifying spot to go down to the final two matchdays.
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The Socceroos defeated China 3-1 when they played in Adelaide last October, but tonight’s hosts are in a must-win scenario of their own, needing to escape the group basement and overcome their poor goal difference if they’re to live up to their own government’s high expectations and qualify for the expanded World Cup.
AFC WORLD CUP QUALIFYING GROUP C STANDINGS (Start of night)
1. Japan [Q] (6 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses), +22 goal difference, 19 pts
2. Australia (2 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss), +5 goal difference, 10 pts
3. Saudi Arabia (2 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses), -2 goal difference, 9 pts
4. Indonesia (1 win, 3 draws, 3 losses), -7 goal difference, 6 pts
5. Bahrain (1 win, 3 draws, 3 losses), -7 goal difference, 6 pts
6. China (2 wins, 0 draws, 5 losses), -11 goal difference, 6 pts
Australia’s remaining games: vs China in Hangzhou tonight 10pm AEDT, vs Japan in Perth on June 5, vs Saudi Arabia away on June 10
Also playing tonight: Japan vs Saudi Arabia in Saitama (9:35pm AEDT), Indonesia vs Bahrain in Jakarta (Wednesday 12:45am AEDT)
Top two nations qualify directly for World Cup
Third and fourth enter fourth round of AFC qualifying
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