Coach Popovich proud as Australia qualify; South Korea's Hong hails youngsters

Qatar Tribune

a day ago

FIFA/AFC/TNN
Australia confirmed their place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in style, securing a 2-1 win in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Japan, meanwhile, bounced back from last week's defeat to the Aussies with a 6-0 hammering of Indonesia.
Australia coach Tony Popovich said he was proud of his team's character. Australia have qualified for the showpiece FIFA World Cup for a sixth time.
'We're happy with the win and the automatic qualification. We had a goal before the match, which was to win. I'm proud of the players and the coaching staff. I'm happy and optimistic about what's to come,' Popovich said.
'It'll sink in as the days go by. It's been a very intense period since I've joined, and I've loved it so far. We've done the first part – qualifying automatically – and now the next part is to be bigger and better for the World Cup. So, enjoy a few days, and I'm proud of all the staff and players.'
For Saudi Arabia head coach Herve Renard, the defeat at home was a frustrating reminder of his team's struggles in the final third.
'As we expected, we played a strong match against a physically strong team and got off to a strong start with the first goal. At the end of the first half, we conceded a goal in a single shot, and then at the beginning of the second half, we conceded another goal,' Renard said. 'The players responded well after the second goal, and we wasted many opportunities, just as we did in the qualifiers. Our focus now is on October (playoffs).
Elsewhere, South Korea ensured they will finish top of Group B by cruising to a 4-0 victory over Kuwait, recently-qualified Uzbekistan impressed again in a 3-0 win at home against Qatar, Iran beat Korea DPR by the same scoreline, and Kyrgyzstan drew 1-1 with United Arab Emirates.
The day ended in dramatic fashion, as a last-gasp goal gave Oman a spot in the fourth round in a 1-1 draw with Palestine.
South Korea's head coach Hong Myung-bo praised his young team saying, 'This was a really important match for the national team going forward,' Hong said. 'We will have some friendly matches coming up before the World Cup, but today was a great opportunity for our young players to gain experience. And they played so much better than I'd expected.
'No one can predict what will happen over the next year or so, and obviously, we don't have our starting lineup set for the World Cup,' Hong added.
'Some of the veteran players should still form the core of our team, and the key is for some good young players to step up and support those veterans. In that regard, the way we competed today was extremely encouraging.'
Five days after they secured a historic maiden World Cup qualification in Abu Dhabi, Uzbekistan returned home to a rapturous welcome in Tashkent. They kept the good times rolling with a slick 3-0 win over Qatar, highlighted by a couple of fine solo goals.
The Uzbekistan players and team's suppport staff, ahead of the match, were awarded with electric cars by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in honour of securing their first-ever FIFA World Cup berth.
Qatar, who debuted at FIFA World Cup 2022, have already secured their spot in the fourth round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers for World Cup 2026 (scheduled for October 2025).
The six teams from Asia that have moved into the fourth round of qualification stage besides Qatar are Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Asia has been allocated eight direct spots at the World Cup 26 and another potential berth via the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
The third qualifying round group winners and runners-up have advanced to the global finals, while the third and fourth-placed teams will advance to the fourth round, , which will see the teams divided into two groups of three. The top team in each group will qualify for the World Cup , while the second - placed teams will play a continental play-off to seal a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.
While Qatar would have wanted to finish the third round with a win but they remain focused on the fourth round. Qatar's Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui, who began his stint with the Al Annabi with a telling win over Iran last week, had earlier said, 'We'll do everything in our power to give ourselves another shot at qualification in October, which is when the fourth round takes place in Asia. We need to give it our absolute all to give ourselves another chance of qualifying. Let's just hope we've got what it takes.
Jordan and Uzbekistan have meanwhile made it to their maiden FIFA World Cup. An Ali Olwan hat-trick piloted the former to a 3-0 win over Oman, while the latter drew with United Arab Emirates.
South Korea are also back in the big dance after downing Iraq. Australia, for their part, are on the brink of a sixth successive finals after a late goal sunk Japan.