Socceroos v Japan LIVE: Australia chase vital World Cup qualifying win in Perth
What the Socceroos need to do to qualify
Roy Ward
The Socceroos can't qualify tonight but a win will all but assure them of second place in the group and a spot on the plane to North America in 2026.
Going into the last two games of the group C qualifying, Japan has locked top spot and a World Cup spot while Australia, Saudi Arabia and, mathematically, Indonesia but are chasing the second automatic berth.
The Socceroos are best placed to take second spot due to their record and their commanding nine-goal lead over the Saudis in goal difference.
Saudi Arabia plays Bahrain early on Friday morning.
Even if the Socceroos lose tonight and Saudis win both games, they will need two enormous goal-scoring efforts to get ahead of Australia on goal difference and they've only scored four goals in their previous eight qualifiers.
With some help from FIFA.com, here is how the scenarios for the Socceroos:
Socceroos make it if:
AUS beat JPN and SA lose or draw with BAH.
AUS draw with JPN, SA lose to BAH and IND lose to CHN.
If the Saudis and Australia both get the same result, their clash in Jeddah early on Wednesday morning will likely decide the group but both nations drop either or both game, then it will open the door for Indonesia to qualify in second place but they will need two wins and for Australia to lose both games
7.58pm
Will the Socceroos qualify for World Cup- and if so, when?
7.58pm
What the Socceroos need to do to qualify
By Roy Ward
The Socceroos can't qualify tonight but a win will all but assure them of second place in the group and a spot on the plane to North America in 2026.
Going into the last two games of the group C qualifying, Japan has locked top spot and a World Cup spot while Australia, Saudi Arabia and, mathematically, Indonesia but are chasing the second automatic berth.
The Socceroos are best placed to take second spot due to their record and their commanding nine-goal lead over the Saudis in goal difference.
Saudi Arabia plays Bahrain early on Friday morning.
Even if the Socceroos lose tonight and Saudis win both games, they will need two enormous goal-scoring efforts to get ahead of Australia on goal difference and they've only scored four goals in their previous eight qualifiers.
With some help from FIFA.com, here is how the scenarios for the Socceroos:
Socceroos make it if:
AUS beat JPN and SA lose or draw with BAH.
AUS draw with JPN, SA lose to BAH and IND lose to CHN.
If the Saudis and Australia both get the same result, their clash in Jeddah early on Wednesday morning will likely decide the group but both nations drop either or both game, then it will open the door for Indonesia to qualify in second place but they will need two wins and for Australia to lose both games
Socceroos fans will be hoping for a positive result and some pleasant news upon waking up on Friday morning but time will tell.
7.58pm
Good evening
Hello and welcome to our live blog for the AFC World Cup qualifier between the Socceroos and Japan.
I'm Jonathan Drennan and I'll be taking you through all the major moments as the Socceroos chase a win in their vital qualifier against rivals Japan who have already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the winner of this group.
It's almost 20 years since Socceroo's star John Aloisi scored a crucial penalty in the playoff shootout in Sydney against Uruguay to send Australia to their first World Cup in 34 years.
Tonight in Perth, the Socceroos have the perfect opportunity to create another golden memory for Australian football fans.
Kick off is 9.10pm AEST, looking forward to this.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
a few seconds ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Payne Haas tells why he chose Samoa over Australia. An Origin winner has taken a similar course
Queensland Origin centre Rob Toia will prioritise his Tongan heritage over a potential Ashes tour berth as fellow Kangaroos defector Payne Haas declared Samoa now has the playing stocks to win next year's World Cup. Haas confirmed on Sunday his switch of allegiance to the rising Pacific nation, with high hopes that fellow Australian stars Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow do the same for this year's Pacific Championships. Tonga's October 26 clash with Samoa at Suncorp Stadium is predicted to draw one of the best Test attendances in decades on Australian soil and outsell the 33,196 who turned out for Australia's win over the Mate Ma'a in Brisbane last year. Toia's decision to represent his family's Tongan roots does, however, take another outside back option off the table for Australia's three-Test tour of the UK in October and November. Big names Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic loom as the Kangaroos' first-choice centre pairing for the first Ashes tour since 2003. However, both have been hampered by injury as South Sydney and Manly have struggled this season, and arguments could be made for them focusing on club commitments given their injury histories. Toia's rise as a rookie of the year contender and an eye-catching debut Origin series keeping Mitchell quiet had him in Kevin Walters' sights, particularly given Stephen Crichton (Samoa), Valentine Holmes (torn rotator cuff) and Campbell Graham are unavailable for Australia. Like Tabuai-Fidow, Brisbane's Kotoni Staggs is still considering whether he makes himself available for Australia or Tonga at season's end. Melbourne's Xavier Coates, Canterbury's Matt Burton and Jacob Kiraz, Parramatta's Zac Lomax and Josh Addo-Carr, and Roosters rugby convert Mark Nawaqanitawase loom as Australia's other leading three-quarter options.
The Age
a few seconds ago
- The Age
Payne Haas tells why he chose Samoa over Australia. An Origin winner has taken a similar course
Queensland Origin centre Rob Toia will prioritise his Tongan heritage over a potential Ashes tour berth as fellow Kangaroos defector Payne Haas declared Samoa now has the playing stocks to win next year's World Cup. Haas confirmed on Sunday his switch of allegiance to the rising Pacific nation, with high hopes that fellow Australian stars Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow do the same for this year's Pacific Championships. Tonga's October 26 clash with Samoa at Suncorp Stadium is predicted to draw one of the best Test attendances in decades on Australian soil and outsell the 33,196 who turned out for Australia's win over the Mate Ma'a in Brisbane last year. Toia's decision to represent his family's Tongan roots does, however, take another outside back option off the table for Australia's three-Test tour of the UK in October and November. Big names Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic loom as the Kangaroos' first-choice centre pairing for the first Ashes tour since 2003. However, both have been hampered by injury as South Sydney and Manly have struggled this season, and arguments could be made for them focusing on club commitments given their injury histories. Toia's rise as a rookie of the year contender and an eye-catching debut Origin series keeping Mitchell quiet had him in Kevin Walters' sights, particularly given Stephen Crichton (Samoa), Valentine Holmes (torn rotator cuff) and Campbell Graham are unavailable for Australia. Like Tabuai-Fidow, Brisbane's Kotoni Staggs is still considering whether he makes himself available for Australia or Tonga at season's end. Melbourne's Xavier Coates, Canterbury's Matt Burton and Jacob Kiraz, Parramatta's Zac Lomax and Josh Addo-Carr, and Roosters rugby convert Mark Nawaqanitawase loom as Australia's other leading three-quarter options.
Sydney Morning Herald
30 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Yes, you can believe the hype: the Wallabies are officially back
The Wallabies have won the penalty count in three of their past four Tests and drew the other one. They have Joe Schmidt's fingerprints all over them and the players are carrying that out to perfection. It is some feat to do this after losing Dylan Pietsch in the first half and Len Ikitau for 18 minutes of the Test with what looked to be a nasty cut on the knee. 3 Was that the moment that launched Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii? The Wallabies midfielder had his hands full with the giant Springboks No.12 Andre Esterhuizen in the first half, and it looked like another quiet Test was on the cards. But Suaalii's intercept try in the second half could be the moment that launches him because he has only scratched the surface of what he's capable of. It seemed to give him an immediate burst of confidence, and he showed his aerial prowess by grabbing an important Springboks restart shortly afterwards. It was a big 'little' moment in a Test full of them, and a great example of what he can contribute in moments that don't make the highlights reel. It is difficult for midfielders against South Africa – the space isn't in their channels – but Suaalii came through the Test positively. As an aside, this was the sort of win that will bring Mark Nawaqanitawase back to rugby before the World Cup in 2027. Who wouldn't want to be part of what this squad is building? 4 The Wallabies can play better The inquest in South Africa was in full swing immediately after the final whistle, with Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus scathing of his own team. There will be endless talk about how they went away from their DNA and played far too much side-to-side rugby, and there is an element of truth in that. But the Wallabies won't be too happy with parts of their game. They knew the early box-kick barrage was coming, and they failed to deal with it. Tom Wright knocked on and Jorgensen was beaten in the air. Later in the first half, Eben Etzebeth won the high-ball chase uncontested. It will be the major focus this week in anticipation of the Springboks restoring Handre Pollard to the No.10 jersey and kicking the ball 1000 times. But the rewards of getting that right are enormous – the Wallabies looked like they could cut the Springboks to shreds on the counterattack. 5 JOC's strong return It may have been a blessing in disguise that the Wallabies felt obliged to keep James O'Connor on for the full 80 minutes, with late bench addition Tane Edmed pencilled in for the return Test in Cape Town next week. O'Connor got better with every passing minute, and his experience shone through as the Wallabies started to unpick the Springboks' suffocating rush defence. Loading There was a lot of communication passing between the Wallabies' players in that difficult first half, and O'Connor's offload to Ikitau to set up Pietsch's try in the 28th was the first sign that they had worked out the solution. In fact, so quickly did the Wallabies adapt to the rush that they turned it against the Springboks in the second half. Bell's short ball for Wilson's first try exposed the Springboks' line speed, and by the 65th minute the Wallabies were picking it apart almost at will. On the back of some front-foot ball – that man Bell again – O'Connor went over the of Springboks winger Kurt-Lee Arendse with a beautiful left-to-right pass and Jorgensen did the rest. That was smart, composed footy from an older No.10 who saw the first-half pictures and responded accordingly. Cully's team of the week Rugby Championship team of the week, round one 1 Angus Bell (Australia) 2 Codie Taylor (New Zealand) 3 Fletcher Newell (New Zealand) 4 Fabian Holland (New Zealand) 5 Nick Frost (Australia) 6 Tom Hooper (Australia) 7 Fraser McReight (Australia) - Player of the round 8 Harry Wilson (Australia) 9 Nic White (Australia) 10 Tomas Albornoz (Argentina) 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (South Africa) 12 Len Ikitau (Australia) 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (Australia) 14 Max Jorgensen (Australia) 15 Will Jordan (New Zealand)
