China v Australia: World Cup 2026 qualifying
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Daniel Harris
This was supposed to be easy. Asian qualifying Group C hardly boasts the greatest teams in the world, but a home defeat to Bahrain and a draw with Saudi, added to away draws with Japan, Indonesia and pesky Bahrain again, leaves the Socceroos under pressure.
The Land of the Rising Sun have fittingly become the first to qualify for World Cup 2026, but behind them in the scuffle for the second automatic spot, Australia lead Saudi by just a point and goal difference, with matches with Japan, then one in Riyadh, their two to come after tonight's contest.
As such, the Socceroos really must win here and, in China, face the bottom team in the group. The are, though, struggling to score goals – the days of Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell are long gone – which makes every match a potential struggle.
Kick-off: 7pm local, 10pm AEDT, 11am GMT Share
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