Socceroos qualify for 2026 World Cup with victory over Saudi Arabia

The Socceroos have clinched a sixth successive World Cup appearance, passing their final test in qualifying with flying colours as they secured a stirring and historic 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.

All they needed to do to mathematically confirm their spot at the 2026 World Cup was avoid a five-goal defeat on Wednesday morning (AEST) - and the hosts never threatened Australia, who safely retained second position in Group C.

The Socceroos celebrate World Cup qualification. Credit: Getty Images

Indeed, Tony Popovic’s men not only recovered from a momentary wobble caused by Abdulrahman Al-Obood’s opener, but they struck back just before half-time through Connor Metcalfe’s first international goal - and then a textbook Mitch Duke header gave them the lead on the other side of the break.

A highly contentious penalty awarded against Jason Geria in the 85th minute threatened to deny the Socceroos victory - but Maty Ryan, marking his 100th cap, saved the spot kick from Saudi captain Salem Al-Dawsari before Marwan Al Sahafi’s follow-up attempt was put wide of an empty net.

Ryan was then mobbed by all 10 of his teammates - and their celebrations resumed after the full-time whistle, once the job was officially done.

It is Australia’s first win on Saudi soil since 2011, having last week registered their first win over Japan since 2009 - rounding out what has been arguably their best international window in recent memory.

The result keeps Popovic’s undefeated record intact through eight matches in charge of the Socceroos, a string of results that would have been beyond anyone’s wildest dreams when he replaced Graham Arnold in September - especially since that run included home and away fixtures against Japan and Saudi Arabia, the two nations who finished above Australia in their qualifying group for Qatar 2022, forcing them down the arduous play-off route.

Next year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will be the first under an expanded 48-team format, with berths for AFC nations increasing from four to eight, so it was always going to be a little easier for the Socceroos to qualify. But it has not been simple, or straight-forward, with standards rapidly increasing across Asian football, and the slip-ups against Bahrain and Indonesia in Arnold’s final games as coach leaving Popovic with a difficult path to navigate.

Saudi Arabia’s federation made tickets free of charge at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium, hoping to draw a capacity crowd to bolster the Green Falcons’ hopes of an unlikely five-goal victory.

But locals voted with their feet, with large swathes of the venue empty in a clear sign that most fans in Jeddah thought direct qualification was beyond them due to Australia’s +8 goal difference buffer. So it proved. As expected, the Saudis began on the front foot and broke through in the 19th minute when Al-Obood bundled in a cutback from Al-Dawsari, whose slick movement down Australia’s right flank could not be curtailed. His ball clipped Ryan’s glove before falling for Al-Obood to prod it home from essentially on the goal line.

That moment needed to be followed up by more of the same from the Green Falcons, but Australia did not let that happen. In fact, they levelled the scores with three minutes left in the half, with Metcalfe converting a one-on-one chance after being put through by veteran striker Duke, whose hold-up play and subsequent assist showed why Popovic continues to put his faith in him.

Then Duke got in on the action himself in the 48th minute, heading home a free kick from Martin Boyle that meant the Saudis had to score six goals to advance. That was never going to happen, even as an initial red card to defender Ali Majrashi was rescinded upon VAR review, briefly giving them hope of clawing their way back into the contest.

The penalty against Geria gave them another glimpse - only for Ryan to take it away.

As the Saudis now venture into the fourth round of AFC World Cup qualifying - alongside Graham Arnold’s Iraq, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Indonesia, all of whom will be competing for the next two direct berths - the Socceroos have the luxury of 12 months of preparation for the tournament.

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