The Socceroos are on the brink of securing their place in the 2026 World Cup, needing only to avoid a disastrous outcome in their critical final qualifying match against Saudi Arabia. Following an exciting 1-0 victory against Japan last week in Perth, the Australian team holds a healthy lead, sitting three points ahead of their opponents with a goal difference of +8.
The Socceroos have scored more goals than Saudi Arabia during this qualifying campaign, which gives them an advantage in any potential tiebreaker scenarios. To guarantee their spot in the World Cup without complications, they simply need to avoid losing by five or more goals. Such a loss would push them into the fourth stage of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) World Cup qualifying, where additional qualification opportunities remain.
Historically, the Socceroos have faced challenges in qualifying directly for the World Cup since 2014, making this match particularly pivotal for the team’s aspirations. Fans can follow the live coverage of the match at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah on Paramount+.
This game presents an excellent opportunity for the Socceroos to solidify their position in international football, and with their current form, they have reason to be optimistic about their chances.