For the fifth consecutive time since the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifiers, SAMURAI BLUE and Australia will meet in the final round of AFC Asian qualifiers. In the previous FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ qualifiers, Japan won the home leg 2-1 at Saitama Stadium 2002, before a late brace from MITOMA Kaoru earned them a 2-0 win in Sydney to book their ticket to Qatar.

After finishing third behind Saudi Arabia and Japan in the AFC Asian qualifiers, Australia progressed to the Asian play-offs, where they beat UAE 2-1. In the intercontinental play-offs that followed, they beat South American side Peru on penalties after a 0-0 draw to qualify for their sixth consecutive World Cup. In Qatar, they suffered a 4-1 defeat to France in their opening match but went on to beat Tunisia and Denmark to reach the knockout stages for only the second time in their history. However, they lost 2-1 to eventual winners Argentina in the round of 16.

They put in an impressive display in the second round of the Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 26™, winning all six of their matches, scoring 22 goals and conceding none. However, despite their dominant performance in the second round, they opened the final round with a 0-1 home defeat to Bahrain, followed by a goalless draw away to Indonesia. The results prompted Graham ARNOLD to resign as head coach at the end of September.

Tony Popovic was appointed as head coach in a bid to turn around the team's fortunes, which currently lie fifth out of six teams. Coincidentally, like former head coach Arnold, Popovic was a teammate of SAMURAI BLUE coach MORIYASU Hajime when he played for Sanfrecce Hiroshima. On taking over, the former Australia defender said: “I believe in the potential of the team, and I have confidence in them.”

Nicknamed the “Socceroos,” the team is led by centre-back Harry SOUTTAR, who is expected to play a key role in both offence and defence. Standing at 200cm tall, he poses a huge threat in front of goal. Up front, Kusini YENGI has emerged as a key player, scoring four goals in the last three matches of the second round. Mitchell DUKE, who plays for Machida Zelvia, is another player to watch out for. Veterans of the 2022 World Cup, including goalkeeper Mathew RYAN, Aziz BEHICH and Jackson IRVINE, will also play key roles in the team. Under their new coach, the team will be looking to make a comeback when they take on China PR on 10 October and Japan on 15 October.

Australia National Team

Coach

Tony POPOVIC (Australia)

Squad

GK
Mathew RYAN (AS Roma/Italy)
Paul IZZO (Randers FC/Denmark)
Joe GAUCI (Aston Villa/England)

FP
Luke BRATTAN (Macarthur FC)
Aziz BEHICH (Melbourne City)
Mitchell DUKE (Machida Zelvia/Japan)
Craig GOODWIN (Al Wehda/Saudi Arabia)
Jackson IRVINE (FC St. Pauli/Germany)
Jason GERIA (Melbourne Victory)
Cameron BURGESS (Ipswich Town/England)
Ajdin HRUSTIC (Salernitana/Italy)
Thomas DENG (Albirex Niigata/Japan)
Keanu BACCUS (Mansfield Town/England)
Kye ROWLES (Heart of Midlothian/Scotland)
Aiden O'NEILL (Standard Liege/Belgium)
Harry SOUTTAR (Sheffield United/England)
Riley MCGREE (Middlesbrough/England)
Daniel ARZANI (Melbourne Victory)
Gianni STENSNESS (Viking FK/Norway)
Apostolos STAMATELOPOULOS (Motherwell FC/Scotland)
Lewis MILLER (Hibernian/Scotland)
Samuel SILVERA (Portsmouth FC/England)
Nishan VELUPILLAY (Melbourne Victory)
Patrick YAZBEK (Nashville SC/USA)
Jordan BOS (KVC Westerlo/Belgium)
Nestory IRANKUNDA (Bayern Munich/Germany)

Results of last 5 matches
(H: Home, A: Away, N: Neutral ground, ○: Win, △: Draw, ●: Loss)

Record against Japan

7 wins 9 draws 11 losses (32 goals, 39 against)

Results at the FIFA World Cup™

Appearances: 6
※Became a FIFA member in 1963
1966　Eliminated in the qualifier
1970　Eliminated in the qualifier
1974　Group stage
1978　Eliminated in the qualifier
1982　Eliminated in the qualifier
1986　Eliminated in the qualifier
1990　Eliminated in the qualifier
1994　Eliminated in the qualifier
1998　Eliminated in the qualifier
2002　Eliminated in the qualifier
2006　Round of 16
2010　Group stage
2014　Group stage
2018　Group stage
2022　Round of 16

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