Australia Secures Spot in 2026 World Cup After Thrilling Victory Over Saudi Arabia
Australia has officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup in North America after a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Saudi Arabia. The win secures the Socceroos a place in their sixth consecutive World Cup, solidifying their status in international football.
Tony Popovic’s side entered the final matchday of the third round as favorites to progress, needing a victory to secure the second automatic qualification spot in Group C. Japan had already clinched the top position in the group, leaving Saudi Arabia and Australia to battle it out for the remaining spot.
The match at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium started dramatically as the hosts took an early lead with Abdulrahman Al-Aboud scoring in the 19th minute. However, Australia responded just before halftime, with Connor Metcalfe leveling the score with a well-placed left-footed strike.
The second half saw Australia take the lead when Mitch Duke headed home Martin Boyle’s cross just three minutes after the restart. As the game neared its conclusion, Australia faced a tense moment when goalkeeper Mathew Ryan heroically saved a late penalty from Salem Al-Dawsari, preserving the lead and securing Australia’s World Cup berth in style.
Meanwhile, in Group B, Palestine’s hopes of qualification were dashed when they conceded a last-minute penalty to Oman, resulting in a 1-1 draw. Palestine had taken the lead in the 49th minute through Oday Kharoub’s header, but Oman equalized in the 97th minute with Issam Al-Sabhi converting a penalty after a foul by Ahmad Taha.
This draw meant Oman finished fourth in the group, advancing to the next round of qualification at Palestine’s expense. The top two teams from each of the three groups automatically qualify for the World Cup, while the third and fourth-place teams move on to the fourth round of qualifiers.
As the qualification process continues, teams including Oman, UAE, Qatar, and Indonesia will compete for the remaining spots in the tournament, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada next summer.
In other matches, Japan and South Korea wrapped up their qualification campaigns with dominant victories. Japan crushed Indonesia 6-0, with Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada scoring twice, while South Korea defeated Kuwait 4-0, featuring a late appearance from Tottenham star Son Heung-min.
