The green and gold will be heading to the biggest stage in football once again! Australia has officially become the 11th participant in the FIFA World Cup 2026, following a crucial 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. This hard-fought win in the final round of the AFC’s third qualifying stage guarantees the Socceroos a coveted spot in the tournament to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The tension was palpable in Jeddah, but it was the Australians who rose to the occasion. Despite falling behind to an early Abdulrahman Al-Abud goal in the 19th minute, the Socceroos showed resilience. Connor Metcalf leveled the scores in the 42nd minute, and Mitchell Duke then delivered the decisive blow just after halftime, finding the back of the net in the 48th minute. A late scare saw Saudi Arabia awarded a penalty in the 85th minute, but Salem al-Dawsari failed to convert, much to the relief of the Australian faithful.

This vital victory sees Australia finish second in Group C of the Asian qualifiers with 19 points, just behind the formidable Japanese team (23 points). Saudi Arabia (13), Indonesia (12), China (9), and Bahrain (6) rounded out the group.

Other Notable Results from the Qualifying Round:

• Jordan 0 – 1 Iraq
• Palestine 1 – 1 Oman

This marks a remarkable achievement for the Australian national team, as they will be making their sixth consecutive appearance at the World Cup and their seventh in history. They join an elite group of AFC nations who have already punched their tickets to 2026: Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, and Jordan.

For other nations in the AFC, the journey continues. The UAE, Qatar, Iraq, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia will now battle it out in the fourth qualifying stage. This stage will see two groups of three participants formed, with the winners directly qualifying for the World Cup. The second-placed teams will then face off in a two-legged fifth-round match, with the winner earning a spot in the intercontinental play-offs for one last chance at World Cup glory.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 promises to be a historic event, with 48 national teams participating for the first time ever. The tournament will kick off on June 11 and conclude on July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Socceroos’ qualification ensures that Australian fans will have plenty to cheer about on the global stage. Congratulations to the team on this incredible achievement!