Australia vs Japan, 2026 World Cup Qualifying - AFC, Third Round

· FIFA World Cup Qualifying - AFC

Australia

90': Aziz Behich

FT
1 - 0

Japan

Late Behich winner all but secures Socceroos World Cup spot

The Socceroos have effectively punched their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after an Aziz Behich stunner in the 90th minute lifted them to a 1-0 win over Japan at a sold-out Optus Stadium.

Match Timeline

45': Patrick Yazbek (Australia) Substitution at 45'
45': Riley McGree (Australia) Substitution at 45'
45': Ayumu Seko (Japan) Substitution at 45'
64': Keito Nakamura (Japan) Substitution at 64'
64': Takefusa Kubo (Japan) Substitution at 64'
68': Mitchell Duke (Australia) Substitution at 68'
68': Jason Geria (Australia) Substitution at 68'
69': Kota Takai (Japan) Substitution at 69'
70': Shuto Machino (Japan) Substitution at 70'
80': Daniel Arzani (Australia) Substitution at 80'
90': Aziz Behich (Australia) Goal at 90'

Statistics

JPN		AUS
13	Fouls	8
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
0	Offsides	0
8	Corner Kicks	1
2	Saves	1
68.7	Possession	31.3
13	SHOTS	6
1	ON GOAL	3
0.1	On Target %	0.5
0	Penalty Goals	0
0	Penalty Kicks Taken	0
0	Accurate Passes	0
0	Passes	0
0.0	Pass Completion %	0.0
0	Accurate Crosses	0
0	Crosses	0
0.0	Cross %	0.0
0	Long Balls	0
0	Accurate Long Balls	0
0.0	Long Balls %	0.0
7	Blocked Shots	0
0	Effective Tackles	0
0	Tackles	0
0.0	Tackle %	0.0
0	Interceptions	0
0	Effective Clearances	0
0	Clearances	0

Game Information

Competition: FIFA World Cup Qualifying - AFC

Venue: Optus Stadium
Location: Perth, Australia
Attendance: 57,226

WCQ - AFC Table

#	TEAM	GP	GD	PTS
1	Japan	10	+27	23
2	Australia	10	+9	19
3	Saudi Arabia	10	-1	13
4	Indonesia	10	-11	12

Full Table

Line-Ups

Australia (3-4-2-1)

No.	Name
1	Mathew Ryan (GK)
2	Milos Degenek
21	Cameron Burgess
23	Alessandro Circati
17	Ryan Teague
13	Aiden O'Neill
16	Aziz Behich
3	Lewis Miller
11	Brandon Borrello
8	Connor Metcalfe
6	Martin Boyle

Australia Substitutes:

Anthony Cáceres, Patrick Yazbek, Riley McGree, Kai Trewin, Kye Rowles, Joe Gauci, Marco Tilio, Paul Izzo, Adam Taggart, Daniel Arzani, Mitchell Duke, Jason Geria.

Japan (3-4-2-1)

No.	Name
23	Kosei Tani (GK)
4	Tsuyoshi Watanabe
16	Koki Machida
2	Hiroki Sekine
5	Kaishu Sano
7	Joel Chima Fujita
20	Kota Tawaratsumida
11	Yu Hirakawa
9	Yuki Ohashi
15	Daichi Kamada
8	Yuito Suzuki

Japan Substitutes:

Wataru Endo, Kota Takai, Ryoya Morishita, Shuto Machino, Keito Nakamura, Zion Suzuki, Shunsuke Mito, Takefusa Kubo, Ayumu Seko, Keisuke Osako, Koki Kumasaka, Kodai Sano.

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