Australia vs Japan, 2026 World Cup Qualifying - AFC, Third Round
· FIFA World Cup Qualifying - AFCLate 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.
Game Information
Venue: Optus Stadium
Location: Perth, Australia
Attendance: 57,226
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 |
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 |
WCQ - AFC News
ESPN's The Far Post discuss the Matildas' 2-1 win and how the win wasn't pretty but sometimes that's how you have to get results in tournament football.
With four goals to her name already, ESPN's The Far Post laud Alanna Kennedy's move into the midfield and how her goalscoring is helping the Matildas.
Clare Wheeler was one of the Matildas' standouts against the Philippines with ESPN's The Far Post heaping praise on the versatile midfielder.
Despite her limited preparation, ESPN The Far Post was impressed by Mary Fowler's cameo in the Matildas' 1-0 win over the Philippines at the Women's Asian Cup.
Singapore Premier League champions Lion City Sailors have appointed ex-Iraq boss Jesús Casas as their new coach.