How can the Socceroos qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? | Flashscore.com

Thumping victories over Indonesia and China last month have kept Tony Popovic’s side on track for a sixth consecutive FIFA World Cup finals appearance, though Saudi Arabia’s surprise draw in Japan have muddied the path to North America.The expansion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup from 32 teams to 48 offers the Asian Football Confederation as many as nine qualification slots, compared with six for 2022, making for a long and convoluted road to the finals this time around. Australia can simplify their own process simply by winning both remaining qualifiers in June – at home to the already qualified Japan and then five days later against third-placed Saudi Arabia in Riyadh. The Group C standings with two rounds left to play.Flashscore.com.auThat would guarantee a top-two finish and seal their progression to the 2026 finals alongside neighbours New Zealand and group leaders Japan. Should they lose to Japan in Perth and Saudi Arabia pick up an important three points away in Bahrain, the Aussies and Saudis would lock horn in Riyadh with a draw being enough for Australia to finish ahead of Saudi Arabia on goal difference.What happens next if Australia doesn’t finish in the top-two?The third and fourth placed finishers from Groups A, B and C will progress to the fourth round of Asian qualifying, where the six teams will be split into two groups of three. They will then play each other once (so two matches per team), with the top nation of those two groups going through to the World Cup. The second-place finishers of those two three-team groups would then advance to the fifth round and engage in a two-leg play-off in November 2025. The winner of that play-off would then go through to the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026.Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic is urging caution against complacency, describing both Japan and Saudi Arabia as “the best (teams) in Asia”. “Now the challenge is a great one,” Popovic said after their last match.”We were in front when we started this window … we did our part. We got six points. We extended our lead to three (points).”We’re in a good position because it’s in our hands.”But we have to get the job done (these are) two wonderful games coming up, first Japan in Perth, it will be a special match.”