Australia is set for a challenging road match on Tuesday as they face powerhouse Japan at Saitama Stadium. A victory would be crucial for the Socceroos to regain momentum in their quest for a sixth consecutive World Cup appearance, following a mixed beginning to the third round of qualification.
This Group C clash also represents an opportunity for Australia’s new head coach, Tony Popovic, who was appointed in September after replacing Graham Arnold. Popovic is eager to secure his first significant win as he faces off against a former teammate, Hajime Moriyasu, who currently coaches the Japanese team.
Popovic shared a brief history of his relationship with Moriyasu, having played together at the Japanese club Sanfrecce Hiroshima from 1997 to 2001. He praised Moriyasu’s dedication to the national team, stating, “I know their head coach very well; he was my captain during my time in Japan. A remarkable person who has dedicated years to developing the national team.” This encounter also marks Popovic’s second game in charge after leading his team to a solid 3-1 victory against China on Thursday, lifting Australia to four points in the group, although they still trail Japan by five points.
Japan is aiming for their eighth consecutive World Cup appearance, having already secured three wins against China, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. They have demonstrated their dominance by scoring 14 goals and not conceding any, making them the team to beat in the qualifiers.
“This is undoubtedly a significant challenge, but it also presents a fantastic opportunity to etch our name in history by winning in Japan,” Popovic stated following the win over China.
The qualification format means that the top two teams from each of the three six-team groups will qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup, while the third and fourth place teams progress to the next stage of the tournament.
In a similar position, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are also on four points and will face off in Jeddah, whereas China, still seeking their first victory, hosts Indonesia.
In Group B, South Korea takes on Iraq in a matchup of the top two teams, who both currently sit on seven points. Due to poor field conditions at Seoul World Cup Stadium, the match has been moved to Yongin. Notably, South Korea will be missing key players including Son Heung-min, captain of Tottenham Hotspur, and Wolverhampton’s Hwang Hee-chan, both sidelined due to injuries.
In other Group B action, Jordan, currently in third place, is set to host Oman, positioned in fourth. Meanwhile, two winless teams meet as Palestine faces Kuwait, with both looking for their first win in this round.
Finally, in Group A, Uzbekistan and Iran are leading with seven points each. Iran will host fourth-place Qatar in Dubai, due to safety concerns in their home country, while Uzbekistan will compete against the United Arab Emirates, sitting third in the group.