Australia Secures Sixth Consecutive FIFA World Cup Spot with Saudi Arabia Win

The Australian national football team, the Subway Socceroos, have officially qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. This marks Australia's sixth consecutive and seventh overall World Cup appearance, highlighting the country's growing stature in global football. Key moments in the qualifying campaign included a 1-0 upset win over Japan and a resilient performance against Saudi Arabia, where Connor Metcalfe and Mitch Duke scored, and goalkeeper Mathew Ryan saved a crucial late penalty. The win secured Australia's automatic qualification spot, finishing second in their group behind Japan, with Saudi Arabia moving to the next round of qualification. The success under coach Tony Popovic, who remains unbeaten since taking over, is seen as a milestone for Football Australia as the sport continues to grow domestically. This achievement coincides with broader developments in Australian football, including launching new competitions and hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026.