Australia became the latest team to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup after beating Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. sportnews
Australia, who are second in Group C of the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers, need only a draw in their away match against Saudi Arabia, the third-place team in the group, to advance to the final round. สมัคร UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีสำหรับสมาชิกใหม่
Saudi Arabia took a 1-0 lead through Abdulrahman Al Aboud in the 19th minute, but Australia equalised late in the first half through Connor Metcalfe, before Mitchell Duke scored early in the second half in the 48th minute to give the Kangaroos a 2-1 lead and secure the win.
Australia finished second in Group C and qualified for the finals behind Japan, becoming the eighth country to qualify after Japan, New Zealand, Iran, Argentina, Uzbekistan and Jordan, while Canada, Mexico and the United States were already waiting in the finals as hosts.
For Australia, this is their seventh appearance at the World Cup, having first reached the tournament in 1974 before taking a long hiatus and returning in 2006, where they have continued to compete in the finals until next year.
Needing just to avoid a five-goal defeat to secure direct entry to the 2026 tournament, the Socceroos rallied with Metcalfe equalizing just before halftime with a left-foot strike and Duke putting them ahead with a 48th-minute header. Abdulrahman Al Oboud had opened for the Saudis after 19 minutes.