In Group C of the final round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 26™, where SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) secured top spot this March, the battle for second place, which grants automatic qualification, remains intense. With two matches remaining for each team, Australia sit in second place with 13 points, closely followed by Saudi Arabia with 10 points and Indonesia with nine. Bahrain and China PR, both on six points, have been eliminated from contention for the third round.

Australia, who can still secure second place on their own, will host Japan at Perth Stadium on Thursday 5 June, before facing Saudi Arabia away five days later in their final match. If they manage to earn points against Japan, they could clinch qualification for their seventh World Cup and sixth in a row, depending on the outcomes of other matches. In the previous AFC Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ held in March 2022, Australia suffered a 0–2 home defeat to Japan, with MITOMA Kaoru scoring twice. They will no doubt be eager to avenge that loss.

The team got off to a tough start in the final round, earning just one point from their first two matches, but they have since steadily accumulated points. A turning point came in September of last year with the change in head coach, when Tony POPOVIC took over from Graham ARNOLD. The new coach, who had been a teammate of SAMURAI BLUE’s head coach MORIYASU Hajime at Sanfrecce Hiroshima during his playing days, led the team to an impressive run of three wins and three draws from October onwards, ensuring stable performances.

On 15 October last year, they faced Japan at Saitama Stadium 2002, managing to hold the previously unbeaten Japan, who were on a three-match winning streak, to a 1-1 draw. They took the lead in the 58th minute through an own goal from Japan, but conceded an own goal in the 76th minute. Although they fell short of securing all three points, coach Popovic expressed satisfaction, saying, “We built a solid defence and were able to minimise the opponent’s chances.” They went on to draw with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in subsequent matches, but showed signs of improvement with dominant victories over Indonesia and　China PR in March this year.

Improvements in attack have also been key to their resurgence. Nishan VELUPILLAY, who scored in his national team debut against China PR last October, has become a reliable source of goals, adding to his tally in both of the matches in March. Jackson IRVINE, the cornerstone of their midfield, also contributed with three goals scored across the same two matches. The defence, led by centre-back Cameron BURGESS and goalkeeper Matthew RYAN, has remained solid. Players with ties to Japan, such as Jason GERIA, who plays for Albirex Niigata, Mitchell DUKE of FC Machida Zelvia, and Milos DEGENEK, who previously played for Yokohama F. Marinos, are also players to keep an eye on.

Results of last 5 matches
(H: Home, A: Away, N: Neutral ground, ○: Win, △: Draw, ●: Loss)

Record against Japan

7 wins 10 draws 11 losses (33 goals, 40 against)

Results at the FIFA World Cup™

Appearances: 6
※Became a FIFA member in 1963
1966　Eliminated in the qualifier
1970　Eliminated in the qualifier
1974　Group stage
1978　Eliminated in the qualifier
1982　Eliminated in the qualifier
1986　Eliminated in the qualifier
1990　Eliminated in the qualifier
1994　Eliminated in the qualifier
1998　Eliminated in the qualifier
2002　Eliminated in the qualifier
2006　Round of 16
2010　Group stage
2014　Group stage
2018　Group stage
2022　Round of 16

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