World Cup Qualification Thread for 2026 - Socceroos/Asia

[LFC]

yep 1st half job done, well done fellas.

 

[grazorblade]

impeccable window

A win against Japan or Saudi is probably enough

actually a draw against Saudi enough

 

[NicCarBel]

impeccable window

A win against Japan or Saudi is probably enough

actually a draw against Saudi enough

My maths is, a win in either, or draws in both, means at worst case it’s down to goal difference for us regardless (which is currently either at +9 over Saudi, and +14 over both Indonesia and Bahrain)

 

[melbcityguy]

Fair play to Jordan drawing with Korea

 

[grazorblade]

My maths is, a win in either, or draws in both, means at worst case it’s down to goal difference for us regardless (which is currently either at +9 over Saudi, and +14 over both Indonesia and Bahrain)

a draw in both would mean saudi can get maxi 4 points and would still be 1 point behind us

I think a draw against saudi guarantees it on goal difference
Need to get a result against Japan to keep the pressure on

 

[Pasquali]

All praise to Popa. He has been amazing so far

 

[Mr Cleansheets]

Good first half dreadful second half and Popa took forever to make changes.

Our win was down to China being crap more than anything else. How did we not once test the keeper second half after his woeful first half?

Very disappointing.

 

[Pasquali]

Good first half dreadful second half and Popa took forever to make changes.

Our win was down to China being crap more than anything else. How did we not once test the keeper second half after his woeful first half?

Very disappointing.

Disagree. China isn't a bad team and we kept them from scoring with very few chances away from home

 

[CharlieYankosFanClub]

impeccable window

A win against Japan or Saudi is probably enough

actually a draw against Saudi enough

Yes a draw against Saudi is enough...

Alternatively, a draw against Japan would mean Saudi need to BEAT Barhain and then beat us.

If us and Saudi both draw next window, or if we both lose, or both win, then we are through (due to goal difference, assuming Saudi dont put 5 past us).

So the only way we are out is if Saudi do better than us in both games ( including beating us). So they may do that by winning both games (assuming we dont beat Japan) or by drawing Barhain and us losing both games.

Our chances are good but not guaranteed with 2 tough games left!

 

[NicCarBel]

a draw in both would mean saudi can get maxi 4 points and would still be 1 point behind us

I think a draw against saudi guarantees it on goal difference
Need to get a result against Japan to keep the pressure on

Yes, but hypothetically, Indonesia or Bahrain could still catch us if they win all 3 of their remaining games

 

[JM47]

Good first half dreadful second half and Popa took forever to make changes.

Our win was down to China being crap more than anything else. How did we not once test the keeper second half after his woeful first half?

Very disappointing.

Game management.

With a lot on the line, there was no need to push the envelope. China had one decent shot and that was it.

 

[JS96]

2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying Points Simulator AFC Third Round - ULTRAZONE

Enter the score to calculate Points and Standing of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying (AFC Third Round).

ultra.zone

 

[grazorblade]

Yes, but hypothetically, Indonesia or Bahrain could still catch us if they win all 3 of their remaining games

that would be insane haha

 

[Pasquali]

Current Group Standings:

Pos	Team	Played	GF-GA	GD	Points
1	Japan	8	24-2	+22	20
2	Australia	8	13-6	+7	13
3	Saudi Arabia	8	4-6	-2	10
4	Indonesia	7	7-14	-7	6
5	Bahrain	7	5-12	-7	6
6	China	8	6-19	-13	6

• GF: Goals For | GA: Goals Against | GD: Goal Difference

 

[JS96]

Interesting may be Bahrain beat Saudi 1:0 and Australia lose 5:0 to Japan and then the GD gap is much closer. A lot to play for still. Avoiding defeat against Japan means Saudi must win but maybe Bahrain will beat Indonesia tonight and be really up for it. Thy'll all be up for top 4 anyway.

 

[Muz]

Poor second half. A better side would have caused us grief.

Not a single shot on target in the second half.

As someone else said, subs made far too late.

Excellent first half, but back to Arnie ball in the second.

 

[JS96]

You now what it is? It's this new indigenous kit which has some kind of superpower doing the exact opposite of what an African witch doctor could.

 

[SR1968]

Good result away from, and Japan did us a bit of a favour holding Saudi Arabia to a draw, but the Socceroos have two very, very hard last two games. When I looked at the table, Saudi Arabia have really struggled to score goals, but they defend very well.

 

[RIMB]

Teague proved his selection. He may or may not have been our best option but he was a step forward.

Two moments in the game showed why he belongs in the team. Both times given the ball in difficult positions under pressure. Both times he kept the ball, made a decision and executed it perfectly to retain possession. The first one (the one up the flank) he had 3 opponents, held then passed, received a shit ball back under pressure and again distributed the ball accurately.

Composure, vision and skill to execute. Sure he stuffed up a long diagonal pass later but that does not bother me at all.

The Popa mindset kicked in with 20 minutes to go and we were back to shit play. Every time we pushed forward into China's defensive half they dropped to two rows of 4 to hold us out. Didn't matter what we did with the ball - just the threat of us attacking pinned them all back. Then Popa decides to protect the 2 goal lead, starts passing backwards, and from playing 7 defenders and 3 high forwards against us we now find ourselves with 5 high attackers and 3 midfielders applying pressure, and we start to panic and lose all respect for possession.

It is so easy to see - maintain a forward facing possession game (without needing to put a shot near goal) and our opponents have to play a defensive bank. Possession with little energy required. But we go the Popa route and put ourselves under pressure.

It is not game management - it is stupidity. We might have held out this game, but we could just as easily have conceded one or more by releasing their entire team to be included in attacking us. It is not like we had another game soon to worry about either.

Soon as Duke came on we were consigned to fearful defensive play as Popa told them to stop attacking and play negative football again.

So happy to have 6 points. So happy we earned our goals tonight despite one of them being a keeper howler. Not happy that our go to play when ahead is 20 minutes of let them do what they want against us. Improvement again in our playing style - but that negative backwards football is a killer for us and I can't see Popa seeing it like I do.

 

[NoMates]

Great result, Just need a result against Japan and for Saudis to lose to Bahrain.