June 11 – Australia secured the last automatic qualification slot for the World Cup 2026 with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia, sending the 2034 World Cup hosts to October’s playoffs where six nations will battle for the two remaining guaranteed slots at the finals.
Saudi Arabia needed to beat Australia by at least five goals to qualify and when Abdulrahman Al Obud struck in the 19thminute it looked they might achieve the improbable.
The lead lasted until the 42nd minute when Connor Metcalfe’s equaliser levelled the tie. Three minutes after the break the Aussies had the lead after Mitch Duke headed in.
Despite multiple Saudi goal opportunities and Maty Ryan saving a Salem Al Dawsari, the Australians held on for the win and the all-important second spot in the group that guaranteed 2026 qualification.
Saudi Arabia will lick their wounds from this round of qualifying but go into the next group stage knowing they are improving. They now head to the USA to guest at the Gold Cup, a series of games that could prove invaluable ahead of final World Cup qualifying later in the year.
Australia join already qualified Iran and Japan at the 2026 finals along with Jordan and Uzbekistan who have made the finals for the first time in their history.
South Korea also made sure of their place to make it an 11th successive qualification.
Uzbekistan clinched their place with a goalless draw against the United Arab Emirates. UAE and Qatar go to the round 4 group play-offs where two groups of three will see two further 2026 slots decided.
Also in round 4 are Oman, Iraq and Indonesia.
The winners of the two groups in the fourth round will qualify for 2026 while the two runners up will play-off for a slot in the inter-continental play-offs.
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