Socceroos beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 to secure direct qualification for 2026 World Cup

The Socceroos are going to a sixth successive FIFA World Cup after sealing qualification with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.

• Socceroos are World Cup-bound — now Popovic can make his mark

The Socceroos are going to a sixth successive FIFA World Cup after sealing qualification with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.

The Australians had already all but booked their spot in next year’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada following last Thursday night’s 1-0 win over Japan in Perth.

Despite beating Bahrain 2-0 last Friday morning (AEST), the Saudis still needed to defeat the Socceroos by five goals to grab the second guaranteed qualifying berth from Group C in the third round of AFC qualifiers ahead of the Australians.

And a 19th-minute goal from winger Abdulrahman Al-Aboud gave the Green Falcons not only the lead but a glimmer of hope that a miracle was on the cards.

Connor Metcalfe celebrates scoring Australia’s first goal. Picture: Getty Images

ANALYSIS: Socceroos are World Cup-bound — now Popovic can make his mark

However, after surviving another scare less than 15 minutes later when midfielder Musab Al-Juwayr failed to convert a great chance, the Socceroos steadied to end any belief that Saudis had of winning by the margin required to qualify at Australia’s expense.

Goals either side of half-time from midfielder Connor Metcalfe and striker Mitch Duke silenced the crowd and left no doubt that the Socceroos were on their way to another World Cup.

The Saudis had a chance to equalise from the penalty spot in the 85th minute after a controversial decision to award a foul against Socceroos defender Jason Geria for a challenge on winger Salem Al-Dawsari.

However, fittingly, in his 100th appearance for the national team, Australia’s captain and goalkeeper Mat Ryan saved the spot kick that was taken by Al-Dawsari.

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Ryan became the third player behind retired pair Mark Schwarzer (109) and Tim Cahill (108) to secure a century of caps for the Socceroos.

His penalty save was the icing on the cake for the Socceroos, who for the first time since qualifying for the 2014 World Cup didn’t need to survive do-or-die playoffs to reach the tournament.

“It just feels unbelievable,” Duke said.

“We didn’t get fazed by the one-goal deficit, and we bounced back.

“It’s a game of big moments, and everyone stepped up when they needed to. It just feels so good.”

Mitch Duke celebrates his goal with Socceroos teammates. Picture: Getty Images

TEAM CHANGES

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic made three changes to the team that started in Australia’s 1-0 win over Japan.

Veteran striker Duke replaced Brandon Borrello, midfielder Patrick Yazbek was preferred to Ryan Teague, and defender Geria came in for Alessandro Circati.

“Part of it is some freshness, especially with ‘Dukey’ up top. Brandon worked extremely hard in the first game (against Japan),” Popovic said.

“With Patrick, (it was) just to continue with the energy that he gave us when he came on (in Perth).”

And with Circati having only recently returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines following a knee reconstruction, Popovic wasn’t going to take any risks with the emerging star.

“‘Ale’ was never going to be able to play two games in such a short period after his long layoff, but we’ve got a capable replacement in Jason,” the Socceroos mentor said.

There was no room in the 23-man match-day squad for playmaker Daniel Arzani, who was used off the bench in Perth.

Originally published as Socceroos beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 to secure direct qualification for 2026 World Cup