Gold Coast set to host Australia’s first third round World Cup qualifier

History is set to be made later this year when the Socceroos play their first international fixture on Gold Coast. Details

The Socceroos will be announcing a World Cup qualifier will be held on the Gold Coast later this week. Ready to cheer them on will be local juniors from left: Duke Ablang, Elena Bresic, Roukaya Al-Kahil, Valentina Ablang, Onika Mackintosh, Junaid Al-Kahil. Picture Glenn Hampson

History is set to be made in September when the Socceroos play their first-ever match on the Gold Coast.

It is understood the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign for Australia’s national team will kick off against Bahrain at Robina Stadium on Thursday September 5.

“I’m really excited, I haven’t watched many games, I usually have to watch them on TV,” said Robina City Soccer Club player Valentina Ablang when she heard the news.

“We’re super excited that it’s local and we’ll definitely be there to support it, we can’t wait,” added Robina City’s Chantelle Alkahil

“We want the sport boosted in this region, it’s nice.”

The Socceroos progressed to round three of the World Cup qualifiers after topping their group in round two, finishing unbeaten with six wins from clashes against Palestine, Lebanon, and Bangladesh.

Kye Rowles of Australia celebrates scoring a goal with Jackson Irvine of the Socceroos during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Australia Socceroos and Lebanon at CommBank Stadium.

In round three of World Cup qualifying, the Socceroos will be pitted against heavyweight nations Japan and Saudi Arabia in Group C, as well as Bahrain, China, and Indonesia.

The top two teams in the group will qualify for the World Cup, while the third-placed team will progress to a fourth round of qualifiers.

The Socceroos will be looking to improve on their 2022 World Cup qualifying performance, where – in an eerily similar group with Japan and Saudi Arabia – they failed to nab a top-two spot and would go on to scrape through the intercontinental playoffs, ultimately downing Peru in a dramatic penalty shootout to book their tickets to Qatar.

Given the expanded World Cup format that awaits in 2026, with 32 teams increasing to 48, the qualifying process Australia must tread if it misses the top-two (but finishes in the top four) in its third round group is less treacherous, with direct qualification on offer in round four if it can top a three-team group.

The announcement comes in the same week as it was also confirmed that the NBL pre-season blitz would be returning to the Gold Coast.

Originally published as Gold Coast set to host Australia’s first third round World Cup qualifier