Socceroos v Japan LIVE: Australia chase vital World Cup qualifying win in Perth

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What the Socceroos need to do to qualify

By Roy Ward

The Socceroos can’t qualify tonight but a win will all but assure them of second place in the group and a spot on the plane to North America in 2026.

Going into the last two games of the group C qualifying, Japan has locked top spot and a World Cup spot while Australia, Saudi Arabia and, mathematically, Indonesia but are chasing the second automatic berth.

Marselino Ferdinan of Indonesia competes for the ball against Jason Geria of Australia.Credit: Getty Images

The Socceroos are best placed to take second spot due to their record and their commanding nine-goal lead over the Saudis in goal difference.

Saudi Arabia plays Bahrain early on Friday morning.

Even if the Socceroos lose tonight and Saudis win both games, they will need two enormous goal-scoring efforts to get ahead of Australia on goal difference and they’ve only scored four goals in their previous eight qualifiers.

With some help from FIFA.com, here is how the scenarios for the Socceroos:

Socceroos make it if:

AUS beat JPN and SA lose or draw with BAH.

AUS draw with JPN, SA lose to BAH and IND lose to CHN.

If the Saudis and Australia both get the same result, their clash in Jeddah early on Wednesday morning will likely decide the group but both nations drop either or both game, then it will open the door for Indonesia to qualify in second place but they will need two wins and for Australia to lose both games

Socceroos fans will be hoping for a positive result and some pleasant news upon waking up on Friday morning but time will tell.

Understrength Japan out to show Socceroos who’s boss

Japan have boldly declared they want to win the 2026 World Cup and want to use Thursday night’s match against the Socceroos to show off their enviable depth.

While Japan have already secured their spot for the showpiece event, Australia still have work to do.

Wataru Endo of Japan.Credit: Getty Images

If the Socceroos (13 points) fail to beat Japan at Optus Stadium on Thursday night, their hopes of automatic qualification could rest on the result of next Tuesday’s clash with Saudi Arabia (10 points) in Jeddah.

Japan have brought an inexperienced squad to Perth with overseas stars such as Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton & Hove Albion), Daizen Maida (Celtic), Reo Hatate (Celtic), Takumi Minamino (Monaco), Ritsu Doan (Freiburg), Junya Ito (Reims) and Hidemasa Morita (Sporting Lisbon) among the big outs.

But don’t be fooled, Japan are still desperate for victory with the Samurai Blue keen to maintain an unbeaten run against Australia that stretches back to their win over their arch-rivals in the Asian Cup final in 2011.

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu says Thursday’s match, albeit a dead rubber for his side, is a crucial part of his World Cup puzzle.

“Our main goal is to win the World Cup next year,” Moriyasu said through an interpreter in Perth on Wednesday afternoon.

“And thinking about this … we need to take each match seriously, step by step, and I think we need to build the strongest team possible towards the World Cup.

“It’s true that the core member hasn’t travelled to Australia this time, and you may think that it’s not the best squad that we could possibly have.

“But I would like to show the world that we still have lots of players that are coming through, and I would like my players to shine on the very best stage tomorrow.”

Japan captain Wataru Endo, who plays for Liverpool, is confident Japan’s newcomers will be able to adapt.

“The new players have shown us that they have very good quality on the pitch,” Endo said.

“And as one of the experienced players in the team, I would like to help them get into the team and let them focus on the next match against Australia and try to thrive in the match.”

AAP

‘I view things differently now’: The Socceroos’ next big thing is back, and even better than before

Alessandro Circati had the football world at his feet. He had just launched into his first season in Serie A with his beloved Parma, the club his old man played for, with other bigger teams in Italy tracking him closely.

He’d also just established himself as a starter for the Socceroos, and was ready to make another one of his childhood dreams a reality: qualifying for and playing at a World Cup.

Then he did his ACL at training.

Alessandro Circati is back, and better than ever.Credit: Getty Images

“I was very devastated,” he said.

So were the Socceroos, suddenly robbed of the player who their defence is likely to be built around for the next decade.

Circati allowed himself two days of wallowing in self-pity, and then decided to embrace the journey chosen for him.

Click here to read the story.

Vince Rugari with the latest on the lineups for tonight

By Vince Rugari

Good evening, folks. Huge night ahead. The team sheets are out, and it’s pretty much as expected from Socceroos coach Tony Popovic.

Alessandro Circati comes straight into the starting XI in the middle of Popovic’s back three. In the absence of the injured Jackson Irvine, it’s Aiden O’Neill and Ryan Teague entrusted with running the midfield – both have played well for the national team, but never together. And up front, Brandon Borrello gets the nod at striker with Martin Boyle and Connor Metcalfe the inverted wingers.It’s a strong side for the Socceroos – and Japan’s, too, is formidable.

And that’s factoring in the 14 changes to their squad since the last international window, having already clinched World Cup qualification. Only two members of their starting XI, tonight’s captain Daichi Kamada of Crystal Palace and Union SG’s Koko Machida, are in the double digits in terms of caps.

There are a couple of debutants in there, too, with most of their big guns on the bench.They will be strong, of course, and will be looking to impress their coach and press their World Cup selection claims. But they will also lack a bit of cohesion, so there’s a real opportunity for the Socceroos to capitalise if they’re good enough.

Will the Socceroos qualify for World Cup- and if so, when?

What the Socceroos need to do to qualify

By Roy Ward

The Socceroos can’t qualify tonight but a win will all but assure them of second place in the group and a spot on the plane to North America in 2026.

Marselino Ferdinan of Indonesia competes for the ball against Jason Geria of Australia.Credit: Getty Images

The Socceroos are best placed to take second spot due to their record and their commanding nine-goal lead over the Saudis in goal difference.

Saudi Arabia plays Bahrain early on Friday morning.

With some help from FIFA.com, here is how the scenarios for the Socceroos:

Socceroos make it if:

AUS beat JPN and SA lose or draw with BAH.

AUS draw with JPN, SA lose to BAH and IND lose to CHN.

Socceroos fans will be hoping for a positive result and some pleasant news upon waking up on Friday morning but time will tell.

Good evening

Hello and welcome to our live blog for the AFC World Cup qualifier between the Socceroos and Japan.

I’m Jonathan Drennan and I’ll be taking you through all the major moments as the Socceroos chase a win in their vital qualifier against rivals Japan who have already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the winner of this group.

It’s almost 20 years since Socceroo’s star John Aloisi scored a crucial penalty in the playoff shootout in Sydney against Uruguay to send Australia to their first World Cup in 34 years.

Tonight in Perth, the Socceroos have the perfect opportunity to create another golden memory for Australian football fans.

Kick off is 9.10pm AEST, looking forward to this.