Australia have officially secured their spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the 11th nation to qualify for the global showpiece.
The Socceroos confirmed their place following a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Having previously edged past Japan 1-0, Australia only needed to avoid a defeat by five or more goals in their final group fixture in Jeddah to advance.
Their qualification marks a major milestone, it’s the first time in 12 years that Australia have booked an automatic ticket to the tournament.
The 2026 edition will also be their sixth consecutive World Cup appearance.
In Tuesday’s clash, Abdulrahman Al-Aboud gave the hosts an early lead in the 19th minute, but Australia responded with goals from Connor Metcalfe and Mitch Duke to complete a comeback.
Australia now join Jordan and Uzbekistan among the latest nations to confirm their qualification.
Others who have already sealed their spots include Japan, New Zealand, Iran, and Argentina. Meanwhile, hosts USA, Canada, and Mexico are automatically qualified for the tournament.
