Australia qualify for sixth straight World Cup by condemning Saudi Arabia to AFC play-offs

Australia secured the result they needed to reach the 2026 World Cup and end Saudi Arabia's hopes of a top-two finish in AFC qualifying. The Socceroos only had to avoid a heavy defeat to book their place but strikes from Connor Metcalfe and Mitchell Duke ensured they bagged a 2-1 win at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

Australia finished six points ahead of Saudi Arabia in Group C in the third round of AFC qualifying and the Middle Eastern nation will now have to navigate a fourth round, with the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq, Oman and Indonesia also suffering the same fate.

On top of co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico, eight teams have now qualified for next year's World Cup. Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea and Uzbekistan are confirmed representatives from the AFC, while Argentina and New Zealand have also rubber-stamped their seats on the plane to the US.

Some teams around Europe are still at the start of their World Cup qualification campaigns. The likes of Spain, Germany, France and Portugal are yet to play a game due to their Nations League commitments, though England have played three qualifiers, winning each of them.