Australia’s rapid recovery under Tony Popovic in qualification for the 2026 World Cup has left the Socceroos on the cusp of a place in North America with two group games to play, and a direct berth could be secured as early as Friday morning.
But the result of the Socceroos’ match on Thursday in Perth against Japan – group leaders and already qualified – cannot alone guarantee the qualification fate of Australia, currently lying behind the Samurai Blue in second place.
