Struggling Australia and Saudi Arabia play a crucial Asian World Cup qualifier

Australia hosts Saudi Arabia in a crucial World Cup qualifier in Melbourne on Thursday, while Japan and South Korea can take a big step towards North America in 2026 as the third round of Asian qualifying reaches the halfway point.

With only the top two teams from each of the three groups of six automatically advancing to the expanded 48-team tournament, Australia and Saudi Arabia both have just five points from four Group C games, five points behind leaders Japan.

The stuttering form of the two teams has already led to coaching changes since the start of the third round. Graham Arnold resigned as Socceroos head coach in September and was replaced by Tony Popovic while Saudi Arabia sacked Roberto Mancini after a 0-0 draw with Bahrain in Jeddah in October.

Renard returns to Riyadh

Herve Renard is back Riyadh takes over the Saudi team for the second time.

“I believe we can qualify; otherwise I wouldn’t be here,” Renard, who left Riyadh in March 2023 to take over the French women’s national team, told local media. “I know the players well. We are not in an ideal situation, but it is far from hopeless. We still have six games left, four of them away.”

Renard led Saudi Arabia to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, topping a qualifying group ahead of Japan and Australia. The team then defeated eventual champions Argentina 2–1 in their opening game in Qatar before losing their next two games and finishing last in their group, failing to qualify for the knockout stages.

“Many of these players were part of the squad that qualified for the 2022 World Cup,” Renard said. “They must build on this experience, keep their spirits high and do whatever it takes to reach the 2026 World Cup.”

Saudi Arabia hopes a coaching change can produce the same results Popovic achieved in his first two games for Australia in October, with a home win against China followed by a 1-1 draw in Japan.

Japan were favorites in two away games in Indonesia and China

Those were the first points Japan, which has appeared at every World Cup since 1998, lost in qualifying. The Samurai Blue are expected to beat Indonesia, although they play in Jakarta in front of an expected 78,000 fans before traveling to China.

“If you look at the FIFA rankings and the World Cup qualifying matches so far, you might think that Japan has the advantage,” said coach Hajime Moriyasu. “But we play both games away and I think it will be difficult.”

South Korea should be careful with Son Heung-min

In Group B, leaders South Korea recovered from a disappointing draw in their opening game against the Palestinian team to win three games in a row. A win in Kuwait will take the South Koreans five or six points clear of third place.

Captain and star Son Heung-min Due to a thigh injury, he missed the victories against Jordan and Iraq and was missing playing time for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

“At this point, I have absolutely no intention of pushing him hard,” said South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo. “I will find ways to use it efficiently. Once he joins the team, I will sit down with him and discuss his playing time. It’s really important for us to see a healthy version of Son Heung-min.”

Iraq and Jordan are tied for second place in Group B, three points behind, and will meet in Basra.

In Group A, Iran and Uzbekistan are six points ahead of the rest of the group and have to play away games against North Korea and Qatar respectively.

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