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Sam Kerr Is Set to Get Her Women’s World Cup Campaign Going for Australia after Injury Setback

Sam Kerr of Australia celebrates following their win over Canada during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 soccer Group B match between Ireland and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, 31 July 2023. (EPA)
Sam Kerr of Australia celebrates following their win over Canada during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 soccer Group B match between Ireland and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, 31 July 2023. (EPA)
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Sam Kerr Is Set to Get Her Women’s World Cup Campaign Going for Australia after Injury Setback

Sam Kerr of Australia celebrates following their win over Canada during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 soccer Group B match between Ireland and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, 31 July 2023. (EPA)
Sam Kerr of Australia celebrates following their win over Canada during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 soccer Group B match between Ireland and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, 31 July 2023. (EPA)

In the end, Sam Kerr wasn't needed as Australia advanced to the knockout stages of the Women's World Cup.

But the Matildas’ inspirational captain is finally expected to get on the field against Denmark in the round of 16 on Monday,

“I’m really excited. I will play,” Kerr told Australia's Nine TV network.

The star striker has been sidelined since injuring her left calf on the eve of co-host Australia's first game against Ireland on July 20.

Though she recovered well enough to make the bench against Canada, coach Tony Gustavsson didn't have to ask the Chelsea forward to perform a rescue act as the Matildas routed the Olympic champion 4-0 to top Group B.

While it is still not clear if she will be in the starting 11 against Denmark, both Kerr and Gustavsson are talking as if she will make her entrance at the World Cup at Stadium Australia.

“We had a nice moment as a team yesterday, to see her back with the boots on and touching the ball and be with the team training," Gustavsson said Sunday. "And it was a very good feeling for her and a very good feeling for the players and the teammates and a very good feeling for me.

“Today she was off-feet. It’s all an individual plan for her in training - I trust my (medical) team 100% to prepare her the best way possible."

Gustavsson said he was working on “how to get the best out of Sam Kerr” in the game.

Kerr is one of the biggest sports stars in Australia and has been the face of the country's preparations for the World Cup, which it is co-hosting with New Zealand.

Considered one of the best players in the world, she helped Chelsea to a Women's Super League and FA Cup double last season.

The 29-year-old Kerr was one of the favorites to be the leading scorer in this tournament, but there were initial doubts she would be able to play any part for Australia after sustaining a calf injury in training.

She has won four league titles with Chelsea, as well as three FA Cups and two League Cups.

Kerr scored the winner as Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium last season. The game was played in front of a crowd of 77,390.

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Japan Set to Seal World Cup Spot as Son Aims to Forget Spurs Woes 

Football - Premier League - Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - March 16, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - March 16, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
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Japan Set to Seal World Cup Spot as Son Aims to Forget Spurs Woes 

Football - Premier League - Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - March 16, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - March 16, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)

Japan can become the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup this week while Son Heung-min will try to forget his Tottenham woes by firing South Korea to the finals.

Asian nations play two rounds of games, on Thursday and Tuesday, as qualifying for the enlarged 48-team tournament in North America approaches the business end in the region.

Japan will seal their spot with three qualifying matches to go if, as expected, they beat Bahrain at home in Saitama on Thursday.

Even if they stumble, it looks only a matter of time until they secure a place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as they have another home match against Saudi Arabia next week.

Hajime Moriyasu's side are nine points clear of Australia at the top of Group C, having won five and drawn one of their six games in this phase of qualifying, scoring 22 goals and conceding twice.

Moriyasu named a full-strength squad led by Liverpool's Wataru Endo and Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma, but said there were plenty of other players who deserved call-ups.

"There are a lot of players who are showing what they can do in the J. League and in Europe and wouldn't look out of place in this squad," he said.

There are three groups in the third Asian qualifying round for 2026, with the top two in each going straight to the World Cup.

Japan are sitting pretty on 16 points with four matches to play but the five-way battle to qualify second from the group could go to the wire.

Australia have seven points, while Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and China all have six.

- Indonesia go Dutch -

The Socceroos, who are without several players through injury, on Thursday host an Indonesia side in Sydney led for the first time by Barcelona and Dutch great Patrick Kluivert.

Indonesia have leaned heavily on the Netherlands as they look to reach the World Cup for the first time since the Asian nation gained independence from the Dutch in 1945.

Indonesia have recruited a dozen players born in the Netherlands and in January added Kluivert as coach, with Jordi Cruyff also coming in as technical adviser.

South Korea are well on their way and will seal their spot at the 2026 World Cup with home wins over Oman and Jordan.

The 32-year-old forward Son has struggled for fitness and form in the Premier League this season, scoring seven times for Spurs, with the London club languishing in the bottom half of the table.

But the skipper continues to be South Korea's talisman, with 51 goals in 131 appearances.

"There are many discussions regarding his recent form, including his goal tally," said coach Hong Myung-bo.

"However, we must not forget everything he has accomplished so far."

South Korea have been dealt a blow with the loss of Bayern Munich center-back Kim Min-jae to an Achilles tendon injury.

South Korea top Group B with 14 points with Iraq, who are likely to clinch second place, on 11. Jordan are third on nine points.

Iraq next face Kuwait and Palestine, the bottom two in the group.

Iran lead the way in Group A with 16 points from six games, ahead of Uzbekistan on 13 and the United Arab Emirates on 10.

Qatar, who won the Asian Cup on home soil 13 months ago, are fourth on seven points.

Even if they finish outside the top two, their World Cup hopes will not be over.

The teams that finish third and fourth in the three groups go through to a further round of qualifying.