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Australia Faces Toughest of Challenges in Asian World Cup Qualifying

Tony Popovic, head coach of Australia, gives instructions to his players during the Men's World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Australia and China at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia, 10 October 2024. (EPA)
Tony Popovic, head coach of Australia, gives instructions to his players during the Men's World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Australia and China at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia, 10 October 2024. (EPA)
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Australia Faces Toughest of Challenges in Asian World Cup Qualifying

Tony Popovic, head coach of Australia, gives instructions to his players during the Men's World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Australia and China at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia, 10 October 2024. (EPA)
Tony Popovic, head coach of Australia, gives instructions to his players during the Men's World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Australia and China at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia, 10 October 2024. (EPA)

Australia faces the most daunting road trip in Asia on Tuesday when it faces a dominant Japan at Saitama Stadium, knowing a win would put the Socceroos back on track for a sixth successive World Cup appearance after a mixed start in the third round of qualification.

The Group C meeting is also a chance for new coach Tony Popovic, appointed in September to replace Graham Arnold, to make a statement win in his second game in charge and cross swords with a former team-mate.

Popovic played for Japanese club Sanfrecce Hiroshima from 1997 to 2001 alongside Hajime Moriyasu – now coach of Japan. “I know their head coach very well; he was my captain during my time in Japan. A remarkable person who has dedicated years to developing the national team,” said Popovic.

Japan is on course for an eighth successive World Cup appearance with three wins against China, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, scoring 14 goals and conceding none.

“This is undoubtedly a significant challenge, but it also presents a fantastic opportunity to etch our name in history by winning in Japan,” Popovic said after defeating China 3-1 in his first game in charge on Thursday, a result that took Australia to four points in the group, five behind Japan.

The top two teams from each of the three groups of six qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup with the third and fourth place finishers advancing to the next stage.

Like Australia, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have four points and meet in Jeddah, while winless China hosts Indonesia at home.

The top two in Group B meet as South Korea hosts Iraq with both teams on seven points. The game has been switched to the city of Yongin, due to the poor condition of the playing surface at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

South Korea will be without English Premier League stars Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers due to injury.

Third-placed Jordan hosts Oman in fourth while the bottom two meet as the Palestinians take on Kuwait with both looking for a first win.

In Group A, Uzbekistan and Iran are top with seven points each. Iran will host fourth-place Qatar in Dubai, due to the security situation at home while Uzbekistan takes on the United Arab Emirates in third.

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Salah Helps Egypt to Victory as Tunisia Stunned by Comoros

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leeds United v Liverpool - Elland Road, Leeds, Britain - September 12, 2021 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Peter Powell
Soccer Football - Premier League - Leeds United v Liverpool - Elland Road, Leeds, Britain - September 12, 2021 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Peter Powell
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Salah Helps Egypt to Victory as Tunisia Stunned by Comoros

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leeds United v Liverpool - Elland Road, Leeds, Britain - September 12, 2021 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Peter Powell
Soccer Football - Premier League - Leeds United v Liverpool - Elland Road, Leeds, Britain - September 12, 2021 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Peter Powell

Mohamed Salah was on target to help Egypt maintain their 100% record in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying with a comfortable 2-0 home win over Mauritania, but Tunisia slipped to a shock 1-0 home defeat to Comoros in their fixture on Friday.

Salah added to an opener from Trezeguet in Cairo as Egypt toiled for almost 70 minutes before they broke down the Mauritania defence to move six points clear at the top of Group C at the midway point of the qualifiers.

Tunisia were heavy favorites after starting their campaign with two wins, but despite 15 goal attempts fell to a lone strike from Rafiki Said just past the hour mark, Reuters reported.

It was Tunisia's first home defeat in Cup of Nations qualifiers since 2010 but they remain on top of Group A with six points from three games. Comoros are behind them on five points.

The top two teams in each pool advance to the 24-team finals in Morocco next year.

Nigeria needed a late goal to seal a 1-0 home win over Libya as German-born midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru netted four minutes from the end to spare the blushes of the 2023 finalists.

It was an important win for Nigeria who top Group D and are five points ahead of third-placed Rwanda with three games remaining.

Ivory Coast brushed aside Sierra Leone 4-1 in San Pedro as Franck Kessie scored a brace, both netting and missing a penalty. Nicolas Pepe was also on target as they made it three wins from three.

Sadio Mane and Nicolas Jackson were both on the scoresheet for Senegal as they beat 10-man Malawi 4-0 in Diamniadio. Senegal and Burkina Faso are each on seven points at the top of the pool and favourites to qualify.

- MBEUMO ON TARGET

Cameroon eased to a 4-1 victory over Kenya as Bryan Mbeumo took his Premier League form with Brentford onto the international stage with a goal, to go with a penalty from Vincent Aboubakar, a first international strike for Martin Hongla and a goal from Christian Bassogog.

South Africa recorded the joint second biggest win in their history as they thumped Congo 5-0 in Gqeberha to continue their good form under coach Hugo Broos. Victory over the same opponents in Brazzaville on Tuesday will see them qualify.

Teboho Mokoena netted a brace to go with goals from Bathusi Aubaas, Lyle Foster and Iqraam Rayners.

Bevis Mugabi scored the only goal as group leaders Uganda beat South Sudan 1-0 in the other fixture in the pool.

There were also wins for Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Angola and Mali, but Avram Grant’s Zambia were held to a surprise 0-0 draw at home by Chad that leaves them in second place with four points from a possible nine in their pool.