Match Preview: Australia v Japan | FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier™
It is crunch time for the Subway Socceroos, as they prepare to take on top-ranked Asian opposition Japan in an all-important FIFA World Cup 2026™ Third Round Asian Qualifier in Perth on Thursday night.
Australia are currently second in Group C. They are behind Japan who have already secured automatic qualification, and three points ahead of Saudi Arabia in third.
The top two teams in each of the three Third Round Asian Qualifier groups automatically qualify for the World Cup. The teams that finish third and fourth in each group advance to the Fourth Round Asian Qualifiers.
The Socceroos' superior goal difference compared to Saudi Arabia means that a win against Japan would help us take a major step towards securing automatic qualification on Thursday evening.
Other paths to automatic qualification are as follows: If Australia secure a draw, and both Saudi Arabia and Indonesia fail to defeat their opponents on Friday morning (AEST); or if Australia lose, and Saudi Arabia and Indonesia are also defeated - keeping in mind the Socceroos' superior goal difference - Australia will effectively qualify.
If Australia are defeated by Japan, and Saudi Arabia defeat Bahrain and/or Indonesia defeat China, automatic qualification will hinge on the Subway Socceroos' final game of Third Round Qualifiers against Saudi Arabia.
- READ MORE: Tony Popovic names Subway Socceroos squad to face Japan and Saudi Arabia
- READ MORE: Squad Notes: Six Socceroos return while two players earn maiden call-up
The Squad
Tony Popovic made eight changes to the squad that picked up six points against China PR and Indonesia in the last international window.
Paul Okon-Engstler has been selected for the first time after impressing for the Young Socceroos in their AFC U20 Asian Cup campaign. Kasey Bos is the other debut call-up after his key role in Melbourne Victory's run to the A-League Men Grand Final.
Okon-Engstler and Bos, as well as goalkeeper Paul Izzo and defender Kai Trewin are in the running to become Subway Socceroo #650 if they are to take the pitch against Japan.
Goalkeeper Joe Gauci, defender Alessandro Circati, and midfielders Riley McGree and Connor Metcalfe all return from injuries to take their place in the squad. Patrick Yazbek and Mohamed Toure also return after impressing at club level this season.
One of the burning questions for Head Coach Tony Popovic will be replacing Jackson Irvine in midfield, with the experienced St Pauli player picking up an injury that ruled him out of this international window.
Ryan Teague could be one option, after the youngster impressed against Indonesia last time out. The returning Metcalfe and McGree will also both be in contention for a starting spot.
The Opponent
Japan have been almost flawless in this qualifying campaign. They are undefeated in eight games and come into this window knowing that their World Cup spot for 2026 is already secure.
That knowledge means that the group of players that they are bringing to Australia are younger and more inexperienced. Manager Hajime Moriyasu may look to experiment with his squad, with a long runway towards the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in front of him.
That doesn't mean that the Subway Socceroos will be complacent. The J-League remains one of the best leagues in Asia, and the young players that it produces remain elite.
What will give Australia hope is that they were one of the two sides to take points off Japan in this qualification cycle - and they did so in Japan, holding the home team to a 1-1 draw. If Popovic's men can perform to a similar level in Perth, there is no reason why the Subway Socceroos cannot defeat the Blue Samurai for the first time since 2009.
Irrespective of the team Japan put on the park, it will be no easy feat for Australia to pick up points against the nation that many consider to be the best in Asia.
FIFA World Rankings
Australia: 26
Japan: 15
Head-to-Head ('A' Internationals)
Played: 28
Wins: 7
Draws: 9
Losses: 12
Insights
- Japan are undefeated in their last 10 men’s ‘A’ internationals against Australia (W6 D4) – their longest unbeaten run against the Socceroos; Japan’s last defeat against them in such fixtures was a 1-2 loss in June 2009.
- Tony Popovic is undefeated in all his six men’s ‘A’ internationals as coach of Australia (W3 D3); the last Socceroos manager to begin their tenure on a longer unbeaten run in such fixtures was Terry Venables (W13 D3) from January to December in 1997.
- Australia lost their inaugural men’s ‘A’ international in Western Australia (0-1 vs Ghana, 24 June 1995) though have won all their four games in the state since then by an aggregate score of 15-0.
- Lewis Miller (Australia) has contested 26 duels in men’s internationals in 2025, 11 more than any other Socceroos player this year; in addition, his eight dribbles are five more than any other Socceroos player in 2025.
- Craig Goodwin (Australia) has been directly involved in seven goals in his last five men’s internationals in Australia (3 goals, 4 assists), including one goal and three assists across his last two games at home.
Australian form guide: W-W-D-D-D
Japan form guide: D-W-W-W-D
What They Said
Tony Popovic
Expectations of Japan
“Not their best squad” - I wonder what that would look like? When we played them in Japan, they had their starting 11 all playing in Europe. We can see that they have a mixture of J-League players and European-based players in this squad, and we haven't beaten them often, so I'm sure they'll be strong regardless of who they play.
Qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026™
A win is something that we're really pushing towards, and we feel confident that we can show an improved performance from the one we gave in Japan - albeit, that was a very good one [performance]. We'll have to be at our best to beat the best team in Asia, which is where we want to get to. To be the best, we have to beat the best, and they clearly are.
Mat Ryan
In my eyes, we're the best in Asia. If you don't believe you're the best, then you're failing at the first hurdle. You’ve got to go out there and believe that you can overcome whatever challenge is in front of you. There’s a fine line, without being arrogant and being complacent or anything like that. We obviously respect every opposition that we play against. But I have full belief in myself, and in my teammates, that we can go out there and do the job.
Alessandro Circati
After an injury like this, you never know how you would return. It's a bit of an unknown. But I think I returned really well, stronger than I was before. I think over that time, I really worked on myself as a person and as an athlete. I worked on areas where maybe I was weaker, or areas I had to improve, and so I feel like I've returned as a better athlete.
Martin Boyle
It's brilliant. These are the games you like to play in, the massive games. You play in a lot of big games in your career, but these are the games you can be a hero. Everyone will have an eye on doing that. But most importantly is qualifying for the nation. We know how difficult it will be. We’ve been working hard. We've got the core together, and we'll definitely be prepared for Thursday night.
Adam Taggart
It’s a very, very special opportunity, [and a] massive match against Japan. I’m stoked that it's going to be here in Perth, to be involved in front of friends and family in my hometown city. It’s very, very special, especially after last year's match and how memorable that was. I'm really looking forward to this one.
Milos Degenek
It's not going to be a walk in the park, and they're going to take this as serious, if not more serious than any other game, because they want to prove to their coach that they should be a part of that World Cup squad, because they will have, surely, a lot of those boys from Europe, the big stars that are going to go definitely to a World Cup. And these guys are probably there, trying to force their spot in that squad. So I think it's going to be really, really difficult. I think there's no B team or A team. I think it's one country, and we all know how good Japan is at football.
Ryan Teague
I think any team Japan puts out is going to be very good, very respectable. But it's about us focusing on the things that we can control, things that we can do in terms of breaking them down, getting a result, not letting them get through.
MATCH DETAILS
Subway Socceroos v Japan
Thursday, 5 June 2025
Perth Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 7.00pm local / 9:00pm AEST
Tickets: Available via Ticketmaster
Broadcast: 10, 10 Play and Paramount+
What's Next?
Saudi Arabia v Subway Socceroos
Tuesday 10 June 2025 / Wednesday 11 June 2025 AEST
King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah
Kick-off: 9.15pm local / 4.15am AEST
Broadcast: Paramount+