Australia have started to turn around their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign but now face familiar foes looking to launch their own revival
Socceroos will be out to continue their return to form in 2026 World Cup qualification when Australia face Saudi Arabia in Melbourne on 14 November.Socceroos will be out to continue their return to form in 2026 World Cup qualification when Australia face Saudi Arabia in Melbourne on 14 November.in a crucial World Cup qualifier in Melbourne on Thursday, with the group’s second automatic qualification spot for the 2026 tournament dangling tantalisingly for the winner.
“We feel it’s in our hands here at our home stadium and our crowd, the players look calm and confident, and I want to see that in their performance,” Popovic said.Saudi Arabia present a familiar opponent, who had the better of the Socceroos in qualifying for the previous World Cup under French coach Hervé Renard. Much has changed since then, and Renard left to coach France in the Women’s World Cup last year.
“I think it will be a big fight between three or four teams for the second position, so still a long way ,” he said. “We also have, I hope, the opportunity for the last game of this group to receive Australia.” In midfield, Luke Brattan and Keanu Baccus have been dropped, and Popovic has brought in Sydney FC’s 32-year-old Anthony Caceres and NAC Breda’s Max Balard – who moved from Central Coast in the off-season – and could be deployed alongside Jackson Irvine in the centre of the park.“We feel just keeps improving and has become more consistent with his game over there, and gaining confidence from playing regularly against big opponents,” Popovic said.
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