Socceroos and Saudi Arabia Face Crucial World Cup Qualifier in Melbourne

Both teams aim to secure a critical victory as they compete for automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup.

Australia and Saudi Arabia are tied with five points each in Group C, trailing leaders Japan by five points.
Newly appointed coaches Tony Popovic for Australia and Herve Renard for Saudi Arabia seek to revitalize their teams' campaigns.
Australia's Craig Goodwin is suspended, leaving a gap in the lineup, with Ajdin Hrustic expected to step in.
Saudi Arabia's squad is missing key player Salem Al-Dawsari due to injury, but veteran Salman Al-Faraj returns.
The match is pivotal for both teams, as only the top two in each group automatically qualify for the World Cup.