Australia’s Socceroos simply must take care of business against Indonesia in tonight’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier with direct qualification on the line in Sydney.
With four games left in this phase of AFC qualifying, the Socceroos are one of five teams within one point of the second direct qualification spot.
With games against continental powers Japan and Saudi Arabia to come on the final matchdays, Australia simply must take advantage of games against relative minnows Indonesia and China over the coming week to bank points and ensure they will advance directly.
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Finishing third or fourth in the group would advance the Socceroos into the fourth round of AFC qualifying – which involves a pair of three-team groups with two nations to directly qualify, and another two advancing into a playoff – while finishing fifth or sixth would eliminate them entirely.
The match gets underway at 8:10pm AEDT from Sydney Football Stadium.
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Follow Socceroos vs Indonesia in our live blog below or via our Match Centre!
AFC FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFYING – GROUP C STANDINGS (Start of night)
1. Japan – 5-1-0, 16 pts (+20 goal difference)
2. Australia – 1-4-1, 7 pts (+1)
3. Indonesia – 1-3-2, 6 pts (-3)
4. Saudi Arabia – 1-3-2, 6 pts (-3)
5. Bahrain – 1-3-2, 6 pts (-5)
6. China – 2-0-4, 6 pts (-10)
Australia’s remaining games: vs Indonesia in Sydney on March 20, vs China in Hangzhou on March 25, vs Japan in Perth on June 5, vs Saudi Arabia away on June 10
Matchday 7 games: Australia vs Indonesia in Sydney, Japan vs Bahrain in Saitama, Saudi Arabia vs China in Riyadh
Top two nations qualify directly for World Cup
Third and fourth enter fourth round of AFC qualifying
Watch Australia vs Indonesia live from 8pm AEDT on Ten.
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