Socceroos' Road to FIFA World Cup: Breaking New Records

The Australia national football team, also known as the Socceroos, is preparing for the third round of FIFA World Cup qualification in the Asian Football Confederation. They will be facing Japan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China PR, and Indonesia in their quest to secure a spot at the sixth consecutive World Cup. This follows their successful second-round campaign where they won all six matches against Lebanon, Palestine, and Bangladesh.

In the latest draw held in Kuala Lumpur, Australia was grouped with tough opponents like Japan, Iran, and Korea Republic. Despite being ranked fourth-highest among Asian nations, the Socceroos are determined to make their mark in the upcoming matches. The top two teams from each group will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The third-round qualifying campaign will kick off with Australia facing Indonesia on 10 September. The group stage will consist of 10 matches played across September, October, November 2024, March, and June 2025. If Australia were to miss out on direct qualification, there is still a chance to secure a spot through the AFC Asian qualifiers or an intercontinental playoff.

Meanwhile, football fans in Jordan are also eagerly awaiting the draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The Jordanian National Football team is hoping to reach the World Cup for the first time in its history. Represented by the team's managing director, Mohamed Manko, Jordan is determined to make a strong showing in the upcoming matches. The top two teams from each group will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the third and fourth-placed teams will enter the fourth round of qualifiers.

The draw will see teams divided into three groups, with each group consisting of six teams. The teams have been classified into six levels based on their FIFA rankings, with Japan, Iran, and Korea Republic in the first level, and Australia, Qatar, and Iraq in the second level. With the stakes high and competition fierce, both Australia and Jordan are gearing up for an exciting journey towards World Cup qualification.