Australia has not beaten Japan in 16 years as the two sides clash in a third-round AFC World Cup Qualifier. Japan has already qualified, after booking an automatic place with six wins and two draws to sit atop Group C in the table. Australia is in a race with Saudi Arabia to pick up the second automatic spot from Group C, with the two teams set to meet next week. Having already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, Japan is fielding a weakened side, leading to the oddsmakers installing Australia as slight favorites.
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- FOOTBALL: Australia vs Japan, AFC World Cup Qualifier
- Where to watch: Paramount+, DAZN, Channel 10
- Venue: Perth Stadium, Perth, Australia
- Date: 05.06.2025 21:10 AEST
Australia
Australia has two matches remaining and needs four points from them to grab an automatic qualification spot, starting with the game against Japan in Perth. The Socceroos are three points ahead of Saudi Arabia, with 13 points, having secured consecutive victories over Indonesia and China earlier this year. Australia smashed Indonesia 5-1 on 26th March before putting two past China five days later. New coach Tony Popovic has handed call-ups to Kasey Bos and Paul Okon-Engstler, a player from Benfica. The Benfica youngster starred in the recent Asian Under-20 competition, which Australia won. Stalwarts Alessandro Circati and Riley McGee are in as the new coach seeks to protect his unbeaten status.
Australia Possible Starting Lineup:
Ryan; Geria, Burgess, Degenek, Miller, Teague, O'Neill, Behich, Boyle, Borrello.
Bet on Australia vs Japan with Bet365
Japan
Japan was the first non-host to qualify for next year's World Cup, easily going through the third phase of qualifying. The Samurai Blue have qualified for the Mundial with two games to spare, and coach Hajime Moriyasu has decided to use the opportunity to blood some players. Several new faces have been called up, and their main aim is to maintain the unbeaten run of the Japanese team in this phase of the qualification. The Samurai Blue have been impressive in this round, winning six games and drawing two. The Japanese conclude qualification games next week against Indonesia.
Japan Possible Starting Lineup:
Suzuki; Seko, Machida, Takai, Morishita, Fujita, Endo, Nakamura, Kubo, Kamada, Machiro.
Betting Odds
Betway has Australia as 2.67 favorites with Japan at 2.84 to win. Over 2.5 is 2.17 on Betway, with the under 1.5 listed at 2.70 odds. The draw is listed at 3.00 on Bet365, with a halftime draw at 2.00 odds. Read more here.
Bet on Australia vs Japan with Bet365
