After starting round three of Asian Qualifying in style with back-to-back wins, the Socceroos will look to continue their record-breaking streak of 10-straight victories when Group B action resumes in early October.
Following a 3-0 win over China in Doha and 1-0 victory over Vietnam in Hanoi, Graham Arnold's side will take on Oman on Thursday, October 7 before travelling to Japan on the following Tuesday, October 12.
Here is what you need to know ahead of next month's action.
Our schedule
Games in the third round are scheduled to be played on the following match days: 7 October 2021, 12 October 2021, 11 November 2021, 16 November 2021, 27 January 2022, 1 February 2022, 24 March 2022 and 29 March 2022.
Due to the ever-evolving COVID-19 situation, match locations and times will be finalised in the immediate lead-up to each window.
|
Day/Date |
Match |
|
Thursday, 2 September 2021 |
AUSTRALIA 3-0 China PR |
|
Tuesday, 7 September 2021 |
Vietnam 0-1 AUSTRALIA |
|
Thursday, 7 October 2021 |
AUSTRALIA v Oman |
|
Tuesday, 12 October 2021 |
Japan v AUSTRALIA |
|
Thursday, 11 November 2021 |
AUSTRALIA v Saudi Arabia |
|
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 |
China PR v AUSTRALIA |
|
Thursday, 27 January 2022 |
AUSTRALIA v Vietnam |
|
Tuesday, 1 February 2022 |
Oman v AUSTRALIA |
|
Thursday, 24 March 2022 |
AUSTRALIA v Japan |
|
Tuesday, 29 March 2022 |
Saudi Arabia v AUSTRALIA |
How to watch
Yet again October's match will be broadcast live and free via Network Ten and Ten Play.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ – AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar (Final Round)
Australia v Oman
Date: Thursday, 7 October 2021
Broadcast: Network 10
Australia v Japan
Date: Tuesday, 12 October 2021
Broadcast: Network 10
The draw
The Socceroos are taking on Japan, Saudi Arabia, China PR, Oman, and Vietnam in the Final Round of AFC Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
The draw saw Australia pooled in Group B of qualification, with Group A containing IR Iran, Korea Republic, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
To qualify for a fifth consecutive FIFA World Cup™, Australia must finish either first or second in Group B, which includes ten matches to be played from September 2021 to March 2022, to qualify directly.
A third-place finish would send the Socceroos to a play-off against the third-place team from Group A, followed by an intercontinental play-off.
The journey so far
Australia has made a perfect start their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, advancing through their first group in perfect fashion.
Wit the first four matches played in late 2019 and final half of the group played out in June 2021, the Socceroos secured eight-straight victories: with seven of those coming away from home.
Graham Arnold's side notched an impressive 28 goals at an average of 3.5 per game, while conceding just the two.
A 3-0 win in Kuwait kicked off the campaign, as Mathew Leckie bagged a memorable brace and Aaron Mooy curled home a stunner to ensure the result.
A month later, the Socceroos returned home to Canberra where they played out a comfortable 5-0 victory over Nepal. Jamie Maclaren stole the show with his first international hat trick, while Harry Souttar instantly endeared himself to the Australian fans with a brace on debut.
Five days later, the squad travelled to Chinese Taipei where they secured their most emphatic result so far, overcoming the home nation 7-1 at Kaohsiung National Stadium. Adam Taggart, Jackson Irvine and Souttar all registered braces, as Ajdin Hrustic came off the bench to chip in with a trio of assists.
Exactly a month later, it was a whole lot closer when Australia travelled to face Jordan in Amman. But Arnold's side managed to get the job done in difficult conditions, with a solitary Adam Taggart goal ensuring the Socceroos would return home with a priceless three points.
When the full time whistle blew on that night in November 2019, no one would have suspected that the Socceroos would wait another 18 months before returning to action.
But that was exactly the case, as the Asian Qualifiers finally resumed within a hub based in Kuwait City.
Despite the lengthy intermission, Australia would come away with another four important victories to ensure they sealed top spot in Group B and advanced to within striking distance of a fifth-straight FIFA World Cup Finals appearance.
Round 3 kicked off in perfect fashion, with a 3-0 win over China in Doha sealing top spot of Group B with one round played.
History was made a few days later, as a tight 1-0 victory away in Vietnam not only maintained Australia's perfect record, but also saw them become the first AFC nation to secure 10 victories in a single qualifying campaign.
