Australia v Japan live updates: World Cup 2026 qualifying

now 07.43 EDT 32 mins: Australia get a free kick from a late tackle on Behich. Boyle lines up to take it a few metres into their attacking half. It’s headed away by Japan and the socceroos have their first corner. Share Updated at 07.43 EDT

1m ago 07.41 EDT 30 mins: Australia have a free kick and play it back to Degenek who miss-kicks and sends the ball trickling back to Ryan on the touchline. He manages to hastily clear it. A nerve-racking moment. Share

4m ago 07.39 EDT 28 mins: Australia do seem to be standing around a bit stunned while Japan leisurely pass it around the back four. Kosei Tani has his first touch. Suzuku runs the through the midfield unchallenged and shoots just wide of the far post, a bit of a wasted opportunity he had time and support there. Share Updated at 07.40 EDT

5m ago 07.37 EDT 26 mins: Japan have had 76% of the ball so far. Without the pressure of qualifying on them they appear to be happy to take their time, work it around, probe when they can but no biggie if it doesn’t pay off. Share

7m ago 07.36 EDT 24 mins: Two Japan corners in two minutes. The second is taken by Suzuki which hits the penalty spot but comes back out of the area. The Socceroos defence appears a bit wobbly. Share

9m ago 07.34 EDT 22 mins: Japan may be in control but so far their passes have been too heavy in the final third, crosses not connecting. That could be Australia’s opportunity if they can get on the scoresheet. Share

11m ago 07.31 EDT 20 mins: Boyle has a bit of space upfront but he pauses to look for support and the momentum is lost. Everything Australia does is rushed and heavy, while Japan is the opposite. Share

14m ago 07.29 EDT 18 mins: Japan attacked up the right via Hirakawa whose cross is cleared. Japan use the throw-in to reset from the back. Share

15m ago 07.27 EDT 16 mins: Machida launches the ball over the Australian defence to Yuki, the resulting cross is deflected for a goal kick. Boyle is fouled at the halfway line. Share

17m ago 07.25 EDT 14 mins: Kamada sends the ball into the referee’s back and play is stopped as per RULES. Circati gets the drop and Australia keep possession in defence. Share

19m ago 07.23 EDT 12 mins: Australia make their furthest ground yet in the attacking half on the edge of the penalty box. It’s scrappy and they can’t keep it under control. Share

21m ago 07.21 EDT 10 mins: Kamada and Tawaratsumida are connecting well on the left, although a heavy through pass from Kamada rolls over the touchline and very briefly returns possession to Australia before it’s back to Japan resetting from the back again. It’s only been 10 minutes but you wouldn’t necessarily think this was a second-string Japan side. The Socceroos have no answers yet. Share

24m ago 07.19 EDT 8 mins: A dubious Australian clearance results in a shot from Kamada which takes a slight deflection but is cleaned up easily by Ryan. Share

25m ago 07.17 EDT 6 mins: Australia have everyone back for now. Tawaratsumida makes another run down the left ending in a weak kick to nowhere in the area. Ryan’s probably had the most touches of the Socceroos so far. Share

27m ago 07.16 EDT 4 mins: Samurai Blue totally in control so far, working it around the back four, darting forward on the right and then calmly bringing it back when they can’t get through. One foray into the box is kicked away by Ryan relatively easily. Share

29m ago 07.13 EDT 2 mins: Japan look cool and calm. A long ball from their backline is met by Mat Ryan just outside the area. It’s the Socceroos captain’s 99th cap tonight. Share

37m ago 07.05 EDT I said it for the Matildas and I’ll say it again for the Socceroos. The new black/fluoro pink/fluoro green jackets are superb. Share

39m ago 07.03 EDT From now on every Socceroos home game must start with Darude’s Sandstorm on electric guitar. Unless they lose in which case we know who to blame. Share

46m ago 06.56 EDT Perth Stadium is filling up with a light show under way. Who is staying up to watch Saudi Arabia’s match? (KO 2am AEST) Share

51m ago 06.52 EDT Behich is speaking pre-game. How has he recovered from the ALM grand final? A good five days but look, the mentality had to switch straight away. For us boys and the ones coming straight from the grand final. It’s a big game. These ones you want to be a part of with the national team and obviously with the sellout as well. It’s been an exciting few days of training and the boys are raring to go. On what style we can expect from the Socceroos: Nothing is going to change. When you look at our past games under the boss, obviously we’ve got better every single game and we don’t have much time when we come into games but the steps we have taken is unreal by the group. Look, we’re going to take the game to them. We’re on home soil and something we’re always excited about. It will be a cracking game. Share

1h ago 06.46 EDT Official word is that it’s a sellout in Perth. That should be about 60,000. Football Australia is pleased to confirm that tickets for tonight’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ Asian Qualifier between the Subway Socceroos and Japan at Perth Stadium have officially sold out.#Socceroos #AUSvJPNhttps://t.co/46nNSpoOdq — Football Australia (@FootballAUS) June 5, 2025 Share

1h ago 06.42 EDT Popovic is speaking to the broadcaster. Asked whether it’s a good time to play Japan: I think it’s a good time for us to play anyone at the moment. We feel we’ve evolved. We’re improving. Tonight, regardless of the opponent, it’s the big stage. We need a big performance against Japan and let’s see if we can pull it off. Share

1h ago 06.37 EDT Aziz Behich joins the squad – and in the starting lineup – fresh(ish) from his A-League Men championship win with Melbourne City. I can’t say it was a pretty demonstration of football, that is for sure. View image in fullscreen The City captain oversaw a 1-0 grand final win over rivals Victory. Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images Share

1h ago 06.27 EDT Another player not featuring for the Socceroos is Nectarios Triantis. The Sunderland midfielder withdrew from the squad at the last minute as he weighs up whether to change his allegiance and turn out for Greece. The midfielder impressed out on loan at Hibernian last season and is attracting attention from across Europe and the MLS, German side Fortuna Düsseldorf are very keen on the 22-year-old. Tony Popovic said he’s “not too sure where it exactly sits”. We had him in the squad for the camp, and on the day that he was supposed to travel he informed us that he’s not coming in. He just said he’s got a lot of things on at the moment, a lot on his mind in terms of what he wants to do. We have to respect that, and we’ll see what happens. Share

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