First World Cup ever! Uzbekistan clinches spot; Australia in, too

Uzbekistan has qualified for its first ever World Cup appearance while Australia secured its sixth straight appearance for next year’s 48-team tournament to be held in North America.

There are now five teams – Uzbekistan, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Iran and Argentina – that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico automatically qualified for the competition.

With a scoreless draw against the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, Uzbekistan picked up the point required to secure progress thanks to oalkeeper Utkir Yusupov’s second-half performance – which included three key stops.

Australia is also in thanks to its 1-0 win over Japan in Perth, which put the Socceroos into a sixth straight World Cup appearance.

The already-qualified Japan fielded an experimental XI with only Daichi Kamada and Koki Machida having made more than four international appearances, but still had the majority of possession and chances.

Substitute Takefusa Kubo had perhaps the best opportunity with 10 minutes remaining, but the midfielder shot wide of the post from inside the area.

In the 90th minute, Riley McGree broke free down the right and pulled back for Behich to curl home to bring Perth Stadium to its feet and give Australia its first win over Japan in 16 years.

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