Japan v Australia: 2026 World Cup qualifier – live

In the aftermath of the win in Adelaide last Thursday, Popovic preached that the national team needed to be a more difficult environment for players than they encountered at their clubs. He concedes that it to be hard work for those that come in and, if they wish to return, they need to maintain an elite level outside international duty. Indeed, if there has been one theme that has run through the Socceroos since Popovic’s arrival, it has been a demand to be elite each and every day, not just in green and gold.

Hajime Moriyasu makes one change from the team that beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 in Jeddah: Real Sociedad’s Take Kubo replaces Daichi Kamada.

Japan (3-4-2-1) Suzuki; Itakura, Taniguchi, Machida; Doan, Endo, Morita, Mitoma; Minamino, Kubo; Ueda.
Substitutes: Sugawara, Fujita, Maeda, Osako, Nakamura, Ito, Kamada, Mochizuki, Ogawa, Hatate, Seko, Tani.

Tony Popovic has changed more than half the XI that started against China on Thursday. Not sure anyone saw that coming. Luke Brattan, 34, will make his international debut in midfield.

In Jason Geria, Cam Burgess, Jordy Bos, Luke Brattan, Ajdin Hrustic, Riley McGree

Out Thomas Deng, Kye Rowles, Aiden O’Neill, Aziz Behich, Craig Goodwin, Nestory Irankunda.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Socceroos’ World Cup qualifier against Japan in Saitama. It’s not often Australia are rank outsiders in an Asian Federation game but that’s the case tonight. They haven’t beaten Japan since 2009 and are already five points behind them in Group C. The 3-1 win over China on Thursday restored a bit of order but the fact Japan won the equivalent fixture 7-0 tells you where Australia are right now.

While the games against Saudi Arabia and Bahrain will probably determine whether Australia take the second automatic qualification place, this match is a useful health check against the highest-ranked team in Asia. A draw would a terrific result; a win would be one for the books.

Kick off 9.35pm AEDT/7.35pm local