Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the marquee clashes of matchday 10 in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup will unfold on Tuesday at the Jeddah arena, as Saudi Arabia host Australia. I'm offering a bet on the outcome of this showdown with a solid value.
Match preview
Saudi Arabia still cling to slim hopes of direct qualification for the World Cup, and this home fixture against Australia is set to be a make-or-break moment. Hervé Renard, who replaced Mancini at the helm, has started to bring signs of progress — most notably with a confident win over Bahrain in the previous round. However, the team remains inconsistent, alternating between strong performances and slip-ups, especially in defense.
The "Green Falcons" are traditionally formidable at home, averaging 1.7 goals per game, but conceding 1.1. This shows their attack is up to standard, but the defensive backline sometimes struggles under opposition pressure. Against this backdrop, Renard may emphasize ball control and midfield density to neutralize Australia’s pace and pressing.
Australia have had their own struggles in this qualifying phase, but crucial wins in 2025 over Indonesia, China, and especially Japan have boosted the squad’s confidence. New Socceroos boss Tony Popovic has instilled discipline and defensive cohesion, which has paid off: the team concedes just 0.6 goals per game on average. Facing an opponent in desperate need of victory, the Australians might well opt for containment and counterattacks.
Even so, the "Green and Gold" maintain an attacking edge, netting almost two goals per match. The trip to Saudi Arabia won’t be a walk in the park, but the squad’s experience and tactical flexibility make at least a draw a realistic target. Especially considering Australia’s traditional organization in decisive matches, minimizing risk.
Probable lineups
- Saudi Arabia: Al-Aqeedi, Boushal, Kadesh, Tambakti, Majrashi, Al-Juwaier, Al-Juhani, Kanno, Al-Dawsari, Yahya, Al-Buraikan
- Australia: Ryan, Burgess, Degenek, Cirjakti, Behich, Metcalfe, Boyle, Teague, O'Neill, Miller, Borrello
Match facts and head-to-head
- In their last five head-to-head meetings, Saudi Arabia and Australia have drawn three times.
- Saudi Arabia have won only three of their last five matches.
- In each of their last three encounters, no more than one goal was scored.
Prediction
This promises to be a battle of wills — Saudi Arabia will be highly motivated and eager to harness home support, but Australia under Popovic have mastered the art of slowing down the opponent’s tempo. Given the group-stage intrigue, the visitors’ caution, and the hosts’ unpredictable attack, betting on "Under 2.5 goals" at odds of 1.60 looks the most logical option.
