Australia qualifies for 2026 World Cup with 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia

Connor Metcalfe scored his first goal for Australia and Mitchell Duke iced the 2-1 victory in Saudi Arabia that ensured the Socceroos qualified for a sixth straight World Cup.

Needing just to avoid a five-goal defeat to secure direct entry to the 2026 tournament, the Socceroos rallied with Metcalfe equalizing just before halftime with a left-foot strike and Duke putting them ahead with a 48th-minute header. Abdulrahman Al Oboud had opened for the Saudis after 19 minutes.

Goalkeeper Mat Ryan made five saves, including a late penalty, in his 100th international for Australia. The Socceroos had to qualify through playoffs in 2018 and 2022 and so earning the direct entry took some pressure off.

“We've done the first part — qualifying automatically,” Socceroos coach Tony Popovic said. “Now the next part is to be bigger and better for the World Cup.”

Popovic was part of the Socceroos squad that qualified for 2006, ending a long World Cup drought for Australia, and then reached the second round. Now he has guided another generation of players to the marquee global tournament.

“We've built a good foundation now (but) we want to get better, kick on and try and do something special in the World Cup," he said.

Earlier, Japan and South Korea ended successful campaigns on a high with emphatic home victories over Indonesia and Kuwait, respectively.

In Osaka, Daichi Kamada scored after 15 minutes to set Japan, preparing for an eighth consecutive World Cup, on its way to a 6-0 victory.

Takefusa Kubo added a second five minutes later and Kamada extended the lead just before the break. Soon after the restart, Ryoya Morishita and Shuto Machino piled on and Mao Hosoya made it six.

The Palestinian team was eliminated from contention after conceding a goal seven minutes into stoppage time in a 1-1 draw with Oman, giving the Oman team the last spot in the next round of continental qualifying.

Australia joins already-qualified Japan, Iran, South Korea, Uzbekistan and Jordan i n reaching the expanded 48-team tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Asia’s two other automatic places will be settled between the six third- and fourth-place teams. That round takes place in October. The teams will be Oman, Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.

Earlier, South Korea, which has qualified for an 11th straight World Cup, sealed the top spot in Group B after beating Kuwait 4-0.

Jeon Jin-woo scored after 33 minutes at Seoul World Cup Stadium and Lee Kang-in added a second soon after the restart. Oh Hyeon-gyu and Lee Jae-sung also got on the scoresheet.

Elsewhere, China finished off another disappointing campaign with a 1-0 win over Bahrain in a game between teams already eliminated from contention.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Australia's Martin Boyle, left, an dAustralia's goalkeeper Paul David Izzo celebrate after winning a World Cup 2026 Group C qualifying soccer match against Saudi Arabia at King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo)

Australia players celebrate after winning a World Cup 2026 Group C qualifying soccer match against Saudi Arabia at King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo)

Japan's Shunsuke Mito, right, and Indonesia's Yakob Sayuri, left, compete the ball during the World Cup 2026 group C qualifying soccer match in Suita, west Japan, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Yu Matsuda/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Daichi Kamada, center, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup 2026 group C qualifying soccer match between Japan and Indonesia in Suita, Japan, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Shohei Miyano/Kyodo News via AP)

Saudi Arabia's Feras Albrikan, center, is challenged by Australia's Milos Degenek, right, during the World Cup 2026 Group C qualifying soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Australia at King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo)

Australia's Mitchell Duke, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup 2026 Group C qualifying soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Australia at King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo)

Australia players celebrate after teammate Mitchell Duke scored his side's second goal during a World Cup 2026 Group C qualifying soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Australia at King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo)

DODOMA, Tanzania (AP) — Tanzania’s president has, for the first time since the disputed October election, commented on a six-day internet shutdown as the country went through its worst postelection violence.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday expressed “sympathy” to diplomats and foreign nationals living in the country, saying the government would strive to ensure there is never a repeat of the same.

Hassan won the October election with more than 97% of the vote after candidates from the two main opposition parties were barred from running and the country’s main opposition leader remained in prison facing treason charges.

Violence broke out on election day and went on for days as the internet was shut down amid a heavy police crackdown that left hundreds of people dead, according to rights groups.

Hassan blamed the violence on foreigners and pardoned hundreds of young people who had been arrested, saying they were acting under peer pressure.

Speaking to ambassadors, high commissioners and representatives of international organizations on Thursday in the capital, Dodoma, she sought to reassure envoys of their safety, saying the government would remain vigilant to prevent a repeat of the disruption.

“To our partners in the diplomatic community and foreigners residing here in Tanzania, I express my sincere sympathy for the uncertainty, service restrictions and internet shutdowns you experienced,” she said.

Hassan defended her administration, saying the measures were taken to preserve constitutional order and protect citizens.

“I assure you that we will remain vigilant to ensure your safety and prevent any recurrence of such experiences,” the president told diplomats on Thursday.

Tanzania has, since the October elections, established a commission of inquiry to look into the violence that left hundreds dead and property worth millions of shillings destroyed in a country that has enjoyed relative calm for decades.

Foreign observers said the election failed to meet democratic standards because key opposition figures were barred.

FILE - Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan delivers remarks during a campaign rally ahead of the general elections in Iringa, Tanzania, Oct. 5, 2025. (AP Photo, File)