The Socceroos have almost certainly secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, barring a mathematical anomaly.
While Japan dominated Australia for most of Thursday night's match, Socceroos defender Aziz Behich struck in the 90th minute to deliver a 1-0 win and send the almost 60,000-strong crowd at Perth Stadium into a frenzy.
"In a football sense, this is the best week [of my life] ... I think we more than deserve going to the World Cup again," Behich said after the match.
This was Australia's first win against Japan in 16 years. Japan, which had already qualified, played a second-string team but still dominated possession, with the Socceroos spending most of the match defending.
Behich's goal, from a cut-back from substitute midfielder Riley McGree, came from the Socceroos' only incisive attack of the game.
Australia's place in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico is now all but secured, though it won't be set in stone until the final group game against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning (AEST).
The Socceroos, second in Asian qualifying Group C, need only to avoid a big defeat to the third-placed Green Falcons in Jeddah to go through.
Popovic: 'It's a moment I'll always remember'
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, who sunk to his knees in celebration before embracing his coaching staff after Behich's goal, said the team were determined to confirm qualification with a good result in Jeddah.
"It's a special night," Popovic said.
"The outpouring of emotions when we scored, and obviously after the game — it's a moment I'll always remember.
"We've all played a part in getting us to this point, and we want to go to Saudi Arabia now and really finish the job off."
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic after the win. Source: AAP / Richard Wainwright
"It's like a dream come true. I couldn't be any happier," he said while wiping away tears in a post-match interview.
Japan dominate possession
The first half was effectively one-way traffic, with Australia forced to defend against a Japanese side very comfortable in possession. When the Socceroos did get the ball, they struggled to maintain it.
Japan enjoyed more than 70 per cent possession and had seven shots on goal.
The Socceroos, by contrast, had just two attempts.
While Japan entered Australia's final third 45 times, Australia did the same only 12 times.
Japan's first serious attack came in the 27th minute, when Yuito Suzuki shot just wide.
Socceroos midfielder Connor Metcalfe heads towards goal during Thursday night's World Cup qualifier against Japan. Source: AAP / Richard Wainwright
In the 38th minute, Japan's Yu Hirakawa unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, which put Australia on notice.
Nail-biting finish
The second half started with two substitutions for Australia and one for Japan.
For the Socceroos, Riley McGree and Patrick Yazbek came on for Ryan Teague and Martin Boyle in midfield, while Japan brought on Ayumu Seko in place of fellow defender Koki Machida.
The substitutes didn't change the flow of the game in the first 15 minutes of the second half, with Japan maintaining control of the ball and continuing to apply pressure.
In the last 30 minutes of the second half, Japan's star player Takefusa Kubo, alongside Keito Nakamura, came into the match, increasing the pressure on Australia's defence.
Japan came close to scoring in the 80th minute, when Kubo's shot narrowly missed Mat Ryan's goal.
But it was Behich's curved right-footed shot in the 90th minute that sent the crowd of 57,226 in Perth wild.
The Socceroos celebrate Aziz Behich's winner. Source: AAP / Richard Wainwright
What's next for the Socceroos?
Following their win, the Socceroos remain second in their group on 16 points, behind Japan on 20 points.
Only the top two teams in the group will secure direct spots for the 2026 World Cup.
Saudi Arabia is currently in third place, with 13 points, after they beat Bahrain 2-0 overnight.
The only way the Green Falcons can block Australia's automatic qualification is if they beat the Socceroos 5-0 when the two teams meet on Wednesday as Australia has a much better goal difference.
Australia's Riley McGree (right) and Japan's Takefusa Kubo compete for the ball on Thursday night. Source: AP / Trevor Collens
Australia's most recent qualifier against Saudi Arabia, in Melbourne in November, ended in a 0-0 draw.
If the Socceroos do lose heavily to Saudi Arabia and finish third in the group, they will need to qualify through a fourth round round-robin tournament in October.
Six nations will be divided into two groups of three, with each team playing against the others in their group once. The winners of both groups will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In Group C, Indonesia, who play Japan in their final group game, have secured a place in the fourth round. The other two teams, Bahrain and China, have been eliminated.
When and where is the next Socceroos match?
The Socceroos will go head-to-head with Saudi Arabia on 11 June at 4.15am AEST in the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
You can watch all 104 games of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ LIVE on SBS and SBS VICELAND.
