Herve Renard’s Saudi Arabia gear up to face second-placed Australia in a last-ditch attempt to secure direct FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification from Group C at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on Tuesday, 10 June.
View our Saudi Arabia vs Australia predictions below.
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Saudi Arabia vs Australia prediction: A mammoth task for the Arabians
Key stats
- Saudi Arabia are unbeaten in four straight games since losing to Oman last December.
- The Green Falcons have registered four successive clean sheets.
- Australia secured victory with a last-minute goal against Japan in first place.
- The Socceroos have netted 10 goals in their previous four matches.
Correct score prediction: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Australia
Saudi Arabia confront perhaps their most daunting challenge this AFC qualifying: needing to overcome the Socceroos’ +8 goal difference advantage on the final matchday to snatch automatic World Cup qualification. Australia arrive in the Arabian port city with a three-point cushion over the third-placed Green Falcons and rich in form. But the hosts counter with momentum of their own, unbeaten in four.
With both teams defensively disciplined, this Group C finale could produce a tense draw that leaves the Saudis relying on their next group phase journey.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Australia the surprise underdogs
- HOME: 23/20 (2.15) – 46.5%
- DRAW: 2/1 (3.00) – 33.3%
- AWAY: 21/10 (3.10) – 32.2%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Saudi Arabia find themselves favoured by the bookmakers with comfortable odds of 23/20 (2.15), suggesting a 46.5% chance of securing victory. Despite the positive backing, their inferior goal difference threatens any chance of direct qualification.
Australia might head into this showdown as underdogs, but their first win over Japan in 16 years will certainly provide them momentum. Odds of 4/6 (1.66) have been placed on the Socceroos’ head – a 34.4% probability of victory.
Visit our football betting tips page for more free predictions.
Most recent H2Hs: Drab results of late
The last five meetings between these sides have been evenly split – one victory each and three draws, all in World Cup qualifiers. Their most recent clash in November 2024 ended in a stalemate.
Asia - World Cup Qualifying 29/03/22
Saudi Arabia
Australia
Asia - World Cup Qualifying 11/11/21
Australia
Saudi Arabia
Asia - World Cup Qualifying 08/06/17
Australia
Saudi Arabia
Asia - World Cup Qualifying 06/10/16
Saudi Arabia
Australia
International Match 08/09/14
Saudi Arabia
Australia
Saudi Arabia preview: Little hope for an automatic spot
Renard certainly possesses confidence in his full-strength team, but beating Australia by a record margin seems far-fetched.
Predicted lineup: Al Aqidi (GK), Majrashi, Tambakti, Kadesh, Abdulrahman, Kanno, Al Johani, Al Juwayr, Yahya, Al Buraikan & Al Dawsari
Asia - World Cup Qualifying 25/03/25
D
Japan
0
Saudi Arabia
0
Asia - World Cup Qualifying 20/03/25
W
China PR
0
Saudi Arabia
1
Gulf Cup 31/12/24
L
Oman
2
Saudi Arabia
1
Gulf Cup 28/12/24
W
Iraq
1
Saudi Arabia
3
Gulf Cup 25/12/24
W
Yemen
2
Saudi Arabia
3
Australia preview: Rich in form
Tony Popovic will be pretty confident of securing Australia a spot in their sixth straight World Cup finals, heading to Saudi Arabia with little injury concerns as only midfield Irvine Jackson is sidelined.
Predicted lineup: Banda (GK), Ronan, Lopes, Carrington, Scanlon, Bent, Torrilla, Jessop, Bartolo & Gibson
Asia - World Cup Qualifying 25/03/25
W
China PR
0
Australia
2
Asia - World Cup Qualifying 20/03/25
W
Indonesia
1
Australia
5
Asia - World Cup Qualifying 19/11/24
D
Bahrain
2
Australia
2
Asia - World Cup Qualifying 14/11/24
D
Saudi Arabia
0
Australia
0
Asia - World Cup Qualifying 15/10/24
D
Japan
1
Australia
1
Player to watch: Musab Al Juwayr
Al-Shabab winger Al Juwayr arrives in hot form, having netted the crucial opener in the 2-0 win over Bahrain with an impeccable first-time finish. The 21-year-old has two goals and four assists in his last eight competitive appearances.