Socceroos taken from brink of disaster to automatic World Cup 2026 qualification | Joey Lynch

Tony Popovic was brought in to stabilise a campaign teetering on the edge, and with five wins and three draws since taking over, the coach has deliveredWhat had once looked fanciful has now become a reality: the Socceroos have qualified automatically for the 2026 World Cup. For the first time in over a decade there will be no playoff heroics required, no ice cold hat-trick from Mile Jedinak or shootout dancing from Andrew Redmayne. After a 1-0 win over Japan in Perth and a 2-1 win against Saudi