The journey so far: Every highlight from the Socceroos' ten-straight WCQ wins
The Socceroos created history in Hanoi this week, becoming the first nation in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to win ten consecutive FIFA World Cup™ qualification matches in a single campaign.
The green and gold’s 0-1 victory over the Golden Star Warriors at the My Dinh Stadium edged the Socceroos of 2019-to-2021 past Uzbekistan and Korea Republic, both of whom secured nine (9) successive FIFA World Cup™ qualification victories on the road to Russia 2018.
Australia’s string of wins, which stretches back to September 2019 when the Socceroos’ quest to qualify for Qatar 2022 commenced in Kuwait, also levelled a global standard for successive wins in FIFA World Cup™ qualifying.
Only three (3) nations – Germany (Russia 2018), Spain (South Africa 2010), and Mexico (Germany 2006) – have previously won ten (10) successive matches in a single qualification campaign, meaning Australia now shares a remarkable record with three powers of the global game.
Ahead of the Socceroos' next two qualifiers against Oman and Japan in October, here's your chance to revisit the highlights from every match on our journey so far.
READ: Graham Arnold lauds Socceroos’ effort in humid Hanoi
READ: Goalscorer Grant treasuring Socceroos 'adventure' abroad
Match 1: Kuwait 0-3 Australia
The Socceroos made the perfect start on the road to Qatar with a 3-0 win over Kuwait in Australia’s first FIFA World Cup 2022™ qualifier.
A brace from Mat Leckie, who was captain in the absence of injured skipper Mark Milligan, and a stunning strike from Aaron Mooy secured a dominant win and Australia's first three points in Group B during the second phase of AFC qualifying.
Match 2: Australia 5-0 Nepal
Jamie Maclaren's hat-trick and a debut double by Harry Souttar earned the Socceroos a dominant 5-0 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying win over Nepal.
Maclaren hit a quick-fire double inside 20 minutes to put Australia in the ascendancy as Graham Arnold’s side controlled possession and territory in the first international played in Canberra in four years.
The towering Souttar threatened from set pieces throughout and the Scotland-born 20-year-old glanced in a third goal on 23 minutes as Australia’s quality shone through.
Souttar scored again from close range with the help of a huge deflection on 59 minutes and Maclaren's late strike completed the rout.
The victory in Australia’s only home match of 2019 made it a perfect six points from two games in Group B.
Match 3: Chinese Taipei 1-7 Australia
Adam Taggart, Jackson Irvine and Harry Souttar were at the double, while Jamie Maclaren was on the scoresheet again as the Socceroos continued their strong start to FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying with a 7-1 win over Chinese Taipei in Kaohsiung.
Taggart headed in Rhyan Grant's cross and bundled Brad Smith's cutback over the line to give Graham Arnold's side a flying start before Chinese Taipei pulled a goal back through Chen Yi-Wei's bullet header.
Irvine restored Australia's two-goal buffer in the space of two first half minutes - the midfielder's first international double, before Souttar and Maclaren added late strikes to crown a dominant Socceroos performance.
Ajdin Hrustic also announced himself on the international scene with a hat-trick of assists off the bench late on.
Match 4: Jordan 0-1 Australia
History was against the Socceroos when they headed to Amman in November 2019 for their fourth match in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying.
Australia had never won an away match against Jordan before but Graham Arnold’s side delivered a fine display to turn the tables.
Adam Taggart’s early goal – his sixth in the green and gold – after a well-weighted through ball from Jackson Irvine was the difference in a 1-0 win.
The outstanding result continued the Socceroos 100% record, making it four wins from four on the road to Qatar.
Match 5: Australia 3-0 Kuwait
The Socceroos marked their long-awaited return to the international stage in style, cruising to a 3-0 victory over Kuwait during their first FIFA World Cup Qualifier in 567 days.
It took Australia less than a minute to break the deadlock as Mathew Leckie headed home 55 seconds in, before goals to Jackson Irvine and Ajdin Hrustic secured the scoreline beyond doubt.
The result cemented the Socceroos' position on top of Group B of the Asian FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, extending their lead at the summit to five points with three left matches to play.
Match 6: Australia 5-1 Chinese Taipei
The Socceroos secured six-straight international victories for the first time in 20 years as they maintained their perfect record in Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup™ Qualifying with a 5-1 victory over Chinese Taipei.
Following up from a 3-0 victory over hub hosts Kuwait on their international return four days ago, Graham Arnold made eleven changes to the Australian lineup who secured victory thanks to four different goalscorers.
Harry Souttar opened the scoring before Jamie Maclaren converted from the spot and Trent Sainsbury added a header of his own.
The second half saw the Socceroos score inside 30 seconds through Mitch Duke, before their opponents pulled one back on the hour mark through Gao Wei-Jie and Duke tapped home his brace late on.
Match 7: Nepal 3-0 Australia
The Socceroos sealed a first-place Group B finish and a ticket to the third round of FIFA World Cup 2022™ qualifiers with a 3-0 win over Nepal.
Mathew Leckie and Martin Boyle scored on either side of Fran Karacic's maiden international goal, as the Socceroos eased to victory against a Nepal outfit reduced to ten men after Rohit Chand received a red card for fouling Boyle on the cusp of half-time.
The result took Australia out of the reach of Jordan - the second-placed side in Group B - with just one game to play, ensuring Graham Arnold's side progress to the next round of qualification and clinch a spot at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
Match 8: Australia 1-0 Jordan
The Socceroos concluded their second phase of FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying with a perfect record after securing a historic 1-0 win over Jordan courtesy of Harry Souttar's sixth goal in five international games.
The result ensured the Socceroos finished with 24 points in Group B and cruised into the third stage of qualifying with an unblemished record and an eighth-straight win in a single campaign for the first time.
Match 9: Australia 3-0 China
An outstanding performance saw Australia get off to a red-hot start in Round 3 of FIFA World Cup qualifying, as they registered a 3-0 victory over China PR.
A clinical display from the Socceroos saw them get the job done against China PR in Doha.
Goals from Awer Mabil, Martin Boyle and Mitch Duke provided Graham Arnold's side with the perfect platform to begin their final round of Asian FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Match 10: Vietnam 0-1 Australia
The Socceroos continued their winning start to Round 3 of FIFA World Cup qualifying, as they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Vietnam.
In hot and humid 29 degree conditions in Hanoi, Australia capitalised on their almost 70% possession to defeat Vietnam.
A first international goal from Rhyan Grant provided Graham Arnold’s side with a record tenth victory in a row.