Ultimate Guide: Socceroos v Saudi Arabia

With four games played, Australia are approaching the halfway point of their round three FIFA World Cup qualifiers - and after over two years playing abroad, they're finally coming home! 

October saw Australia make history with an 11th-straight win against Oman, before the streak came to an end following a tight defeat away in Japan. 

The results mean Graham Arnold's side sit in second spot of Group B - with the Sumurai Blue hot on their heels and a massive meeting with ladder leaders Saudi Arabia on the cards. 

The Socceroos will take on Saudi Arabia at Western Sydney Stadium in Parramatta on Thursday, 11 November 2021, some 763 days after the team’s last match in front of home fans against Nepal in Canberra in October 2019.

In next month's second fixture, taking place on the famous date of November 16 - 16 years on from the storied night Australia qualified for its first World Cup in 32 years - the Socceroos will take on China PR in United Arab Emirates. 

The two sides last met in their opening match of Round 3, where goals to Awer Mabil, Martin Boyle and Mitch Duke sealed a 3-1 victory for the Green and Gold. 

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS FOR SOCCEROOS V SAUDI ARABIA! 

We're coming home tickets

How to watch

Yet again October's matches will be broadcast live and free on Australia's 'Home of Football,' Network Ten.  

Most Australians can watch the action live on Channel 10, apart from Perth audiences who can watch on 10 Bold. 

Fans nationwide can stream the action wherever they are via 10 Play app and website. 

To watch all of the latest involving Socceroos and the rest of Asian Qualifying, Australian football fans can visit https://10play.com.au/socceroos

For fans based outside of Australia, click here to read about how you can continue to access the action.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ – AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar (Final Round)

Matchday 5: Australia v Saudi Arabia

Date: Thursday, 11 November 2021
Venue: Western Sydney Stadium, Parramatta
Kick-off: 8:10pm AEDT
Tickets: Please click here for ticketing information
Broadcast: Live and free in Australia on Channel 10 (except for Perth audiences, who can watch on 10 Bold) & simulcast on 10 Play

MORE DETAILS: How to watch Socceroos v Saudi Arabia

Oman Socceroos Team

How to buy tickets

As Australia opens up, fans will be able to take their place in the stands Western Sydney Stadium to welcome back the Socceroos upon their long-awaited return.

Ticket allocations are limited, and no walk-up sales will be made at the ground, so make sure you get in early to ensure you don’t miss out!

Fans wishing to attend will be required to comply with NSW Government Health regulations:

• Under NSW Health orders, all adult ticket holders (16+) will need to be fully vaccinated;
• All ticket holders (16+) will need to complete an acknowledgement during the ticket purchasing process to confirm that everyone in their group is fully vaccinated;
• All ticket holders (16+) will need to provide evidence of their vaccination status prior to entering the Stadium. Children under 16 years of age do not need to be fully vaccinated, however must be accompanied by a person who is a member of the child’s household and fully vaccinated.
• Patrons from regional NSW and interstate can purchase tickets to attend this event. Please keep up to date with interstate travel restrictions for your return journey. Patrons who have been to a venue or area of concern as stated on the NSW Health Concerns Notice in the 14 days prior to match day will not be permitted to enter the venue.

Further information on transport, Stadium access and requirements for fans in the venue will be available in the coming days.

Football Account pre-sale commenced on Monday, 1 November 2021 at 10am AEDT, with General Public will able to purchase tickets from from Wednesday, 3 November 2021 at 12pm AEDT.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS FOR SOCCEROOS V SAUDI ARABIA! 

The squad

The Socceroos’ squad for November’s FIFA window consists of 20 overseas-based players, with four (4) representatives – Melbourne City FC’s Leckie, Maclaren, Nabbout, and Sydney FC’s Rhyan Grant – selected from A-League Men.

The sole uncapped player in Australia’s squad for November 2021 is former Central Coast Mariners utility Gianni Stensness, who is now playing his football in Norway with Viking FK. Stensness, who hails from the Northern Beaches of New South Wales and played his junior football with Pittwater RSL FC and Collaroy Cromer Strikers FC, has represented both Australia and New Zealand at youth level in the past, however recently pledged his senior national team allegiance to the green and gold.

READ MORE: Gianni Stensness' unique journey into Green and Gold

Socceroos Squad | 8 – 17 November 2021 | FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ – AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar (Final Round)

Name

Club, Country

‘A’ Caps (Goals)

Junior Club
(Member Federation/Country)

Aziz BEHICH

Giresunspor, Turkey

45 (2)

Meadow Park SC (Football Victoria)

Martin BOYLE

Hibernian FC, Scotland

10 (5)

Lewis United FC/Montrose FC (Scotland)

Milos DEGENEK

Red Star Belgrade, Serbia

31 (1)

Blacktown City FC (Football NSW)

Kenneth DOUGALL

Blackpool FC, England

3 (0)

Samford Rangers FC (Football Queensland)

Mitchell DUKE

Fagiano Okayama, Japan

13 (6)

Liverpool Rangers SC (Football NSW)

Callum ELDER

Hull City AFC, England

1 (0)

Manly United FC (Football NSW)

Denis GENREAU

Toulouse FC, France

1 (0)

Brighton SC (Football Victoria)

Rhyan GRANT

Sydney FC, Australia

18 (1)

Canowindra Juniors/Bathurst 75 (Football NSW)

Ajdin HRUSTIC

Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany

11 (2)

Heatherton United SC (Football Victoria)

Jackson IRVINE

FC St. Pauli, Germany

41 (6)

Ringwood City SC (Football Victoria)

James JEGGO

Aris Thessaloniki, Greece

9 (0)

Green Gully SC (Football Victoria)

Fran KARACIC

Brescia Calcio, Italy

5 (1)

NK Lokomotiva (Croatia)

Mathew LECKIE

Melbourne City FC, Australia

65 (13)

Brimbank Stallions FC (Football Victoria)

Awer MABIL

FC Midtjylland, Denmark

21 (6)

Saint Augustines SC (Football South Australia)

Jamie MACLAREN

Melbourne City FC, Australia

18 (6)

Green Gully SC (Football Victoria))

Riley MCGREE

Birmingham City FC, England

5 (0)

Gawler Eagles FC (Football South Australia)

Andrew NABBOUT

Melbourne City FC, Australia

9 (2)

Brunswick City SC (Football Victoria)

Nikita RUKAVYTSYA

Hapoel Be’er Sheva FC, Israel

20 (1)

Perth SC/Inglewood United (Football West)

Mathew RYAN (Gk)

Real Sociedad, Spain

65 (0)

Blacktown City FC (Football NSW)

Trent SAINSBURY

KV Kortrijk, Belgium

54 (3)

Armadale SC (Football West)

Harry SOUTTAR

Stoke City FC, England

9 (6)

Brechin City Boys Club (Scotland)

Gianni STENSNESS

Viking FK, Norway

0 (0)

Pittwater RSL FC/Collaroy Cromer Strikers FC (Football NSW)

Lawrence THOMAS (Gk)

SønderjyskE Fodbold, Denmark

1 (0)

Winston Hills Bears FC (Football NSW)

Danny VUKOVIC (Gk)

NEC Nijmegen, Netherlands

4 (0)

St Clair United SC (Football NSW)

The equation

The Socceroos are taking on Japan, Saudi Arabia, China PR, Oman, and Vietnam in the Final Round of AFC Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

The draw saw Australia pooled in Group B of qualification, with Group A containing IR Iran, Korea Republic, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.

To qualify for a fifth consecutive FIFA World Cup™, Australia must finish either first or second in Group B, which includes ten matches to be played from September 2021 to March 2022, to qualify directly.

A third-place finish would send the Socceroos to a play-off against the third-place team from Group A, followed by an intercontinental play-off.

Australia are currently placed in the top two positions, with a huge opportunity to go level on top spot and maintain some distance between them and Japan, who are nipping at our heels in third. 

Our schedule 

Games in the third round are scheduled to be played on the following match days: 11 November 2021, 16 November 2021, 27 January 2022, 1 February 2022, 24 March 2022 and 29 March 2022.

Due to the ever-evolving COVID-19 situation, match locations and times will be finalised in the immediate lead-up to each window. 

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ – AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar (Final Round)

Matchday 5: Australia v Saudi Arabia
Date: Thursday, 11 November 2021
Venue: Western Sydney Stadium, Parramatta
Kick-off: 8:05pm AEDT
Tickets: Please click here for ticketing information
Broadcast: Live and free in Australia on Channel 10 (10 Bold in Perth) and simulcast on 10 Play

Matchday 6: China PR v Australia
Date: Tuesday, 16 November 2021
Venue: Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates
Kick-off: TBC
Broadcast: Live and free in Australia on Network 10 and simulcast on 10 Play

Day/Date

Match

Thursday, 2 September 2021

AUSTRALIA 3-0 China PR

Tuesday, 7 September 2021

Vietnam 0-1 AUSTRALIA

Thursday, 7 October 2021

AUSTRALIA 3-1 Oman

Tuesday, 12 October 2021

Japan 2-1 AUSTRALIA

Thursday, 11 November 2021

AUSTRALIA v Saudi Arabia

Tuesday, 16 November 2021

China PR v AUSTRALIA

Thursday, 27 January 2022

AUSTRALIA v Vietnam

Tuesday, 1 February 2022

Oman v AUSTRALIA

Thursday, 24 March 2022

AUSTRALIA v Japan

Tuesday, 29 March 2022

Saudi Arabia v AUSTRALIA

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS FOR SOCCEROOS V SAUDI ARABIA!