Australia at the FIFA World Cup

Last updated

Australian Peter Wilson with East German Bernd Bransch before their match at the 1974 FIFA World Cup Bundesarchiv Bild 183-N0615-0012, Fussball-WM, DDR - Australien 2-0.jpg
Australian Peter Wilson with East German Bernd Bransch before their match at the 1974 FIFA World Cup

This article summarises the results and overall performances of Australia at the FIFA World Cup.

Contents

Australia’s men’s team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals on seven occasions: 1974, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026. [1] They have also attempted to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 15 times, with their first attempt being in 1966 when they lost to North Korea.

In Australia's first appearance in 1974, representing OFC, a team made up entirely of amateurs secured a scoreless draw against Chile, though they eventually departed from the tournament without a goal to show for their inaugural appearance. Australia made up for lost time at Germany 2006 and qualified for the Round of 16 before narrowly falling to eventual champions Italy. The German theme continued at South Africa 2010 although this time Australia, now representing the AFC, suffered a 4–0 loss against the European giants in a scoreline which ultimately scuppered their progress. A ten-man 1–1 draw against Ghana and a 2–1 win against Serbia saw Australia eliminated on goal difference, three goals off the Africans. Australia were to lose all three games in a tough group at Brazil 2014. In Russia 2018, it took a late own-goal for the eventual champions France to beat them, and a draw with Denmark gave them a chance depending on other results: but a loss to Peru in the final game, and Denmark's draw with France (which would have ended their chances even with a victory) put them out in the group stages. In the Qatar 2022 edition, Australia made it to the last 16 for only the second time - once again losing to the French, but scoring victories over Denmark and Tunisia, before falling 2–1 to Argentina, which, like what happened to 2006 Italy, Argentina would eventually claim the World Cup title in 2022.

FIFA World Cup record

Australia's FIFA World Cup recordQualification record
YearRoundPos.PldWD*LGFGASquadPos.PldWD*LGFGA
Flag of Uruguay.svg 1930 Not a member of FIFANot a member of FIFA
Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg 1934
Flag of France (1794-1815).svg 1938
Flag of Brazil (1960-1968).svg 1950
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg 1954
Flag of Sweden.svg 1958
Flag of Chile.svg 1962
Flag of England.svg 1966 Did not qualify Final Round 200229
Flag of Mexico.svg 1970 Final Round 9351128
Flag of Germany.svg 1974 Group stage14th301205 Squad Final Round 115512110
Flag of Argentina.svg 1978 Did not qualify 4th 126242011
Flag of Spain.svg 1982 2nd 8422229
Flag of Mexico.svg 1986 1st (PO) 8431204
Flag of Italy.svg 1990 2nd 6222117
Flag of the United States.svg 1994 1st (PO) 10712217
Flag of France (lighter variant).svg 1998 1st (PO) 8620345
Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Flag of Japan.svg 2002 1st (PO) 8701734
Flag of Germany.svg 2006 Round of 1616th411256 Squad 1st (PO) 9711315
Flag of South Africa.svg 2010 Group stage21st311136 Squad 1st 14932194
Flag of Brazil.svg 2014 Group stage30th300339 Squad 2nd 148422512
Flag of Russia.svg 2018 Group stage30th301225 Squad 3rd (PO) 2214625118
Flag of Qatar.svg 2022 Round of 1611th420246 Squad 3rd (PO) 2013434512
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Flag of Mexico.svg Flag of the United States.svg 2026 Qualified 2nd 161141387
Flag of Morocco.svg Flag of Portugal (official).svg Flag of Spain.svg 2030 To be determinedTo be determined
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 2034
TotalRound of 1620441217376/151751044427442131
Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.
From 1966 to 2006 played as a full member of the OFC.
Since 2010 played as a full member of the AFC.

Head-to-head record

OpponentPldWDLGFGAGDWin %
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 100112−1000.00
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 100102−2000.00
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 201113−2000.00
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 101022+0000.00
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 211021+1050.00
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 100102−2000.00
Flag of France.svg  France 200226−4000.00
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany *200207−7000.00
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 101011+0000.00
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 100101−1000.00
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 110031+2100.00
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 100123−1000.00
Flag of Peru (state).svg  Peru 100102−2000.00
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 110021+1100.00
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 100103−3000.00
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 110010+1100.00
Total2044121737−20020.00

1974 FIFA World Cup

Group 1

TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 321041+35
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany 320141+34
Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 30211212
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 30120551
East Germany  Flag of East Germany.svg2 – 0Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Curran Soccerball shade.svg58' (o.g.)
Streich Soccerball shade.svg72'
Report
Volksparkstadion, Hamburg
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Youssou N'Diaye (Senegal)

Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg0 – 3Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
Report Soccerball shade.svg12' Overath
Soccerball shade.svg34' Cullmann
Soccerball shade.svg53' Müller
Volksparkstadion, Hamburg
Attendance: 53,000
Referee: Mahmoud Mustafa Kamel (Egypt)

Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg0 – 0Flag of Chile.svg  Chile
Report
Olympic Stadium, West Berlin
Attendance: 14,681
Referee: Jafar Namdar (Iran)

2006 FIFA World Cup

Group F

TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 330071+69
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 31115504
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 30212312
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 30122751
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg 3–1 Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Cahill Soccerball shade.svg84', 89'
Aloisi Soccerball shade.svg90+2'
Report Soccerball shade.svg26' Nakamura

Brazil  Flag of Brazil.svg 2–0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Adriano Soccerball shade.svg49'
Fred Soccerball shade.svg90'
Report
Allianz Arena, Munich
Attendance: 66,000
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)

Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg 2–2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Srna Soccerball shade.svg2'
N. Kovač Soccerball shade.svg56'
Šimić Yellow card.svg 32' Yellow-red card.svg 85'
Šimunić Yellow card.svg 61'Yellow card.svg 90' Yellow-red card.svg 90+3' (Note1)
Report Soccerball shade.svg38' (pen.) Moore
Soccerball shade.svg79' Kewell
Emerton Yellow card.svg 81' Yellow-red card.svg 87'
Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, Stuttgart
Attendance: 52,000
Referee: Graham Poll (England)

Note 1: Šimunić was given three yellow cards in the match: the referee (Graham Poll) failed to send him off the pitch after the second yellow, and was only red carded after the third yellow.


Round of 16

Italy  Flag of Italy.svg 1–0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Totti Soccerball shade.svg90+5' (pen.)
Materazzi Red card.svg 50'
Report

2010 FIFA World Cup

Group D

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 320151+46Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 31112204
3Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 31113634
4Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Serbia 31022313
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria
Germany  Flag of Germany.svg 4–0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Report Cahill Red card.svg 56'

Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg 1–1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Gyan Soccerball shade.svg25' (pen.) Report

Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2–1 Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Serbia
Report
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Attendance: 37,836
Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay)

2014 FIFA World Cup

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 3300103+79Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 320153+26
3Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 31024733
4Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 30033960
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria
Chile  Flag of Chile.svg 3–1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Report Cahill Soccerball shade.svg35'
Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá
Attendance: 40,275
Referee: Noumandiez Doué (Ivory Coast)

Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2–3 Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Report

Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg 0–3 Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Report
Arena da Baixada, Curitiba
Attendance: 39,375
Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)

2018 FIFA World Cup

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 321031+27Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 312021+15
3Flag of Peru (state).svg  Peru 31022203
4Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 30122531
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
France  Flag of France (lighter variant).svg 2–1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Report
Kazan Arena, Kazan
Attendance: 41,279 [4]
Referee: Andrés Cunha (Uruguay)

Denmark  Flag of Denmark.svg 1–1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Report
Cosmos Arena, Samara
Attendance: 40,727 [5]
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain)

Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg 0–2 Flag of Peru (state).svg  Peru
Report
Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi
Attendance: 44,073 [6]
Referee: Sergei Karasev (Russia)

2022 FIFA World Cup

Group D

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of France.svg  France 320163+36Advanced to knockout stage
2Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 32013416
3Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 31111104
4Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 30121321
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
France  Flag of France.svg 4–1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Report
Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Attendance: 40,875
Referee: Victor Gomes (South Africa)

Tunisia  Flag of Tunisia.svg 0–1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Report
Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Attendance: 41,823
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Germany)

Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1–0 Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
Report
Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Attendance: 41,232
Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)

Round of 16

Argentina  Flag of Argentina.svg 2–1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Report Fernández Soccerball shade.svg77' (o.g.)

Goalscorers

Tim Cahill, Australia's male top scorer and joint record player at World Cups in 2009. Tim Cahill-31.03.09.jpg
Tim Cahill, Australia's male top scorer and joint record player at World Cups in 2009.
PlayerGoals 1974 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Tim Cahill 5212
Mile Jedinak 312
Brett Holman 22
John Aloisi 11
Harry Kewell 11
Craig Moore 11
Craig Goodwin 11
Mitchell Duke 11
Mathew Leckie 11
Own goals 11
Total17053324
Own goals scored for opponents

Most appearances

RankPlayerAppearancesWorld Cups
1 Mathew Leckie 10 2014, 2018, 2022
Mathew Ryan 2014, 2018, 2022
3 Mark Bresciano 9 2006, 2010, 2014
Tim Cahill 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018
5 Scott Chipperfield 7 2006, 2010
Jason Culina 2006, 2010
Lucas Neill 2006, 2010
Mile Jedinak 2010, 2014, 2018
Aaron Mooy 2018, 2022
Aziz Behich 2018, 2022
Jackson Irvine 2018, 2022

See also

References

  1. "Country Info". FIFA. Archived from the original on 26 June 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  2. "Referee designations for matches 1-16" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 5 June 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  3. "Referee designations for matches 17-24" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 14 June 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  4. "Match report – Group C – France v Australia" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 16 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  5. "Match report – Group C – Denmark v Australia" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  6. "Match report – Group C – Australia v Peru" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.