World Cup Qualifying - Asia | Third Round

Mar 20, 2025 at 12am UK

Australia vs Indonesia

Match preview

Australia return to action for the first time in 2025 on Thursday as they look to strengthen their bid for a sixth successive appearance at the 2026 World Cup.

After reaching the last 16 in 2022, the Socceroos began their latest bid in the second round of Asian qualifying and booked a place in the third round by finishing with a perfect record, winning all six of their Group I matches, scoring 22 goals and conceding none.

They then went into their third round group in September hoping to finish in the top two and secure a place in the 2026 World Cup group stage, but endured a tougher start, losing to Bahrain and drawing with Thursday's visitors before Tony Popovic took over from long-serving boss Graham Arnold.

Since then, the Socceroos have gone unbeaten in their last four matches, winning only the first of those against China, before sharing the points with Japan, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in draws at the end of last year, with Kusini Yengi's stoppage-time equaliser against the latter being the second goal of the game.

Now second in Group C after six of their 10 games, but with Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and China all a point behind them, Australia will be hoping to get back to winning ways in their first game of the year on Thursday and consolidate their position in the top two.

The visitors, meanwhile, will travel to Sydney hoping to leapfrog the hosts and secure a top-two finish in their final three matches ahead of next year's finals.

Indonesia began their latest qualifying campaign in the first round, cruising through with a 12-0 aggregate win over Brunei before finishing second in their group with 10 points from six matches.

Three consecutive draws, including a stalemate with Australia, and successive defeats then saw Merah Putih move into contention for second place with a 2-0 home win over Saudi Arabia in mid-November thanks to a brace from Marselino Ferdinan.

Now, after an unsuccessful bid for the Asean Championship late last year and under the new leadership of Patrick Kluivert, Indonesia will be hoping to finish in the top two in Group C, ahead of the hosts.

Recent Performance

Australia World Cup Qualifying - Asia form:LDWDDD

Indonesia World Cup Qualifying - Asia form:WDDDLL

Indonesia form (all competitions):LWWDLL

Team News

Australia will be without a number of key players for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, with defender Harry Souttar and midfielders Massimo Luongo and Riley McGree sidelined with long-term injuries.

Kusini Yengi, who took his tally to six goals in 11 appearances for the Socceroos with a brace against Bahrain last time out, should continue to lead the attack, while Martin Boyle could join Craig Goodwin in supporting the front man.

Elsewhere, Anthony Caceres and Aiden O'Neill will battle it out with Jackson Irvine in midfield, while Kye Rowles and Milos Degenek could partner Ipswich Town's Christian Burgess in a back three in the absence of Souttar and Hayden Matthews.

Indonesia will be without midfielder Egy Maulana through injury, while defenders Asnawi Mangkualam and Elkan Baggott are also absent from the latest squad.

Marselino Ferdinan, who has five international goals to his name, including two in the last qualifying win over Saudi Arabia, should again play an attacking midfield role.

He could support the strike partnership of Rafael Struick and Ramadhan Sananta, while 31-year-old Joey Pelupessy will be hoping to make his debut in the middle of the park after being called up to the national team for the first time following his recent declaration for Merah Putih.

Possible starting lineup

Australia possible starting lineup:

Ryan; Rowles, Degenek, Burgess; Miller, O'Neill, Irvine, Behich; Goodwin, Yengi, Boyle

Indonesia possible starting lineup:

Paes; Idzes, Hubner, Ridho; Walsh, Haye, Pelupessy, Arhan; Ferdinan; Struick, Sananta