Australia punched their ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026 slated to be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico with a 2-1 triumph over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Tuesday, while Uruguay moved closer to qualification with a 2-0 win over Venezuela. However, Chile went down to Bolivia 0-2 to miss their third straight World Cup. Australia’s triumph ensured that the Socceroos will feature in their sixth straight appearance at the biggest sporting spectacle in the world as Connor Metcalfe and Mitch Duke netted to overturn a one-goal deficit after Abdulrahman Alobud opened the scoring for the hosts. “We’ve built a good foundation now and we want to really get better, kick on and try and do something special at the World Cup,” said Australian head coach Tony Popovic. “To show that character, resilience and then quality to come back and actually take the lead and win the game, I’m delighted,” said Popovic. Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay found the back of the net through Rodrigo Aguirre and Giorgian de Arrascaeta to post a two-goal victory over Venezuela at Montevideo helped the two-time WC winners to stay on course to North America. Uruguay climbed to third in South America’s 10-team qualifying standings with 24 points from 16 games, only behind leaders Argentina, who have already qualified, and second-placed Ecuador, who can seal their berth with a draw or victory over Peru in Lima. The teams that finish in the top six qualify automatically for the World Cup, with the seventh-placed team advancing to an intercontinental playoff. Venezuela’s slump also hands Brazil a lifeline as the sides can qualify for the sporting spectacle in their game in Sao Paulo under the aegis of new head coach Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil. Palestine’s dream of a debut WC appearance was brought to a crashing halt following a 1-1 stalemate against Oman in Jordan as the former conceded a late penalty deep in added time. Japan rounded off their qualification run in style with a 6-0 win over Indonesia, while South Korea posted a 4-0 win over Kuwait.