A frustrating draw for Saudi Arabia with Australia in the World Cup qualifiers

Saudi Arabia tied 0-0 with its host Australia on Thursday in the third group of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in the first appearance of French coach Hervé Renard after his return to the team.

Renard, who left coaching the Saudi national team in March 2023, returned to lead his country’s women’s national team, after Italian Roberto Mancini was dismissed from his position by mutual consent late last month.

Saudi Arabia raised its score to six points from five matches in third place and is behind Australia, which is in second place, on goal difference.

The top two finishers in the group, which also includes Japan, Bahrain, China and Indonesia, qualify directly after the end of the third stage for the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, while the third and fourth places advance to the fourth round of qualifiers.

Japan, which plays against Indonesia tomorrow, Friday, leads the group standings with ten points, four points ahead of Australia and Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain comes in fourth place with five points before its match with China later in the day.

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