Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the 2026 World Cup qualifier match.
Australia's disappointing start to the third qualifying stage for the 2026 World Cup compels the team to maximise their efforts in the upcoming leg. Essentially, the team should have little trouble handling China, the group C's main underdogs.
Australia
The September squad selection showcased Australia's wealth of quality players by European football standards. Mathew Ryan, Harry Souttar, Jackson Irvine, and Connor Metcalfe are already established on the big stage, and now, the coaching staff are entrusting Bayern Munich talent Nestory Irankunda with playing time (having been included in Bayern Munich's squad for a cup match). Against Bahrain (0:1), Australia failed to break through despite dominating shots (11-4) and possession (67%-33%). A similar story unfolded away in Indonesia (0:0, with 19-5 in shots), intensifying the team's focus on offence.
China
China likely advanced to the third qualifying stage due to a relatively weak group in the previous round. Last month, in encounters with Japan (0:7) and Saudi Arabia (1:2), the team faced a total of 29 shots on their goal, even as their second opponents played most of the match with a man down. The Chinese side lacks top-tier players—only captain Wu Lei, who has experience with Espanyol, stands out.
Australia vs China Prediction
In the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Australia comfortably dispatched China at home (3:0). Clearly, the difference in class will once again play a crucial role in the outcome of this match.
