In a tightly contested World Cup qualifier, Australia and Japan ended in a 1-1 draw at Saitama Stadium, with both teams suffering from own goals. Shogo Taniguchi initially gave Australia hope with an own goal in the 58th minute, but Cameron Burgess equalized for Japan with another own goal in the 76th minute. The draw halted Japan's nine-match winning streak in World Cup qualifiers, during which they had not conceded a goal, leaving them at the top of Group C with 10 points. Australia's defensive strategy under new coach Tony Popovic proved effective, stifling Japan's prolific attack despite having only one shot on goal throughout the match. The Socceroos remain in second place with five points, having accumulated four points since Popovic took charge. The match faced logistical challenges as Australia's team bus was delayed, affecting their warm-up time before the game.