Australia Tops China 2-0, Strengthens World Cup Qualification Bid

Australia's national soccer team solidified its chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup with a decisive 2-0 victory over China in Hangzhou, following a prior 5-1 win against Indonesia. This success places Australia second in Group C with 13 points, three ahead of Saudi Arabia, while Japan has already secured its spot in the finals. First-half goals from Jackson Irvine and Nishan Velupillay marked the win, with Irvine praising the team's mentality and effort. Conversely, China, despite showing resilience, continues to struggle in the qualifiers and is at the bottom of the group. The team's head coach, Branko Ivanovic, has faced criticism over their lackluster performance, which included a humiliating 0-7 loss to Japan earlier in the campaign. As the qualifiers progress, China is focusing on securing a position to advance to the fourth round of qualification for a potential World Cup spot.