The Socceroos secured a vital 1-1 draw against Japan in their FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Saitama, despite arriving late due to a traffic incident that left them with minimal warm-up time. Australia initially took the lead in the 58th minute through an own goal by Japan's Shogo Taniguchi, marking the first goal conceded by Japan in this qualification round. However, the Socceroos' advantage was short-lived, as Cameron Burgess deflected a cross from Keito Nakamura into his own net in the 76th minute, allowing Japan to equalize. The match saw Japan dominate possession and shots on goal, yet they could not convert their chances into a win. With this draw, Australia sits second in Group C, with their next match against Saudi Arabia set for November 14. The result underscores the importance of upcoming fixtures as teams vie for spots in the 2026 World Cup.