This article summarises the results and overall performances of Australia at the FIFA World Cup.

Australia’s men’s team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals on seven occasions: 1974, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026. They have also attempted to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 15 times, with their first attempt being in 1966 when they lost to North Korea.

In Australia's first appearance in 1974, representing OFC, a team made up entirely of amateurs secured a scoreless draw against Chile, though they eventually departed from the tournament without a goal to show for their inaugural appearance. Australia made up for lost time at Germany 2006 and qualified for the Round of 16 before narrowly falling to eventual champions Italy. The German theme continued at South Africa 2010 although this time Australia, now representing the AFC, suffered a 4–0 loss against the European giants in a scoreline which ultimately scuppered their progress. A ten-man 1–1 draw against Ghana and a 2–1 win against Serbia saw Australia eliminated on goal difference, three goals off the Africans. Australia were to lose all three games in a tough group at Brazil 2014. In Russia 2018, it took a late own-goal for the eventual champions France to beat them, and a draw with Denmark gave them a chance depending on other results: but a loss to Peru in the final game, and Denmark's draw with France (which would have ended their chances even with a victory) put them out in the group stages. In the Qatar 2022 edition, Australia made it to the last 16 for only the second time - once again losing to France, but scoring victories over Denmark and Tunisia, before falling 2–1 to Argentina, which, like what happened to 2006 Italy, Argentina would eventually claim the World Cup title in 2022. In the jointly hosted 2026 World Cup in North America, Australia made it to the newly introduced round of 32 where they were knocked out by Egypt 4–2 on penalties after drawing 1–1 through extra time. Both Australia's goals in the knockout stages, in 2022 and 2026 have been own goals.

FIFA World Cup record

Winners   Runners-up   Third place  

record record Year Host Round Squad 1930 to 1962 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member 1966 Did not qualify 2nd200229 1970 1st9351128 1974 Group stage301205 Squad 1st115512110 1978 Did not qualify 4th126242011 1982 2nd8422229 1986 1st8431204 1990 2nd6222117 1994 1st10712217 1998 1st8620345 2002 1st8701734 2006 Round of 16411256 Squad 1st9711315 2010 Group stage311136 Squad 1st14932194 2014 Group stage300339 Squad 2nd148422512 2018 Group stage301225 Squad 3rd2214625118 2022 Round of 16420246 Squad 3rd2013434512 2026 Round of 32 4 1 2 1 3 3 Squad 2nd161141387 2030 To be determined To be determined 2034 Total 24 5 6 13 20 40 — 177 106 44 27 445 132

By match YearRoundOpponentScoreAustralia scorers 1974Group 10–20–30–0 2006Group F3–1Tim Cahill (2), John Aloisi0–22–2Craig Moore, Harry KewellRound of 160–1 2010Group D0–41–1Brett Holman2–1Tim Cahill, Brett Holman 2014Group B1–3Tim Cahill2–3Tim Cahill, Mile Jedinak0–3 2018Group C1–2Mile Jedinak1–1Mile Jedinak0–2 2022Group D1–4Craig Goodwin1–0Mitch Duke1–0Matthew LeckieRound of 161–2Enzo Fernández (o.g.) 2026Group D2–0 Nestory Irankunda, Connor Metcalfe0–20–0 Round of 32 1–1 Mohamed Hany (o.g.)

Head-to-head record OpponentWin %*Total

Games against West Germany are included in the statistics of Germany.

1974 FIFA World Cup

Group 1 Team321041+35320141+34302112−12301205−51

2006 FIFA World Cup

Group F

Team330071+6931115504302123−12301227−51

Note 1: Šimunić was given three yellow cards in the match: the referee (Graham Poll) failed to send him off the pitch after the second yellow, and was only red carded after the third yellow.

Round of 16

2010 FIFA World Cup

Group D

2014 FIFA World Cup

Group B

2018 FIFA World Cup

Group C

2022 FIFA World Cup

Group D

Round of 16

2026 FIFA World Cup

Group D

Round of 32

Player records Most appearances Rank Player Appearances World Cups 1 Mathew Leckie 11 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026Mathew Ryan 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026Jackson Irvine 2018, 2022, 2026 4 Aziz Behich 10 2018, 2022, 20265Mark Bresciano92006, 2010, 2014Tim Cahill 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 7 Harry Souttar 8 2022, 20268Scott Chipperfield72006, 2010Jason Culina 2006, 2010Lucas Neill 2006, 2010Mile Jedinak 2010, 2014, 2018Aaron Mooy 2018, 2022

Goalscorers

Tim Cahill is Australia's all-time FIFA World Cup goalscoring leader; he also scored his nation's first-ever goal at the tournament, coming against Japan on 12 June 2006 in Kaiserslautern.

Player Goals 1974 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022 2026 5 2 1 2 3 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Own goals 2 11 Total 20 0 5 3 3 2 4 3

Own goals scored for opponents Colin Curran (scored for East Germany in 1974) Aziz Behich (scored for France in 2018) Cameron Burgess (scored for United States in 2026)

See also Australia national soccer team records Australia at the AFC Asian Cup Asian nations at the FIFA World Cup Oceanian nations at the FIFA World Cup

References

Reports