After completing a remarkable turnaround in qualifying to seal passage to a sixth consecutive World Cup, the Socceroos will relish a rare extended build-up to football’s grandest stage.

The Socceroos sealed automatic World Cup finals qualification for the first time in 12 years after beating Saudi Arabia 2-1 in Jeddah on Wednesday morning AEST.

After their upset 1-0 win over Japan, the Socceroos needed only to avoid defeat by fewer than five goals in their final game to seal qualification.

After Australia conceded early, Mitch Duke teed up Connor Metcalfe then scored the winner, before goalkeeper Mat Ryan saved a penalty to complete an incredible turnaround in qualifying.

Exactly a year before the start of next year’s finals in the US, Canada and Mexico, Australia (19 points, +9 goal difference) qualifies in the second automatic spot behind Japan (23 points, +27) and ahead of Saudi Arabia (13 points, -1).

The result underlines the stellar job Tony Popovic, unbeaten as national team manager, has done across eight games since taking over in September, after Graham Arnold claimed just a point from Australia’s first two games.

“Very satisfying right now. I’m sure it’ll sink in as the days go by,” Popovic said of the “very special” accomplishment.

“It’s been a very intense period since I’ve joined, and I’ve loved it so far.

“We’ve done the first part, qualifying automatically, and now the next part is to be bigger and better for the World Cup.”

Popovic will now get the opportunity to orchestrate the perfect build-up to next year’s tournament.

The past two campaigns, Australia’s fate came down to the wire.

But this time, as in 2013, the Socceroos won’t need to enter the dangerous waters of AFC or intercontinental play-offs.

Instead, Popovic can use international windows in September, October, November, March and June – during each of which the Socceroos can have training camps or play up to two friendly matches – to prepare.

“We have some plans, obviously, for September with some games, and then there’s a plan moving forward,” he said.

“Now that we definitely know we’ve gone through, we’re not in the play-offs. We’ve got some different plans in October that we’ve been working on.

“It’s exciting. We need to play games to keep improving, getting better, giving other players an opportunity as well that deserve it.

“Then we want to be a squad that’s much better than what we are now. And that’s the expectation we should have.”

Ryan was business-like as always.

“We’re going to enjoy obviously tonight and that direct qualification now,” he said.

“Come maybe not tomorrow, but in a week’s time, or a little bit longer, the prep starts for the next goal we set ourselves.”

Australia didn’t have things all its own way in Jeddah.

Saudi forward Abdulrahman Al-Aboud scored in the 19th minute at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium to make things tense.

Australia equalised in the 42nd minute when Duke took possession on the wing then threaded a neat square ball inside for FC St Pauli midfielder Metcalfe, who nailed his first Socceroos goal with aplomb.

Three minutes into the second half, Duke scored the winner, bagging his first Socceroos goal since January 2024 by glancing home Martin Boyle’s free kick.

Ali Majrashi received a straight red card for denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity on Boyle in the 52nd minute, but it was overturned following a lengthy VAR review.

In his 100th appearance, goalkeeper and captain Ryan denied Salem Al-Dawsari, after Jason Geria brought down the Saudi captain, from the penalty spot in the 84th minute to seal victory.

“It’d be nice if I could work out how to freeze time,” Ryan said.

“You sit down together as a group and you work out how you can be successful.

“The final moment where it comes – that feeling – that’s why we keep going and going for moments like this.”

Ryan added of the penalty save: “Fairytales come true.”

-AAP