Socceroos create history in Hanoi

Australia’s Socceroos created history in Hanoi on Tuesday, becoming the first nation in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to win ten (10) consecutive FIFA World Cup™ qualification matches in a single qualification campaign.

The green and gold’s 0-1 victory over the Golden Star Warriors at the My Dinh Stadium edged the Socceroos of 2019-to-2021 past Uzbekistan and Korea Republic, both of whom secured nine (9) successive FIFA World Cup™ qualification victories on the road to Russia 2018. 

Australia’s string of wins, which stretches back to September 2019 when the Socceroos’ quest to qualify for Qatar 2022 commenced in Kuwait, also levelled a global standard for successive wins in FIFA World Cup™ qualifying. 

Only three (3) nations – Germany (Russia 2018), Spain (South Africa 2010), and Mexico (Germany 2006) – have previously won ten (10) successive matches in a single qualification campaign, meaning Australia now shares a remarkable record with three powers of the global game. 

According to data supplied by FIFA, Germany (2013-2021), 18 wins, hold the global record for the most consecutive FIFA World Cup™ victories across multiple campaigns, while Korea Republic (1985-1989), 12 wins, currently retain the AFC record. 

Australia’s victory over Vietnam was aided by Rhyan Grant’s first senior international goal. In his 16th appearance for the Socceroos, Grant expertly guided a header beyond Vietnam custodian Dang Van Lam in the 43rd minute after skilful midfielder Ajdin Hrustic curled a dangerous left-foot cross to the far post. 

The moment Rhyan Grant scored his first international goal.

The Socceroos of 2019-to-2021 are also just the second senior Australian men’s national team in the 99-year history of the Socceroos to win 10 ‘A’ international matches in a row. 

The last time this occurred was in a stretch of matches between October 1996 and October 1997, when the team won 14 games in succession. This period included fixtures in FIFA Confederation Cup and OFC (Oceania) FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers, as well as friendlies.

Australia’s win on matchday two ensures the Socceroos have collected six points from a possible six to kick-off the Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ – AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar qualifying. The Socceroos have four more matches in 2021, with games against Oman and Japan scheduled for October, and Saudi Arabia and China PR on the radar to round out the year.