The Socceroos beat the Asian champions 3-0 in their own stadium, and had the game won by the 40th minute

The Socceroos went to the home of the reigning Asian champions and were three goals up before half-time.

Australia beat Qatar 3-0 at the Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha on Friday night, local time, early on Saturday morning in Australia. All three goals came in the first half, and it was the Socceroos’ first win since they beat Türkiye at the 2026 World Cup.

How did the goals come?

Fast, and mostly from Qatari mistakes. In the fifth minute, Qatar’s new goalkeeper, Mahmoud Abunada, passed the ball straight to Riley McGree, who scored his second goal for Australia. McGree, who missed the World Cup through injury, started in place of Jackson Irvine, who was not named in the squad for this window.

Just after the half-hour, Connor Metcalfe won the ball from a loose Abunada clearance and set up Tete Yengi for his second international goal, in only his sixth match. Metcalfe was involved again shortly before half-time, winning the ball in midfield for Nestory Irankunda to score his eighth goal for Australia.

Australia finished with 14 shots to Qatar’s three. Qatar’s first shot came in the 72nd minute, and their only effort on target, late in the game, was ruled offside. Patrick Beach kept a clean sheet.

Who made their debuts?

Popovic gave first caps to four players: Eli Adams, Sam Klein, Kasey Bos and Diesel Herrington. Bos wore the No. 5 shirt of his injured brother, Jordy. Herrington came on for his own brother, Lucas, late in the match, after a strong start to the season with the Central Coast Mariners.

Kusini Yengi replaced his brother Tete at half-time for his first appearance for Australia since 2024, and Gianni Stensness returned in defence for the first time since 2022.

Popovic said the result was what the team wanted and that they had set the game up with a very good first half. He said the side lost “a bit of cohesion and fluency” after the break, and that many of his European-based players had been tested by the heat.

Why does it matter?

Qatar have won the last two Asian Cups and were playing at home, under former Spain and Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui. Beating them this comfortably is a marker for the Socceroos ahead of the next Asian Cup, which has been moved from January to December 2027 in Saudi Arabia because of the conflict in the region.

It also gave Popovic a look at a wider group. With four new caps and two players back after long absences, the squad that goes to Saudi Arabia may look different from the one that played at the World Cup.

Who is next?

Jordan, the beaten finalists at the last Asian Cup. That match was meant to be played in Amman but was moved to Doha over security concerns. It is the second and last match of the November window.