Socceroos have received a lucky boost ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup next year in June, with the team placed in Pot 2, setting up an easier World Cup by avoiding stronger teams such as Colombia, Croatia and Morocco in the group stages.

For the first time, the Socceroos will enter a World Cup as the second seed in their pool due to the expansion of the finals from 32 teams to 48 teams.

Despite the Socceroos sitting in Pot 2, the draw can still swing in any direction. The Socceroos can end up in a potentially easier group with Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa, or the Group of Death, with Argentina, Norway, and Italy.

However, before the World Cup, the Socceroos must improve if they want to be successful in next year’s World Cup after slipping down to 26th in the rankings. They have suffered three consecutive defeats to the USA, Venezuela and a 3-0 crushing defeat by Colombia last week.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11 and promises to be a historic event and the first to take place with an expanded 48 teams and played across three countries.

Photo: Tasnim News Agency / via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-4.0)