Australia faces the most daunting road trip in Asia on Tuesday when it faces a dominant Japan at Saitama Stadium, knowing a win would put the Socceroos back on track for a sixth successive World Cup appearance after a mixed start in the third round of qualification.
The Group C meeting is also a chance for new coach Tony Popovic, appointed in September to replace Graham Arnold, to make a statement win in his second game in charge and cross swords with a former team-mate.
Popovic played for Japanese club Sanfrecce Hiroshima from 1997 to 2001 alongside Hajime Moriyasu – now coach of Japan. “I know their head coach very well; he was my captain during my time in Japan. A remarkable person who has dedicated years to developing the national team,” said Popovic.
Japan is on course for an eighth successive World Cup appearance with three wins against China, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, scoring 14 goals and conceding none.
“This is undoubtedly a significant challenge, but it also presents a fantastic opportunity to etch our name in history by winning in Japan,” Popovic said after defeating China 3-1 in his first game in charge on Thursday, a result that took Australia to four points in the group, five behind Japan.
The top two teams from each of the three groups of six qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup with the third and fourth place finishers advancing to the next stage.
Like Australia, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have four points and meet in Jeddah, while winless China hosts Indonesia at home.
The top two in Group B meet as South Korea hosts Iraq with both teams on seven points. The game has been switched to the city of Yongin, due to the poor condition of the playing surface at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
South Korea will be without English Premier League stars Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers due to injury.
Third-placed Jordan hosts Oman in fourth while the bottom two meet as the Palestinians take on Kuwait with both looking for a first win.
In Group A, Uzbekistan and Iran are top with seven points each. Iran will host fourth-place Qatar in Dubai, due to the security situation at home while Uzbekistan takes on the United Arab Emirates in third.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Australia's Nishan Velupillay, second left, is congratulated by teammate Riley McGree after scoring his team's third goal during the World Cup 2026 Group C qualifying soccer match between Australia and China at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia, Thursday Oct. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
Australia's coach Tony Popovic gestures during the World Cup 2026 Group C qualifying soccer match between Australia and China at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia, Thursday Oct. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
MIAMI (AP) — Jalen Williams scored a season-high 33 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 25 and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Miami Heat 104-97 on Friday night for their seventh straight victory.
Lu Dort scored 14 points and Isaiah Hartenstein had 13 points and 18 rebounds for the Thunder, who improved to 22-5 — the second-best record in the NBA and tops in the Western Conference.
Oklahoma City's winning streak is alive because the NBA Cup final — a loss Tuesday night to Milwaukee in Las Vegas — doesn't count as a regular-season game.
Tyler Herro had 28 points and 12 rebounds for Miami, which got 17 points and 10 rebounds from Bam Adebayo.
The Heat lost Jimmy Butler to illness in the first quarter and briefly lost Adebayo in the third quarter when he got elbowed over an eye by teammate Jaime Jaquez Jr. Adebayo needed seven stitches but returned.
Thunder: Williams' previous season high was 31. And the big difference for the Thunder was turnovers — they turned 19 Miami giveaways into 27 points.
Heat: Managing general partner Micky Arison and senior director of team development Ruth Riley Hunter — an NCAA, Olympic and WNBA champion — are Basketball Hall of Fame candidates for the Class of 2025. “It's about time” for Arison, said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who added that those like Hunter — with college, pro and Olympic titles — should be a Hall lock.
Oklahoma City trailed by three midway through the third quarter, then went on a 10-0 run to kickstart a finishing push. The Thunder were up by 11 entering the fourth.
Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 25 points in 17 consecutive games, the longest such streak in the NBA this season.
The Thunder host Washington on Monday. The Heat are at Orlando on Saturday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) drives to the basket as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) go after a ball before it goes out of bounds during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault gestures during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) drives to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Heat forward Duncan Robinson (55) drives to the basket as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) defends Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) drives to the basket as Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Heat guard Dru Smith (12) dribbles the ball as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Oklahoma City Thunder guards Aaron Wiggins (21) andLuguentz Dort (5) defend Miami Heat guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
