Adelaide Oval to host Socceroos-Saudi Arabia

Michael Huguenin

Adelaide Oval to host Socceroos-Saudi Arabia image

Australia's vital World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia in June will be held at the Adelaide Oval, Football Federation Australia (FFA) has announced.

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The Socceroos will host the Saudis in Adelaide on June 8 in what could be a decisive match on the road to Russia 2018.

Australia will only have two more qualifiers following their clash with Saudi Arabia and both teams are set to be challenging for automatic World Cup qualification in that game.

Saudi Arabia (10 points) lead Group B in the Asian Football Confederation's third round of World Cup qualifying, ahead of second-placed Japan on goal difference, while the Socceroos sit third (9) - level with fourth-placed United Arab Emirates on points.

The Saudi Arabia fixture will be the second the Adelaide Oval has hosted on the road to Russia 2018, with the Socceroos defeated Tajikistan 7-0 there in March in front of a crowd of 35,439.

Australia drew 2-2 away to the Saudis in October.

FFA has hosted 2018 World Cup qualifiers in five separate cities so far - Perth, Canberra, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.

Perth has had two matches, while the next two home games will see Sydney and Adelaide join Western Australia's capital city on that tally.

Australia have just one more home game to be allocated a venue, with Ange Postecoglou's side set to host Thailand in their final qualifier on September 5.

 

Michael Huguenin