FIFA World Cup qualifiers: Australia recall home players for match against Saudi Arabia

Australian coach Graham Arnold has recalled the experienced winger Mathew Leckie as one of the four players in his national team for the World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia, the first game Socceroos have played at home in two years.

Along with Leckie, the A-League strikers are joined by Jamie Macla and Andrew Nabbout, along with Sydney FC defender Rhyan Grant, in Arnold’s 24-man squad to play at the Western Sydney stadium on 11 November.

Tom Rogic, Aaron Mooy and Adam Taggart were not available for selection because of “injuries or quarantine,” Arnold said in a media release Friday.

“However, we have developed a good level in Socceroos in recent years and we have full confidence that the selected team will be strong for the Australian public,” he added.

Norwegian midfielder Gianni Stensness is the only player on the team.

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Australia have not played at home due to COVID-19 problems since they defeated Nepal 5-0 in Canberra in October 2019.

It will have the support of up to 30,000 people at Western Sydney Stadium, after authorities recently removed restrictions on the size of crowds at sports venues as COVID-19 vaccination rates rose.

Despite playing 11 of the 12 qualifiers for next year’s finals outside of Australia, the Socceroos have put themselves in a strong position to seal a place in the fifth consecutive World Cup.

Japan ended their 11-game winning streak with a 2-1 win last month, but Australia are second in their group, three points clear of the Saudis.

The first two teams in each group get Qatar tickets.

“Our players selected for the next FIFA window are overwhelmed with excitement to return home and play in front of Australian fans, as well as in front of their relatives and friends,” Arnold said.

“Players will get so much energy when they play in front of a strong home crowd in a first-class stadium.”

Australia’s next round will be played against China on November 16 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.