Australia and Palestine , who have both already qualified for round three of the Asian FIFA World Cup qualifiers, are set to match up in the final game in Group I. The hosts have won all five of their group matches, while the visitors secured their place in round three for the first time in their history with a draw in their last game. © Reuters Australia have been one of the best-performing sides in the Asian World Cup qualifying so far, one of just four teams to have taken maximum points up until this point and are yet to concede in any of their five outings.
They will be looking to continue that streak in the coming game against Palestine to carry their momentum into round three and ensure they qualify for their sixth successive FIFA World Cup finals. Graham Arnold 's side have only lost on one occasion in the last 12 matches, falling to a 2-1 defeat in extra-time against South Korea in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup, while they last lost in normal time against England in October. The hosts have beaten Palestine in each of the last two meetings, including a narrow 1-0 win in the reverse fixture, and have now gone over a year unbeaten when playing at home, leaving them with plenty of confidence ahead of this one.
Their opponents will also be coming into this one in good spirits following a series of history-making achievements in an extremely emotional year for their country. Palestine had already created history earlier this year when they made a first-ever appearance.