If Australia was to leapfrog South Korea in the June window and land in pot one,the toughest possible group they could face – using the live rankings and current positions in the current qualification round as a rough guide – would include Korea,Iraq,Jordan,China and Kyrgyzstan.
Even if the Socceroos finished third in such a group,they would still be able to qualify directly for the World Cup in the AFC’s fourth round,where two more direct slots will be on offer,or the fifth round,where the winner will face the intercontinental play-offs against a team from North and Central America,South America or Oceania – the same route Australia were forced down to reach Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.