CommBank Joeys have qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup™ in Qatar overnight for the first time since 2019.
Following a 4-0 win against India at the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™, and with India losing to Uzbekistan overnight, Carl Veart's squad have secured their place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026™.
This is a critical milestone for the CommBank Joeys and gives the next generation of Australian men's footballers further opportunities to develop and grow against the best in their age group.
Quotes attributable to CommBank Joeys Head Coach Carl Veart:
"This is a fantastic achievement for the group and reward for the hard work they've put in throughout the campaign.
"As a group we have been clear about our ambition from the start which is to perform strongly at this Asian Cup and to put ourselves in a position to qualify for a World Cup.
"Qualifying for a FIFA U-17 World Cup is an important milestone in the development of these players, giving them the opportunity to test themselves against the best young talent in the world.
"We're proud of the way the boys have represented Australia so far, and we're excited to continue building as we prepare for Qatar."
Quote attributable to Football Australia's Executive Director - Football, Heather Garriock:
"This qualification is a significant moment for our Australian football and our development pathway.
"The FIFA U-17 World Cup provides an invaluable platform for our emerging players to gain international experience and accelerate their growth on the global stage.
"We congratulate the players and staff on this achievement and look forward to supporting them as they continue their journey."
The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026™, will run from 19 November to 13 December 2026.
The Commbank Joey's focus now turns to Uzbekistan who they play on Thursday 14 May in Jeddah in their next AFC U17 Asian Cup.
AFC U17 ASIA CUP SAUDI ARABIA 2026 MATCH DETAILS:
Uzbekistan U17 v CommBank Joeys
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
King Abdullah Sports City Training Stadium (Pitch A), Jeddah
Kick-off: 7.00pm local / 2.00am AEDT (Thursday, 14 May)
