It was a joyous scene in Melbourne on Monday night as fans flocked to Melbourne’s Federation Square to celebrate Australia’s qualification for their fifth straight World Cup. The Socceroos defeated Peru 5-4 on penalties to secure themselves a trip to Qatar in 2022.
The scene was captured on camera as ABC reporter Tony Armstrong was caught in the crowd of supporters shortly after Australia pulled through to the World Cup. Fans were seen celebrating in large groups, with one fan even kissing the TV camera in jubilation.
The Australian soccer team was the most recent team to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, with New Zealand and Costa Rica vying for the remaining spot. The Socceroos had been on quite the run earlier in qualification, winning eleven qualifying matches in a row before slumping into a stretch of bad form which put them in two back-to-back playoff spots. Their first playoff win came last week against the United Arab Emirates where an 84th-minute goal by Adjin Rustic helped the Aussies pull off a 2-1 victory.
The affair against Peru was even tenser as the match stood 0-0 after extra time. Australia started off rough in the penalty shootout with Peruvian goalie Pedro Gallese coming up with the save. Australia would go on to net their next five PKs while Peru would cough up on their 3rd and final try. The last one being miraculous save from backup goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne.
Australia has now earned its spot In Group D of the World Cup along with Denmark, Tunisia, and defending World Cup Champions France. Australia has qualified for five straight World Cups but has yet to make it out of the Group Stage since 2006. Meanwhile, Peru misses out on the chance to qualify for back-to-back World Cups after making Russia 2018.
Meanwhile, supporters of Australia’s team have come out in full support of the team, with longtime Australian player Luke Wiltshire telling the media, “People had written them off. They went the hard way, they turned up on the night and performed. We saw bravery and character,” he said.
The World Cup will begin in November 2022.
