Australia relative to the field

Comparative analysis

Here we look at where Australia sits against the rest of the field, against its neighbours in the Asian confederation, and against the teams that go deep. Wherever FIFA has published per-team data (2018 and 2022), the story holds up: few sides run harder than Australia, and almost everyone creates more.

Data note: advanced per-team metrics only go back to 2018, so the detailed comparisons below lean on 2022 (all-team profiles) and 2018 (per-team pages). For 2006–2014 we can only line up possession and goals. And for 2026, the files we have cover just Australia's four matches, so the side gets measured against its own opponents instead of a tournament average.
Qatar 2022 · 15 teams

Comparison across all profiled teams

FIFA's Qatar 2022 pack logs the same set of metrics for every team, and Australia's shape is the most extreme in the field: the lowest attacking width, close to the lowest possession, and the fewest attempts at goal of any of these 15 teams, all while covering the most ground. Below we set that profile against the best Asian side (Japan), the champions (Argentina), and the 15-team average.

Style profiles · Australia, Japan, Argentina and the average
Each axis runs 0–100 across all 15 teams. Australia scores high for work-rate and low for what it does on the ball.
Chance creation: attempts at goal (whole tournament)
Australia (25) managed the fewest of anyone here bar Qatar. Gold = Australia · green = other AFC · blue = the rest.
Possession share
Australia (32%) props up the table alongside Iran, while the champions and finalists sit at 45–58%.
Possession set against chance creation
Australia sits alone in the lower-left quadrant, low on the ball and low on threat. Japan shows you can hold little possession and still create plenty.

All teams, all metrics: Qatar 2022

AFC teams are shaded, Australia highlighted. Distance is per 90 minutes. For ball-recovery time and goals conceded, lower is better.

Russia 2018 · 13 teams and the tournament average

High work-rate, low finishing efficiency

2018 shows Australia's biggest weakness more plainly than any other year. The side ran further than anyone here and posted above-average possession and passing, yet it took 17.5 attempts per goal. Every team bar Saudi Arabia did better. France scored once every 6.0 attempts, and Japan, the best of the AFC sides, once every 6.7.

Style profiles · Australia, Japan, France and the FWC average
Australia sits at the top of the range for work-rate and high-speed running, and at the very bottom for finishing.
Attempts per goal: finishing efficiency (lower is better)
The starkest comparison in the whole review. Australia's ratio is the second-highest of the 13 teams.

All teams, all metrics: Russia 2018

Standing within the Asian confederation

Australia's position within the AFC

Australia joined the AFC in 2006, partly to smooth the road to World Cup qualification. But on the pitch, it has never really pulled clear of the confederation. Japan has matched or beaten Australia's tournament results while playing a far more expansive, chance-hungry game, reaching the Round of 16 in both 2018 (when Australia went out) and 2022.

AFC teams' chance creation, 2022 (attempts at goal)
Among the Asian sides, Australia created the second-fewest chances, even though its tournament run was as good as any.
Where the data are more limited

2006–2014, and 2026

FIFA's reports before 2018 came out before per-team tracking data existed, so possession and goals are all we can line up. And the 2026 files we have cover only Australia's own four matches, so here the side is measured against the teams it actually played rather than a whole tournament field.

2026: Australia and its four opponents
Possession and expected goals. Australia (gold) sat deep and created less than every opponent bar Paraguay.
What this all adds up to →