Western United celebrates another incredible achievement for Australian football with the Socceroos securing qualification for a sixth straight FIFA World Cup campaign.
A massive win against Japan in Perth last week meant qualification was as good as confirmed, but a 2-1 away triumph over Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning made certain of it.
Locking in automatic qualification for the first time since the 2014 tournament, an impressive cohort of players – many of which have been built in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men – will be out to make the nation proud in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico next year.
With everyone connected to the green and gold playing an incredible part, Western United also highlights two significant contributions from Club alumni.
Western United Championship-winning assistant Hayden Foxe behind unbeaten run
After departing Western United to join Tony Popovic’s new-look coaching staff in September, Hayden Foxe has proven his credentials once again.
After helping Western United lift the Isuzu UTE A-League Championship in 2022 under John Aloisi, Foxe has been part of another historic run with the national team.
Since joining Popovic in the Socceroos coaching team, the team has played eight matches without losing to rocket into World Cup qualification.
That run includes four wins from four to close out the group stage and secure that top two position, with Foxe bringing his impact as a defensive mastermind to help the side keep three clean sheets in that time.
Now, following on from his stellar three years at Western United, Foxe will be off to compete on the world stage in a years’ time, eager to create more history for Australian football.
Trail-blazing Sharna Naidu an integral part of the coaching team
Western United’s inaugural Ninja A-League Women season took a combination of work ethic and expertise from a wide range of people. Sharna Naidu was one of those people.
As the team’s inaugural A-League Women analyst, Naidu was a vital part of the coaching team that went all the way to the grand final in the team’s first-ever season.
Since departing United in 2023, Naidu has gone on to the FIFA Women’s World Cup and Olympic Games with the Matildas before shifting focus to the Socceroos over the past 12 months.
Given her proven success at national team level and at Western United, it’s come as no surprise that Naidu has played a significant role with the Socceroos, as she will now set her sights on a second – albeit slightly different – World Cup campaign in her career.
