Australia’s home battle with Japan in Perth will be followed by a June 10 clash against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. “They’re all crucial,” Foxe said. “We’re in a really good position.

There is no guarantee the Japan game will determine the Socceroos ... The NSL grand finals in the 2000s were an important reminder Australia is a soccer country — no matter what the naysayers ...

With the 2024 season of the Japan Professional Football League, commonly known as the J. League, ending on Dec. 8, more players may start moving to Europe during the winter transfer window.