How many times have Australia played at the World Cup? Tournament record explored

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Ahead of the 2022 tournament in Qatar, HITC Sport takes a look at how many times Australia have played at the FIFA World Cup.

The Socceroos, who will head to the Middle East under the stewardship of Graham Arnold, will face Tunisia, Denmark and France in Group D.

Arnold, who will be ably assisted by former Premier League managers Guus Hiddink and Rene Meulensteen, has the unenviable task of facing defending champions Les Bleus in their World Cup opener.

The winter tournament in Qatar will be Australia’s fifth consecutive participation at the World Cup, and with European nations France and Denmark the favourites to secure passage to the last-16, the odds are stacked against The Socceroos giving themselves the chance to break new ground in the biggest sporting tournament on the planet.

How many times have Australia played at the World Cup?

Australians had to wait 32 years for their country to qualify for the tournament dubbed the festival of football once again.

Prior to securing qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Australia’s last game at that level was a 0-0 draw against Chile in June 1974.

But in 2006, in a group containing Brazil, Croatia and Japan, Australia produced their best World Cup performance by reaching the last-16.

After beating Japan 3-1 in their opening group game, The Socceroos would progress to the knockout stages if they avoided defeat to Croatia in their last game after losing against Brazil.

Trailing 2-1 with ten minutes remaining and seemingly on their way out of the competition, former Leeds United and Liverpool winger Harry Kewell scored an equaliser to set up a last-16 clash against Italy.

Marcelo Lippi’s Azzurri, who went on to win the 2006 tournament, squeezed past Hiddink’s Australia thanks to a 95th-minute penalty from Francesco Totti.

The Socceroos have failed to advance from the group stages in any of the last three tournaments.

In Russia 2018, Australia was drawn against France and Denmark, and the three sides will pit their wits against one and other in Qatar.

Australia haven’t won a World Cup match for 12 years since beating Serbia 2-1 in South Africa when Pim Verbeek’s side agonisingly missed out on qualification.

They’ll be hoping to address that stat in Qatar.