Overview
- Australia meet North Korea in Perth on Friday, with the winner booking a semi-final place and automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup, while the loser drops into a playoff on the Gold Coast.
- Coach Joe Montemurro confirmed Hayley Raso and vice-captain Steph Catley are out with concussions and said the squad has adequate cover, with Courtney Nevin likely to start at left back.
- Captain Sam Kerr and defender Clare Hunt said the team is braced for a highly physical contest and intends to match North Korea’s strength and intensity.
- North Korea, ranked ninth, beat Uzbekistan 3-0 and Bangladesh 5-0 before a 2-1 defeat to China that included a sideline protest, and their limited recent international exposure makes them a wildcard.
- A crowd of about 20,000 is expected in Perth as Australia look to rebound from a group-stage draw with South Korea and avoid a repeat of their 2022 quarter-final exit.