The team began its World Cup hunt, however, by recording an impressive 3–0 away win over Kuwait, with Mathew Leckie and Aaron Mooy all scored in the first half. Having eased past Kuwait, Australia went on to destroy Nepal 5–0 at home and Chinese Taipei 7–1 away, with Harry Souttar scored both games. Australia had a difficult trip to Jordan, where they lost all two recent World Cup qualifying matches away and fell to the same opponent in the earlier Asian Cup, but Adam Taggart turned hero as Australia bypassed Jordan 1–0 in Amman, ending the country's winless streak in Jordan and helped Australia to have its best performance in the World Cup qualification with perfect 12 points. Subsequently, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the remaining games to be relocated in Kuwait, but despite this, Australia maintained its needed domination, winning all four remaining games to achieve the historic straight eight wins in the qualification and progressed with a perfect 24 points.