Kari AndersonContributing writerSat, April 25, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC·1 min readAustralia returned to the World Cup with a bang in 2006. In the team’s first World Cup match in 32 years, the Socceroos put up a stunning comeback in the final minutes of a group stage game against Japan, overcoming a controversial goal call.

Earlier in the game, the referee had awarded a goal to Shunsuke Nakamura, despite an apparent foul on Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer on the shot.

Australia then was forced to play from behind for most of the game, struggling to get a ball past Japanese goalie Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi despite holding more possession and putting up more shots on goal.

But in the 84th minute, Tim Cahill finally found the equalizer — scoring the first-ever World Cup goal for Australia in their second appearance in the tournament. The goal came off a long throw-in, with Cahill getting his foot on the ball after a scramble in the box.

Five minutes later, Cahill struck again, sending in a shot from outside the box to give the Socceroos the lead.

Finally, in the second minute of stoppage time, John Aloisi beat the Japanese defense to send the ball past Kawaguchi and ice a speculator Australian win.

That win ended up being the difference for Australia, who finished second in Group F behind Brazil and advanced to the knockout stage for the first time. The Socceroos ended up falling to Italy in the first knockout game, but it didn’t matter — the team had already made history.