Henderson completes move to Saudi club Al Ettifaq

The England midfielder is the latest big-name player from the Premier League to move to Saudi after 12 years at Anfield.

The 36 sides were drawn into nine groups of four, and they will compete against each team in a home-and-away round-robin format, between November 2023 and June 2024.

Ten of the Round 2 teams will progress from Round 1 of the Preliminary Joint Qualification, with the draw conducted earlier on Thursday. As there will be 48 teams – a first – at the FIFA World Cup 2026, eight and a half slots are on offer for the Continent’s national teams.

A total 20 teams were divided into 10 pairings, with each pair to play one home and one away match on October 12 and 17, 2023 respectively.

Uchenna Kanu cancelled out Emily van Egmond’s opener in the first half before Nigeria stunned the home side in the second half with goals from Osinachi Ohale and Asisat Oshoala with Alanna Kennedy scoring a late consolation for Australia.

The result means Australia must defeat Canada on Monday to advance with Nigeria playing the Republic of Ireland. Nigeria and Canada are on four points with Australia one behind.

Both teams had suffered defeats in their opening matches of the tournament, with Portugal losing to the Netherlands 1-0 and Vietnam falling to a 3-0 reversal against the reigning champions the United States.

The Steel Roses go into the game needing all three points after a last-gasp defeat at the hands of Denmark in Perth in their tournament opener on Saturday, and Shui is urging her team to focus on their vital meeting with the Haitians rather than back at their continental success.