Only if they are playing with the victory city rule, which of course is the rule, but in my games we don’t use them. They are unrealistic and foolish, (im sorry if that offends).
Europe, where the main battle is, can be losing terrible, on the verge of defeat, and Japan without even taking Anzac can win the whole game. It forces the US to spend incredibly inefficiently in the Pacific to not risk that happening.
Outside of the, I have not played enough games, roughly 10 or so to fully understand the balance as old strategies have to be modified still.
But only 6 victory cities in the Pacific to win the whole game, that is foolish. Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and the Philippines are automatic. Calcutta is automatic too unless the US foolishly goes on the offensive in the Pacific and defensive in Europe, or worse, attempt to go on the offensive in both. That only leave Hawaii. Hawaii, an insignificant island that if taken over and kept for one turn, ends the game. Foolish. It again, forces the US to overspend to avoid even the risk.
It should be 8 victory cities, not 6. So yes that would include Sydney and Los Angeles. It would have to be that overwhelming to ignore what is happening in Europe.