Australia will face the USA (in Seattle), Paraguay (in Santa Clara) and a yet-to-qualify European team (in Vancouver) at next year's finals.
Some pundits in the US celebrated drawing Australia, while former striker Landon Donovan tipped the Socceroos to finish bottom of their group.
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic suggested anyone underestimating Australia was in for a "rude shock" and Behich agreed.
"Look, if people want to look at us that way, they obviously haven't seen our progress over the years and over the last few months, and what we did in the qualifications," he said.
"And obviously, I think the last World Cup, people would have said the same thing as well. And we got out the group and then took the champions to the wire.
"So, look, if people want to look at us that way, I think it's only a downfall for them. And I've always said that.
"Us Australians in any code, when backs against the wall is when we perform the best and we've just got to worry about ourselves.
"There's one more window left to obviously work and improve, and then after that, it's showtime.
"I've always said you just got to focus on what you can control - and what we can control is ourselves and not what the other nations think of us."
Things are starting to feel real after the draw, with one more pre-World Cup window in March.
But Behich is focused on helping Melbourne City rise up the A-League Men table, along with sealing progression to the Asian Champions League Elite knockouts.
"It obviously gives you that little edge - you get excited when you think about it," he said.
"But, look, I can't think about that right now. I've just got to focus here.
"We've got two big competitions we're involved in.
"... If you're performing and you're healthy and put your hand up for selection, then you give yourself the best possible chance."
That continues in Saturday's derby, when City will hope to inflict some more pain on battling Melbourne Victory.
"I'm excited. Obviously, I missed the last one through injury, so it's good to be back amongst this one," Behich said.
"It's always a fixture you look forward to - good atmosphere, two good teams going at it head-to-head. So we're all excited."
Behich will get to grips with fit-again Victory attacker Nishan Velupillay, who will hope to underline his own Socceroos credentials.
"Nish is a good player - he's proven that. He's proven that every time he plays for Victory," he said.
"So, yeah, look, it'd be a good challenge. He does add, I think, extra quality to their side.
"I just focus on my game, and how I can help my team and us as a group, we just got to focus on what we're good at and try and minimise what they're good at."
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