FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers: Socceroos beat Bangladesh 2-0 in Dhaka

The Australian men’s football team secured a 2-0 win against Bangladesh in its FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers match at the Basundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Thursday.

The Socceroos, 24th in the football rankings, rode on goals from Ajdin Hrustic (29’) and Kusini Yengi (62’) to secure a comfortable win over world No. 184 Bangladesh, who could not register a shot on target.

Australia hold on to their top spot in Group I of the FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers, having secured victories in all of their five matches so far.

The Socceroos started with an attacking intent and had their first chance inside the opening minute. Australia had their first corner three minutes into the game and kept the Bangladesh defence on their toes.

Despite the initial flurry from the Australia, the Bangladesh football team managed to organise its defence in time and became composed as the minutes ticked on. However, the hosts succumbed to the pressure with Australia taking the lead at the half-hour mark through Ajdin Hrustic.

Nestory Irankunda passed the ball backwards to Ajdin Hrustic, whose left-footed shot took a deflection off Bangladesh’s Mehedi Hasan Mithu and went into the net.

The hosts had an opportunity to equalise just three minutes later but Rakib Hossain’s shot flew high and wide off the target. The Australian football team went into the half-time break with its one-goal lead intact.

The Socceroos doubled their advantage just two minutes after the hour-mark when Kusini Yengi headed a cross from Jordan Bos into the far post.

Both sides seemed content with the scoreline towards the closing stages of the match which ended in a 2-0 away victory for Australia.

Graham Arnold’s side will face second-placed Palestine at the HBF Park in Perth on Tuesday.