Bahrain v Australia: World Cup 2026 qualifying – live

3 days ago 6

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11 min It was Hayden Matthews, 30-odd seconds into his debut, who played the speculative pass forward that led to the goal. Sayed Dhiya missed it – he should probably have done better as well – and then Hamad Al Shamsan had a costly split-second brainfreeze.

10 min Australia’s greatest strength is probably defending in a low block. The early goal has allowed to exactly that. It’s not without risk – you can score too early in games – but for now they are keeping Bahrain at arm’s length.

7 min It looks like the goal has been given to Yengi, though I’d like to see another replay. Either way it’s a perfect start for him, especially after his red card in the return fixture.

6 min Bahrain have responded well to the shock of that early goal, playing some bright possession football and winning a corner that leads to a couple of headed clearance by either Souttar, Burgess or both.

5 min “I like that you’ve managed to slip in/on some Spandex references at 5am,” says Chris Paraskevas. “Have you been watching the ‘Original’ Batman & Robin? (1997...the one with Arnie as Mr. Freeze)

“I like Tony Popovic’s tactical solution after the goalless draw with N̶e̶w̶c̶a̶s̶t̶l̶e̶ ̶U̶n̶i̶t̶e̶d̶ Saudi Arabia: changing the goalkeeper (because apparently ‘keepers are modern football’s new libero). Sometimes I wish for simpler times i.e. 1997 and George Clooney as Batman.”

This will reveal me as a despicable human being but the last Batman film I watched was the 1989 one with Michael Keaton and Kim Basinger. Enjoyed The Penguin though, especially the pitch-black comedy.

2 min My word, what a start. The defending was terrible from Bahrain. In fact, Al Shamsan’s errant backpass may have been their first touch of the entire match.

It was a shambles of a goal, not that Australia will care. Hamad Al Shamsan played a dreadful backpass, badly underhit, and Yengi was in. He walked round the keeper Lutfallah and reversed a shot that the diving Lutfallah could only push into his own net.

That might be an own goal you know; I’m not certain Yengi’s shot was on target.

GOAL! Bahrain 0-1 Australia (Yengi 1)

Kusini Yengi scores after 38 seconds!

1 min Peep peep! We’re off, and already…

The two teams take the field on a sultry night in Riffa. Let’s have a quick reminder of the teams, not least because there’s been a change. Abbas Al Asfoor was injured in the warm-up and has been replaced in midfield by Abdulla Al Khalasi.

Bahrain (possible 3-4-2-1) Lutfallah; Benaddi, Al Shamsan, Dhiya; Mahdi Baqer, Al Khalasi, Haram, Marhoon; Al Khatal, Al Aswad; Madan.
Substitutes: Mohamed, Ani Emmanuel, Nabeel, Adbulkarim, Al Wadaei, Abduljabbar, Atede, Hazaa Ali, Al Sherooqi, Al Humaidan, Jaafar.

Australia (3-4-2-1) Ryan; Matthews, Souttar, Burgess; Miller, Caceres, Irvine, Behich; McGree, Goodwin; Yengi.
Substitutes: Degenek, Grant, Bos, Boyle, Geria, Hrustic, Borrello, O’Neill, Izzo, Duke, Gauci, Balard.

Referee Ko Hyung-jin (South Korea)

Fifteen minutes to kick off

Sorry for the silence – there was an issue with the live feed over here in the UK but I think it’s almost sorted. If not I’ll just make the whole nothing up. Anyone fancy a 5-0 win?

Read Joey Lynch’s preview

Time and time again, Australia’s men have threatened to fall off the pace, only for results elsewhere to throw them a lifeline. Just last week, Bahrain had the opportunity to vault over Australia and Saudi Arabia into outright second place, only for a 91st-minute winner from China to consign them to defeat in Riffa. That goal saw China, who are the only side in the group to lose three games but who also sit alongside Japan as the only team to win multiple times, move on to six points.

The teams in full

Bahrain (possible 3-4-2-1) Lutfallah; Benaddi, Al Shamsan, Dhiya; Mahdi Baqer, Al Asfoor, Haram, Marhoon; Al Khatal, Al Aswad; Madan.
Substitutes: Mohamed, Ani Emmanuel, Nabeel, Adbulkarim, Al Wadaei, Abduljabbar, Atede, Hazaa Ali, Al Sherooqi, Al Humaidan, Jaafar, Al Khalasi.

Referee Ko Hyung-jin (South Korea)

Team news: Matthews makes Socceroos debut

Blimey. The 20-year-old Sydney FC defender Hayden Matthews will make his debut in defence for the Socceroos, the continuation of his amazing rise in 2024. That’s one of six changes from the disappointing 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia. Matthews, Maty Ryan, Anthony Caceres, Craig Goodwin, Kusini Yengi and Aziz Behich replace Joe Gauci, Jason Geria, Ajdin Hrustic, Jordy Bos, Aiden O’Neill and Mitch Duke.

Caceres, 32, is also making his full debut, having come off the bench against Saudi Arabia. We’ll have the full XIs in a second.

Preamble

Rob Smyth

In 2022 Australia were among the 16 best teams in world football. Two years on they’re scrapping to be amongst the best 48. Qualification for the 2026 World Cup felt like a formality for the Socceroos, particularly when Fifa fattened the competition by an extra 50 per cent. Instead it has turned into a rare old dogfight.

Australia play Bahrain this morning – well done on not snoozing the alarm by the way – at the Bahrain National Stadium, knowing that a second defeat to Dragan Talajic’s side is unthinkable.

The other two games in Group C were played last night/in the early hours. Japan won 3-1 in China to move 10 points clear and all but ensure qualification, while Indonesia stunned Saudi Arabia with a 2-0 win in Jakarta.

On balance that’s probably a good result for the Socceroos, but it means the race for the final automatic qualification spot is Spandex-tight. Somebody-call-a-doctor-Spandex-tight.

Japan P6 Pts 16
Australia P5 Pts 6 (GD +1)
Indonesia P6 Pts 6 (GD -3)
Saudi Arabia P6 Pts 6 (GD -3)
China P6 Pts 6 (GD -10)
Bahrain P5 Pts 5 (GD -5)

Confused? The same. This morning’s game could make things a bit clearer. A win for the Socceroos would make them strongish favourites to finish second, especially as Japan still have home games to play against Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. But Defeat would mean four months of fear and soul-searching before the group resumes in March.

Kick off 5.15am AEDT, 6.15pm local time.

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