FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC qualifiers: Australia beat Lebanon 2-0 to consolidate top position in group
Keanu Baccus and Kye Rowles scored their maiden international goals. The Australian men’s football team will play Lebanon in its next match on Thursday.
Football
The Australian men's football team beat Lebanon 2-0 in its Group I match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC qualifiers at the Western Sydney Stadium on Thursday.
Keanu Baccus opened the scoring for Australia as early as in the fifth minute before Kye Rowles’ 54th-minute strike sealed the match for the Socceroos. It was both players’ maiden international goal.
Courtesy the win, Australia consolidated their top spot in the group standings with nine points from three matches. The Aussies had earlier beaten Bangladesh 7-0 before blanking Palestine 1-0.
The win also put Australia in a favourable position to qualify for the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
The top two teams from each of the nine groups in the second round qualify for the third qualifying round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America and earn a direct entry in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Lebanon are currently second in the group with two points from three games.
Australia, 23rd in the latest FIFA rankings, made a good start to the match and struck a blow to world No. 115 Lebanon just five minutes in.
Socceroos midfielder Baccus intercepted a pass from the Lebanon defence and curled the ball into the box from the right flank. His cross wrongfooted the Lebanon keeper, struck the back post and went into the net.
Despite the early goal, though, Australia were sloppy in possession and struggled to break down the Lebanon setup, who defended valiantly.
The Aussies, looking for passage to their seventh football World Cup main draw, finally got the much-desired two-goal cushion after half-time.
A corner from Ajdin Hrustic, making his first appearance since last June, bounced kindly for Rowles who planted a half-volley into the net.
Lebanon tried hard to find a way back into the game but failed to score.
Australia’s win, however, was marred by injuries to wingers Riley McGree and Jordy Bos. Giles was the first to go off after just sustaining a foot injury 15 minutes in.
Bos, who came in for McGree, also had to leave the pitch after hurting his left knee from an awkward fall.
The Australian men’s football team will face Lebanon again in Canberra in its next match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC qualifiers next Thursday.