Palestine, Australia Win Again In Asia Qualifying For World Cup

MELBOURNE: Australia thrashed Lebanon 5-0 and became the first team to advance to the final round of Asia qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday.

An early goal from Kusini Yengi in Canberra sent the Socceroos on the way to a fourth successive win in Group I and ensured progress to the next stage, with two matches to spare.

Palestine stayed second in the group after beating Bangladesh 1-0 and is on course for a first appearance in the final round of qualifying.

With less than two minutes on the clock, the impressive Craig Goodwin crossed from the left for Yengi to score his first goal for Australia from close range.

Australia put the game beyond Lebanon in the first three minutes of the second half. Bassel Jradi knocked in an own goal following a corner and Goodwin fired home a third.

John Iredale came off the bench to make it 4-0 midway through the second half with his first international goal and Goodwin added his second and Australia's fifth with nine minutes remaining thanks to an Iredale assist.

"It means the world to me personally and to the boys," Iredale said. ''We set out to score more goals tonight and we're pleased we did that.

"Craig Goodwin's got an unbelievable left foot, and having him in the squad really boosts our quality. I was really pleased to help him get his second goal."

Michel Termanini scored Palestine's winner in Dhaka four minutes into stoppage time.

Palestine has seven points, five more than Lebanon and six clear of Bangladesh.

The North Korea-Japan qualifier in Pyongyang was cancelled by FIFA after Korea said it couldn't host the game.

The top two teams from each of the nine groups in the second round progress to the final round where Asia's increased automatic allocation of eight World Cup places will be on offer.