Bahrain Upsets Australia 1-0 in Qualifying Match

Bahrain achieved a historic 1-0 victory over Australia in the opening match of the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, marking their first win over the Socceroos in seven attempts. The decisive moment came in the 89th minute when Australian defender Harry Souttar inadvertently scored an own goal, leading to wild celebrations from the Bahraini team. Australia's chances were further diminished by the red card shown to striker Kusini Yengi, reducing them to ten men before Souttar's blunder. Despite dominating possession and creating several opportunities, Australia failed to convert their efforts into goals, with Mitch Duke missing the best chance to equalize in stoppage time. Coach Graham Arnold acknowledged the defeat as a learning experience while commending Bahrain's disciplined performance. This loss poses a significant setback to Australia's hopes of qualifying directly for the World Cup, with only the top two teams from their group securing a spot.