In a surprising upset during the third round of Asian World Cup qualifying, Bahrain defeated Australia 1-0 on the Gold Coast, ending their six-match losing streak against the Socceroos. The match was decided by an own goal from Australian defender Harry Souttar in the 89th minute, following a cross from Abdulla Al-Khalasi. Australia, which had controlled much of the game, faced a setback when Kusini Yengi was sent off in the 77th minute. Meanwhile, Japan dominated China with a 7-0 victory, securing a solid start in Group C. South Korea struggled to score against Palestine, settling for a 0-0 draw in their opener. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the 2026 World Cup, with additional spots available for third and fourth-place teams in a fourth round.