Bangladesh to play Australia, Lebanon in June

A 26-member national football team to play the remaining two Group I matches of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Australia and Lebanon in June.

Spanish head coach of the Bangladesh Football Team, Javier Cabrera, announced on Thursday.

Experienced goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico was dropped from the national squad, while defender Tariq Raihan Kazi and promising striker Shekh Morsalin returned to the squad.

Bangladesh will play the World Cup against Australia in their home match on June 6 at 4:45 pm at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital.

They will play war-torn Arabian nation Lebanon in their last Group I away match on June 11 at a neutral venue—Al Saad Club Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

The match will kick-off at 7: 00 pm local time and 10: 00 pm Bangladesh time.

On completion of four group matches, Australia dominated the group table to qualify for the next round with an all-win record, securing a full 12 points, War-torn Palestine is in the distant second, collecting seven points with two wins, one draw, and one defeat.

Lebanon is in the third slot, securing two points with two draws and two defeats, while Bangladesh remained at the bottom with one point from four matches after making a 1-1 draw with Lebanon in their home match in Dhaka.

Earlier, Bangladesh suffered a 0-7 goal defeat against World Cup playing Australia in their away match, drew 1-1 with Arabian nation Lebanon in the home match, suffered a 0-5 defeat against Palestine in their away match in Kuwait, and conceded a shocking 0-1 goal defeat in the dying moment against Palestine in their home match in Dhaka.

Member of the Bangladesh team

Goalkeepers: Mitul Marma, Mehedi Hasan Srabon, and Md Sujon Hossain.

Defenders: Bishwanath Ghose, Rimon Hossain, Mehedi Hasan, Tariq Raihan Kazi. M. Rahmat Mia, Md. Isa Faysal, Md. Sakil Hossain, Saad Uddin, Topu Barman, and Sushanto Tripura.

Midfielder-Sohel Rana, Md. Ridoy, Md. Sohel Rana, Md.Mojibur Rahman Jony, Chandan Roy, Jamal Bhuiyan, and Syed Shah Quazem Kirmanee

Forward - Shekh Morsalin, Rakib Hossain, Md. Abdullah, Shahriar Emon, Md. Rafiqul Islam and Md Rabbi Hossain Rahul.