On Tuesday, Iraq and Australia secured their spots in the third round of Asia's 2026 World Cup preliminaries with convincing wins over the Philippines and Lebanon, respectively. Iraq dominated the Philippines with a resounding 5-0 victory in Manila, marking their fourth consecutive win in the competition. Aymen Hussein scored twice in the first half, complemented by goals from Amir Ali Ammari, Zidane Iqbal, and Zayed Tahseen. This win propelled Iraq to the top of Group F with 12 points, comfortably ahead of Vietnam in third place.
Meanwhile, Indonesia strengthened their position in the group with a crucial 3-0 win over Vietnam in Hanoi. Jay Noah Idzes, Rangar Oratmangoen, and Muhammad Sananta found the net for Indonesia, putting them in a favorable position to advance to the next round of qualifying.
In Group I, Australia continued their dominant form with a 5-0 victory over Lebanon in Canberra. Craig Goodwin's brace helped the Socceroos maintain a perfect record in the competition, securing their place in the next round. Palestine also secured a vital 1-0 win over Bangladesh, moving into second place in the group.
South Korea bounced back from a draw against Thailand with a convincing 3-0 win in Bangkok. Lee Jae-Sung, Son Heung-Min, and Park Jin-Seop were on target for the South Koreans, solidifying their position at the top of Group C. China also notched a 4-1 win against Singapore, moving into second place in the group.
With the top two finishers from each group advancing to the next round, the race for a spot in the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States is heating up in the Asian qualifiers. Teams are vying for one of the eight guaranteed berths in the expanded 48-team tournament, setting the stage for intense competition in the coming matches.
