After the valiant performance against the Socceroos, Javier Cabrera’s team are ready to take on Lebanon as they left Dhaka on Friday afternoon to play their final group stage match against Lebanon in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
War-torn Lebanon is hosting their home matches in Qatar.
The boys will face Lebanon in Qatar on June 11. The match will kick-off at 7 pm local time and 10 pm Bangladesh time at the Al Saad Club Stadium in Doha.
Bangladesh National Football team’s Spanish coach Javier Cabrera announced the 26-man squad for the Australia and Lebanon match where Biswanath Ghosh and Mojibur Rahman Johnny were not on the final list for the Australia match due to card complications.
Coach Javier Cabrera has gone with a final squad of 23-man where defender Mehedi Hasan Mithu, forward Mohammad Abdullah and Rabbi Hossain Rahul have been dropped.
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 15 points.
War-torn Palestine is in the distant second after 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 showed a better performance as suffered a fighting 2-0 goal defeat against mighty Australia in the second round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match on Thursday.
A suicidal goal by defender Mehedi Hasan in the first half and a header from forward Kusini Yengi in the second half saw Australia's fifth successive win in a row.
Before that, Bangladesh suffered a lot against their opponents. They conceded 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.
Bangladesh squad:
Goalkeepers: Mitul Marma, Mehedi Hasan Srabon, and Md Sujon Hossain.
Defenders: Bishwanath Ghosh, Rimon Hossain, Tariq Raihan Kazi, Mohammad Rahmat Mia, Mohammad Isa Faysal, Sakil Hossain, Saad Uddin, Topu Barman, and Sushanto Tripura.
Midfielders: Sohel Rana, Mohammad Ridoy, Mohammad Sohel Rana, Mojibur Rahman Jony, Chandan Roy, Jamal Bhuiyan, and Syed Shah Quazem Kirmanee
Forwards: Sheikh Morsalin, Rakib Hossain, Shahriar Emon, and Mohammad Rafiqul Islam.
