Bangladesh edge past Maldives to qualify for World Cup Qualifiers Round 2

Bangladesh to face Australia, Palestine and Lebanon in Round 2

Bangladesh claimed a 2-1 win over Maldives in a closely-fought encounter in their FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 second leg tie on Tuesday.

Foysal Fahim scored the winner as Bangladesh registered a 3-2 victory on aggregate to seal a place alongside Australia, Palestine and Lebanon in Group 1 of the second round. 

After a cagey opening, the match exploded into life in the 11th minute as Bangladesh gained the first advantage.

Fahim chased down what initially looked like an overhit pass and incredibly managed to cross the ball before it fully went out, for Rakib Hossain to side-foot into the back of the net.

The pacy Fahim could have put the home side two up four minutes later but saw his volley pushed over the bar by Hussain Shareef.

Maldives had an opportunity in the 21st minute when Hamza Mohamed beat three markers but took too long to release his shot and was eventually crowded out, before forcing a good save from Mitul Marma in the 33rd minute.

But the equaliser did come two minutes later from a corner kick, Hamza's pinpoint delivery found Aisam Ibrahim lurking in the middle of the box and he headed firmly past Mitul.

It only took Bangladesh a minute into the second half to regain their lead, Shareef palmed Saad Uddin's cross into the path of Fahim, who stroked the ball home to send the fans into raptures.

However, a rash challenge from MD Sohel Rana in the 59th minute, coming through the back of Haisham Hassan, earned the Bangladeshi player his second yellow card, giving Maldives at least half an hour to chase the game with an extra man.

The expected onslaught, however, didn't materialise with Maldives' Ahnaf Rasheed’s seeing a straight red card in the third minute of added time as Bangladesh sealed their place in Round 2.