At 2:15 AM Beijing Time on November 20, in the 6th round of the 3rd stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for the Asian Zone Group C, Bahrain will host Australia. The current points situation in the group is as follows: Japan leads with 13 points from 5 matches (4 wins and 1 draw). The teams ranked 2nd to 4th are Australia, Saudi Arabia, and China, all with 6 points each. Bahrain has 5 points from 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses, placing them 5th. Indonesia, with 3 points from 3 draws and 2 losses, is at the bottom of the group. Apart from Japan’s overwhelming strength, the other five teams are closely matched, with each capable of taking points from one another.
In the first match of the 18-team qualifiers, Bahrain surprisingly defeated Australia 1-0. A red card disrupted the balance on the field, allowing Bahrain to attack boldly while Australia had to retreat defensively, hoping for a draw. Souttar’s own goal ultimately gave Bahrain the opening victory. In their subsequent match against Japan, Bahrain suffered a 0-5 defeat at home. In the second stage, Bahrain drew 2-2 with Indonesia and played a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia. After four rounds, Bahrain’s prospects looked good, but they encountered a dramatic moment in their home game against China. A goal was disallowed for offside, and just a minute later, Zhang Yuning scored the only goal of the match for China. Despite having more possession, Bahrain failed to create significant threats, and even the more passive Chinese team outperformed them. Bahrain’s coach, Taldjić, also faced intense criticism.
Australia suffered an opening loss to Bahrain, followed by a 0-0 draw with Indonesia, leading to the resignation of head coach Arnold. In a crisis, Popović took over. Despite conceding the first goal against China, Australia managed to score three goals and reverse the score. They then held the group’s strongest opponent, Japan, to a 1-1 draw. In the third stage, Australia and Saudi Arabia played a dull match where neither side could break through. After five matches, the decline of Australian football has not been halted, partly due to the absence of key players, but also due to a significant drop in overall strength. If they fail to win this match, their goal of finishing in the top two of the group will become increasingly distant.
According to statistics, the two teams have met seven times in international competitions, with Bahrain winning once and losing six times. Their only victory came in the first match of the first stage of the qualifiers. Without that red card, Bahrain might have continued their winless streak against Australia. However, Bahrain’s strength lies in their counter-attacking quality rather than set-piece play. Australia’s biggest problem now is their focus on possession for its own sake, which seems to be their only way to suppress opponents, but their defense is often slow, lacks coordination, and struggles with marking. These weaknesses were exploited by Bahrain in their first meeting. To some extent, Australia fears Bahrain, a West Asian team that relies heavily on counter-attacks.
Currently, Australia seems to suffer from a Goodwin dependency. It was his goal and assist that helped Australia reverse the score against China. Out of the five goals scored in five matches, Goodwin has been involved in 50%, highlighting the team’s poor attacking capabilities. In the last match, Goodwin was suspended and did not play, and Australia struggled to break through, lacking rhythm and variety in their attacks. Bahrain faces similar issues, with their attacking ability ranking among the lowest in Group C alongside Saudi Arabia.
Before the match, the Australian national team confirmed that Velupillai, who scored against China, is out due to an ankle injury and will not travel to Bahrain. The good news is that Goodwin has returned from suspension and even scored a scissor kick during training, showing his excellent physical condition and relaxed mental state. At the press conference, Australian forward Owen stated that the national team has yet to reach their full potential and that everything is still under control.
In terms of the schedule, Australia’s next three opponents are Bahrain, Indonesia, and China, the three weakest teams in the group according to FIFA rankings. If they can secure all 9 points, the Socceroos will virtually secure an automatic spot in the World Cup, but they must first overcome Bahrain. For Bahrain, every match against Australia, Japan, and Indonesia is a matter of life and death, making the task of securing points extremely challenging.
>>”>For more predictions and analysis of this match, click here>>>
