Australia kick off 2026 qualifying with 7-0 rout of Bangladesh

Australia kicked off Asia’s second round of World Cup qualifying with a 7-0 demolition of Bangladesh on Thursday as Graham Arnold celebrated a record 59th ‘A’ international as Socceroos coach.

Jamie Maclaren came off the bench to score a second half hat-trick and Mitchell Duke scored a brace late in the first half as world number 27 Australia trampled all over the 183rd-ranked south Asians at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

“Overall it was a good performance but I think we still need to be a bit more ruthless in front of goal,” Arnold told reporters.

“It could have been double-figures easily, and it should have been.”