Australia retained the second automatic qualification spot in their group for the 2026 World Cup, drawing 2-2 in Bahrain after a dramatic finale.

Having taken the lead after 38 seconds Kusini Yengi the Socceroos should have been safe before conceding two goals in 140 seconds late in the match.

Shortly after the hour mark, Yengi hit the post with a clever improvisation, but then missed a goalkeeper. Ten minutes later, Mahdi Abduljabbar caught an error Cameron Burgess to score with an outrageous 45-yard chip.

With Australia reeling, the substitute scored again, following debutant Hayden Matthews’ misdirected header which hit the post.

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But with ten minutes of added time remaining, the Socceroos continued to push and in the 95th minute Yengi struck again, stabbing at goal in a scrum after Brandon Borello had caused problems at the far post.

This result means that Australia only partially benefited from the useful results achieved earlier in the day in Group C.

Japan won 3-1 in China while in Jakarta, I was not appreciated Indonesia beat Saudi Arabia 2-0. This meant Australia entered the match still in the second and final automatic qualification spot behind runaway leaders Japan.

The draw at Riffa allows them to stay there, one point ahead of the other four teams in the group. With four matches remaining, the Socceroos could still qualify directly, be forced into a new qualifying phase or finish in the bottom two and be eliminated completely.