A 10-man Bangladesh beat the Maldives by 2-1 goals to qualify for the 2nd round group stage of the FIFA World Cup' 2026 qualifiers in a keenly contested match at the Bashundhara Kings Arena on Tuesday.
By virtue of the day's well-merited victory in home match, Bangladesh not only qualified for the 2nd round group stage of the FIFA World Cup'2026, but also escaped a possible one- year ban in playing the FIFA/AFC international competitive matches.
Also read: FIFA World Cup: Bangladesh to play Maldives in a do or die match on Tuesday
With the day's feat, Bangladesh earned the rights to play in the six-match home and away basis Group I matches of the World Cup's Asian qualifiers with stronger Australia, Lebanon and Palestine.
Bangladesh will play mighty Australia on November 16 in their 2nd round Group I away match in Melbourne.
The day's victory is the 2nd win for Bangladesh against the Maldives within four months after beating them by 3-1 goals in the last SAFF Championship held in the Indian city of Bengaluru in last June.
However, Bangladesh managed a dramatic 1-1 goal draw with hosts the Maldives in the last moment of the FIFA World Cup preliminary away match at the National Stadium in Male last Thursday, thanks to substitute booter M Saad Uddin for making the equaliser for Bangladesh in the added time (90+2 minute) of the match.
Earlier, Bangladesh and Maldives faced each other on 17 times since 1984 where Bangladesh won seven matches against the Maldives six win. The rest four matches ended in draw.
In the day's crucial match, Rakib Hossain and Foysal Ahmed Fahim scored for Bangladesh, one in each half while Aisam Ibrahim netted the lone goal for the Maldives in the first half.
Bangladesh took lead in the 11th minute of the match by a left -footed placing shot by Rakib Hossain, off a Foysal Ahmed Fahim's cross (1-0).
Also read: FIFA World Cup: Saad Uddin guides Bangladesh to stay in race playing 1-1 draw with Maldives
Aisam Ibrahim leveled the margin for the Maldives in the 36th minute by an accurate header from goal mouth melee, capitalising on a Hamza Mohammad corner (1-1).
Foysal Ahmed Fahim scored the match-winning goal for Bangladesh in the very 2nd minute of the 2nd half by a cool shot from goalmouth melee (2-1).
Bangladesh team were reduced to 10-man in the 59th minute of the match as their Shohel Rana got marching order after receiving the 2nd yellow card for a rough tackle.
However, the Maldives team were also reduced to 10 players in the 3rd minute of the added time (90+3 minute) when their booter Ahnaf Rasheed received red card.
Bangladesh earned a deserving victory against the Maldives playing a good football, especially in the last 35 minutes, despite playing with ten players.