To reach the final round for a third time, Bangladesh must deliver a stronger, more composed performance than against Jordan.

“Didn’t work out as we’d hoped and worked so hard for! But as always so proud to represent Bangladesh and the team!,” Hamza wrote in a social media post after returning to England from Hong Kong.

Fans from 212 countries and territories purchased tickets during the pre-sales period, which opened in mid-September, FIFA said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari has been named Asian Player of the Year for the second time, with Japan's Hana Takahashi claiming the women's award at a gala ceremony in Riyadh on Thursday.

Qatar forward Akram Afif said on Thursday that he encouraged local fans to throw objects onto the pitch to waste time during a decisive World Cup qualification match against the United Arab Emirates.

Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes said on Thursday that it was clear from early on that the club were going in the "wrong direction" under former coach Erik Ten Hag.

Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo once again topped the Forbes highest-paid footballers list for the 2025-26 season, as one of three members of the top 10 plying their trade in Saudi Arabia.

Indonesia were looking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since the country claimed independence from the Netherlands in 1945.

He has also been fined £8,000 ($10,685) and the Football Association said Maresca openly admitted the misconduct charge.

The final will pit tournament heavyweights Argentina against history-making Morocco — a clash between pedigree and passion, with world youth football’s biggest prize on the line.

Topu said he was "not happy with the overall results" in the 2026 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers "because, as a team, we expected better."

Following Bangladesh’s 1-1 draw against Hong Kong in a crucial away fixture of the Asian Cup Qualifiers on Tuesday, both coach Javier Cabrera and goalscorer Rakib Hossain rued the fact that they failed to get at least four points from the two matches against Hong Kong, which would have still kept them in the hunt for qualification.

Africa produced the biggest drama, as Cape Verde stunned Cameroon to qualify for the first time, joining continental heavyweights Egypt, Ghana, and Senegal.

These moments frame a larger picture of our sporting mindset.

“Yesterday I asked him if he was ready to play, and he said yes. It’s always a joy for us,” said coach Lionel Scaloni, praising his captain’s readiness and leadership.

Ronaldo netted his 40th and 41st qualifying goals, overtaking retired Guatemala international Carlos Ruiz, who scored 39 between 1998 and 2016.

Over 1,000 police officers and army personnel were deployed while helicopters and drones flew overhead to keep a watch on a demonstration which was kept several kilometres away from the Bluenergy Stadium hosting the Group I fixture, won 3-0 by Italy.

Elsewhere, pro-Palestinian demonstrations prefaced Italy's vital win over Israel and Spain took another step towards qualification with a big victory against Bulgaria.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti said Brazil "mentally collapsed" in their 3-2 friendly defeat to Japan on Tuesday and warned that they need to learn from their mistakes before the World Cup.

Bangladesh held Hong Kong, China to a 1-1 draw in their AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers third-round fixture at Kai Tak Sports Park in Kowloon on Tuesday, thanks to an equaliser from Rakib Hossain that kept their faint qualification hopes alive.