Maclaren scores HAT-TRICK as Australia thrash Bangladesh in a World Cup qualifier

Substitute Jamie Maclaren scored a hat-trick in the second half as Australia defeated Bangladesh 7-0 on Thursday to kick off Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Leicester City defender Harry Souttar’s fourth-minute header set the tone in Melbourne, as the Socceroos got off to a flying start in their quest to qualify for the expanded 48-team tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Mitchell Duke added two more goals and Brandon Borrello also scored as the hosts raced to a 4-0 lead at the break, before Maclaren’s second-half avalanche of tap-ins.

“Seven goals, but it could have been more, for me too, but three points and we move on,” Maclaren said in a statement.

“I’m not even sure (goalkeeper) Maty (Ryan) had a save to make so proud of the team, but we obviously know the next games are going to be harder.”

Australia is also in Group I with Palestine and Lebanon, who will meet later in Sharjah.

From nine groups of four, Asian Football Confederation teams will compete for a record eight direct spots and one intercontinental playoff berth.

Later Thursday, Japan and South Korea will face Myanmar and Singapore, respectively. Japan is aiming for their eighth World Cup in a row, while Korea is aiming for their 11th.

Both teams, as well as Australia, advanced to the round of 16 in Qatar 2022.

In other matches, Saudi Arabia will face Pakistan after defeating eventual champions Argentina in Doha, China will face Thailand, and Iran will face Hong Kong.

The top two teams from each group advance to the final qualifying round, with Graham Arnold’s Socceroos hoping to be among them as they seek a sixth World Cup in a row.

They were always on top at AAMI Park, dominating possession against a team that created few chances, despite being ranked 27 in the world to Bangladesh’s 183.

Australia scored after just four minutes, with towering Scottish-born Souttar rising unnoticed to head home Graig Goodwin’s floating free kick.

A second goal was unavoidable 16 minutes later, courtesy of Western Sydney Wanderers winger Borrello, who had an easy tap-in after Jordan Bos’ low cross.

Japan-based Duke scored twice in three minutes before halftime, the first with a deft header and the second on the rebound after a Borrello volley hit the post.

Melbourne City striker Maclaren scored twice after the restart to seal the game as Bangladesh’s defense crumbled, and he added a third with six minutes remaining.

Massimo Luongo missed a late penalty, so the score should have been 8-0.

Victory sealed another successful night for veteran coach Arnold, who took charge for a record 59th game, surpassing Frank Farina as the Socceroos’ longest-serving coach.