Philippines and Malaysia both suffer defeats in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers

The Philippines and Malaysia faced defeats in their Round 2 qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Philippines lost 1-0 to Iraq in a Group F match where Mohanad Ali’s late goal secured the victory for Iraq. Despite a defensive display, the Philippines remains at the bottom of the group standings. They will have a chance for redemption when they face Iraq once again on 26 March 2024.

On the other hand, Malaysia fell 2-0 to Oman in a Group D encounter. After a goalless first half, Oman broke the deadlock with Issam Al Sabhi’s goal in the 58th minute. Muhsen Saleh Al Ghassani sealed the win with a late strike, propelling Oman to the top of the group as Malaysia slid to third place. The return fixture between Malaysia and Oman is scheduled for 26 March 2024 in Kuala Lumpur.

Both teams will need to bounce back in their upcoming matches to keep their World Cup dreams alive. Stay tuned for more updates on the AFC qualifiers. #AFF #AFC