Bahrain national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bahrain

Nickname(s)	مُحَارِبِيّ دِيْلمُون (Muharabi Dilmun, Dilmun's Warriors) غَوَاصِيْنُ الْلُؤْلُؤْ (Ghawaseen Al-Lulu, The Pearl Divers) الأَحمَر (The Reds) الشياطين الحمر (The Red Devils)
Association	Bahrain Football Association (BFA)
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation	WAFF (West Asia)
Head coach	Dragan Talajić
Captain	Sayed Dhiya Saeed
Most caps	Sayed Mohammed Jaffer (163)
Top scorer	Ismail Abdullatif (48)
Home stadium	Bahrain National Stadium
FIFA code	BHR
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	111 2 (7 February 2019)
Highest	44 (September 2004)
Lowest	139 (March 2000)
Elo ranking
Current	100 7 (3 March 2019)
Highest	49 (September 2000)
Lowest	138 (March 1979)
First international
Bahrain 4–4 Kuwait  (Baghdad, Iraq; 2 April 1936)
Biggest win
Bahrain 10–0 Indonesia  (Riffa, Bahrain; 29 February 2012)
Biggest defeat
Iraq 10–1 Bahrain  (Baghdad, Iraq; 5 April 1966)
Asian Cup
Appearances	8 (first in 1988)
Best result	Fourth place (2004)
Arab Cup
Appearances	6 (first in 1966)
Best result	Runners-up (1985, 2002)
WAFF Championship
Appearances	4 (first in 2010)
Best result	Champions (2019)

The Bahrain national football team represents the country of Bahrain in international football games. The team is managed by the Bahrain Football Association, which started in 1951. Bahrain joined FIFA in 1968 and the AFC in 1957.

The team has never played in the FIFA World Cup. However, they came very close twice, needing just one more win to qualify. In 2004, Bahrain won the FIFA's most improved team award. They also finished fourth in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup. In 2019, Bahrain had a fantastic year. They won both the WAFF Championship and the Arabian Gulf Cup for the first time. This success happened under their coach, Hélio Sousa. On January 4, 2025, Bahrain won the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup. They beat Oman 2–1 in an exciting final match.

History of Bahrain Football

How the Team Started

The first national team for Bahrain was formed in 1959. But they played their first official game in 1966. It was a friendly match against Kuwait, and it ended in a 4–4 draw. Even though Bahrain was under British rule, they had some freedom. This allowed them to grow their football program.

For a long time, Bahrain was seen as a weaker team in the Gulf Arab region. Stronger teams included Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, and Kuwait. Because of this, Bahrain's main international games were mostly in the Arabian Gulf Cup.

In 1988, Bahrain played in the AFC Asian Cup for the first time. They finished last in their group with only two draws. For many years, the team didn't get much attention or investment. This was despite their youth teams doing well in U-17 and U-20 tournaments. But by the end of the 1990s, Bahraini football began to change.

Rising to the Challenge

Bahrain showed great improvement in the 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification and 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification. The 2002 World Cup qualifiers were the first time Bahrain reached the final round. They didn't qualify for either tournament. However, they achieved one of their biggest football wins. They beat Iran in both qualifiers. They won 1–0 in 2000 and 3–1 at home in 2002. This 3–1 win was a big shock for Iranian football. It also stopped Iran from getting a direct World Cup spot. This helped Saudi Arabia qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Amazing Performance in 2004

Bahrain's performance in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup surprised many people. It was only their second time in the tournament. They were in a group with host country China, neighbor Qatar, and Indonesia. Bahrain went through the group stage without losing a game. They had a famous 2–2 draw with China. They also drew 1–1 with Qatar. Then they beat Indonesia 3–1 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

In the quarter-finals, Bahrain beat Uzbekistan in a penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw. They then played an amazing game against the champions, Japan. They only lost 3–4 after extra time. Finally, they lost 2–4 to Iran in the third-place match. This tournament showed that Bahrain was becoming a strong team in Asia.

World Cup Dreams in 2006

After the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, Bahrain played Uzbekistan in a playoff. Bahrain won on away goals, with a total score of 1–1. This meant Bahrain played another playoff. This time it was against Trinidad and Tobago from North America. The winner would get a spot in the World Cup. Bahrain drew 1–1 away from home. But they lost 0–1 at home in Manama. So, Trinidad and Tobago went to the World Cup for the first time.

Asian Cup in 2007

Bahrain qualified for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. They lost 2–0 to Australia in a qualification game. Bahrain made it to the main tournament by beating Kuwait in their last match. In the 2007 Asian Cup, Bahrain was knocked out in the group stage. They lost to Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. However, they did get a surprising win against Korea Republic.

Close Call for 2010 World Cup

In the qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Bahrain finished second in their group. This allowed them to reach the final round. There, they finished third, behind Australia and Japan. They then played a playoff against Saudi Arabia. The game ended 2–2, and Bahrain advanced on away goals. This was after a 0–0 draw at home.

Next, they played New Zealand in a final playoff. A win would send them to the World Cup. They drew 0–0 in Manama. But they lost the second game 1–0 in Wellington. This meant Bahrain missed out on the World Cup for the second time in a row.

Tough Times and Comebacks

Asian Cup in 2011

Bahrain qualified for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. They were in a tough group with Australia, South Korea, and India. Bahrain hoped to beat South Korea again, but lost 2–1. They then beat India 5–2, keeping their hopes alive. However, they lost 0–1 to Australia and were out of the tournament.

World Cup Qualifiers in 2014

Bahrain did not do as well in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. They were in a group with Indonesia, Iran, and Qatar. They beat Indonesia twice. But they lost 6–0 to Iran away from home. They also drew their other three games. They needed one more point to move to the next round. Their journey ended in the third round, which was their worst result since 1998.

Asian Cup in 2015

The 2015 AFC Asian Cup was also disappointing for Bahrain. They lost their first two games to Iran (0–2) and the UAE (1–2). The loss to the UAE included one of the fastest goals in Asian Cup history. Bahrain did win their last game 2–1 against Qatar. This meant Qatar finished last in the group. Bahrain finished third for the second Asian Cup in a row.

World Cup 2018 and Asian Cup 2019 Qualifiers

In the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Bahrain finished fourth in their group. This poor performance caused many fans to be upset. The coach, Sergio Batista, was replaced by Miroslav Soukup. He decided to rebuild the team.

Bahrain then played in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification. They finished first in their group and qualified for the Asian Cup. However, their performance was not perfect. They drew at home with Singapore. They also lost 1–2 away to Chinese Taipei, which was a big surprise. This loss led to Bahrain's main star, Ismail Abdullatif, retiring from the team. Despite these challenges, Bahrain reached the semi-finals of the 23rd Arabian Gulf Cup.

A Period of Success

2019: Asian Cup, WAFF Championship, and Gulf Cup Wins

At the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, Bahrain was in a group with India, Thailand, and hosts United Arab Emirates. They started well with a 1–1 draw against the UAE. However, they lost 0–1 to Thailand. In their final group match against India, Bahrain won 1–0 with a late penalty from Jamal Rashid. This win sent Bahrain to the knockout stage for only the second time ever. It also knocked India out of the competition. Bahrain then lost 2–1 to South Korea after extra time in the Round of 16. This was seen as a big success for Bahraini football. It marked the end of a tough period for the team.

After the Asian Cup, Bahrain won two competitions for the first time. They beat Iraq and Saudi Arabia 1–0 in both the WAFF Championship and the Gulf Cup. These victories happened under coach Hélio Sousa.

2022 World Cup Qualifiers

Bahrain beat Iran 1–0 in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualification. This was a big upset. Bahrain was in a strong position to reach the next round. However, the COVID-19 pandemic affected their progress. Fans were not allowed to attend games, even when Bahrain was the host. Iran also changed their coach. The Bahrain's domestic league was often interrupted. All these factors made it hard for the team to prepare.

Bahrain won 8–0 against Cambodia after the pandemic started. But they lost 0–3 to a new Iranian team. This loss was very damaging. Their 4–0 win over Hong Kong was not enough. Iran beat Iraq 1–0 in the final game, which meant Bahrain did not advance.

2023 Asian Cup Performance

In the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, Bahrain won their group. This group included Malaysia, South Korea, and Jordan. After losing their first match to South Korea, they won two games in a row. They then lost to Japan in the Round of 16.

Team Identity

Rivalries

Bahrain has a big rivalry with Qatar. This is because of historical tensions between the two countries. They have played 39 matches against each other. Bahrain has won 11 games, lost 8, and drawn 19.

Kit Providers

Manufacturer	Period
Umbro	1981
Puma	1982
Grand Sport	1983–1986
Faisok	1986
Grand Sport	1987–1996
Puma	1997
Baraka	1998–1999
Kika	2000–2002
Shoot	2002–2003
Diadora	2003–2005
Puma	2005–2014
Romai	2014–2018
Macron	2019–2022
Puma	2023–present

Recent Games and Schedule

Here are some of the recent match results and upcoming games for the Bahrain national football team.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

Games in 2024

• June 6: Bahrain drew 0–0 with Yemen in a World Cup qualifier.
• June 11: Bahrain drew 1–1 with UAE in a World Cup qualifier.
• September 5: Bahrain won 1–0 against Australia in a World Cup qualifier.
• September 10: Bahrain lost 0–5 to Japan in a World Cup qualifier.
• October 10: Bahrain drew 2–2 with Indonesia in a World Cup qualifier.
• October 15: Bahrain drew 0–0 with Saudi Arabia in a World Cup qualifier.
• November 14: Bahrain lost 0–1 to China in a World Cup qualifier.
• November 19: Bahrain drew 2–2 with Australia in a World Cup qualifier.
• December 22: Bahrain won 3–2 against Saudi Arabia in the Arabian Gulf Cup.
• December 25: Bahrain won 2–0 against Iraq in the Arabian Gulf Cup.
• December 28: Bahrain lost 1–2 to Yemen in the Arabian Gulf Cup.
• December 31: Bahrain won 1–0 against Kuwait in the Arabian Gulf Cup semi-finals.

Games in 2025

• January 4: Bahrain won 2–1 against Oman in the Arabian Gulf Cup final, becoming champions.
• March 20: Bahrain lost 0–2 to Japan in a World Cup qualifier.
• March 25: Bahrain lost 0–1 to Indonesia in a World Cup qualifier.
• June 5: Bahrain lost 0–2 to Saudi Arabia in a World Cup qualifier.
• June 10: Bahrain lost 0–1 to China in a World Cup qualifier.
• July 16: Bahrain lost 1–3 to NK Istra 1961 in a friendly game.
• November: Bahrain will play Djibouti in the FIFA Arab Cup.

Team Staff

Role	Name
Head coach	Dragan Talajić
Assistant coaches	Goran Lacković
	Ahmed Kamal
Fitness Coach	Matej Filipić
Manager	Mahmoud Riyad

Coaches Through the Years

Many coaches have led the Bahrain national football team over the years.

Players on the Team

Current Squad

These players were chosen for the World Cup qualification games in June 2025.

The number of games played (caps) and goals scored are correct as of June 10, 2025, after the match against China.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Abdulkarim Fardan	(1992-04-25) 25 April 1992 (age 33)	1	0	Al-Riffa
21	1GK	Sayed Mohammed Jaffer	(1985-08-25) 25 August 1985 (age 39)	163	0	Al-Muharraq
22	1GK	Ebrahim Lutfalla	(1992-09-24) 24 September 1992 (age 32)	34	0	Al-Muharraq
2	2DF	Amine Benaddi	(1993-05-09) 9 May 1993 (age 32)	37	0	Al-Muharraq
3	2DF	Waleed Al Hayam	(1988-11-04) 4 November 1988 (age 36)	125	0	Al-Muharraq
5	2DF	Hamad Al-Shamsan	(1997-09-29) 29 September 1997 (age 27)	33	0	Al-Riffa
13	2DF	Vincent Emmanuel	(2001-04-29) 29 April 2001 (age 24)	10	0	Sitra
16	2DF	Sayed Baqer	(1994-04-14) 14 April 1994 (age 31)	41	2	Al-Riffa
19	2DF	Hazza Ali	(1995-06-09) 9 June 1995 (age 30)	14	0	Al-Riffa
23	2DF	Abdulla Al-Khulasi	(2003-09-02) 2 September 2003 (age 21)	21	1	Al-Muharraq
	2DF	Ahmed Bughammar	(1997-12-30) 30 December 1997 (age 27)	27	1	Al-Khaldiya
	2DF	Mahmood Al-Moosawi	(2004-03-27) 27 March 2004 (age 21)	0	0	Al-Shabab
4	3MF	Sayed Dhiya Saeed	(1992-07-17) 17 July 1992 (age 33)	128	8	Al-Khaldiya
6	3MF	Hussain Al-Eker	(2001-09-30) 30 September 2001 (age 23)	4	0	Al-Riffa
7	3MF	Ali Madan	(1995-11-30) 30 November 1995 (age 29)	101	15	Ajman
8	3MF	Mohamed Marhoon	(1998-02-12) 12 February 1998 (age 27)	78	19	Kuwait SC
9	3MF	Ebrahim Al-Khattal	(2000-09-19) 19 September 2000 (age 24)	28	4	Manama
10	3MF	Kamil Al-Aswad (captain)	(1994-04-08) 8 April 1994 (age 31)	119	13	Al-Arabi
14	3MF	Ali Haram	(1988-12-11) 11 December 1988 (age 36)	58	5	Al-Riffa
15	3MF	Jasim Al-Shaikh	(1996-02-01) 1 February 1996 (age 29)	67	4	Al-Riffa
18	3MF	Ahmed Al-Sherooqi	(2000-05-22) 22 May 2000 (age 25)	9	0	Al-Muharraq
20	3MF	Mahdi Al-Humaidan	(1993-05-19) 19 May 1993 (age 32)	73	7	Al-Khaldiya
	3MF	Sayed Al-Wadaei	(2008-07-08) 8 July 2008 (age 17)	1	0	Villarreal Juvenil
11	4FW	Ismail Abdullatif	(1986-09-11) 11 September 1986 (age 38)	136	48	Al-Khaldiya
12	4FW	Mahdi Abduljabbar	(1991-06-25) 25 June 1991 (age 34)	46	13	Al-Khaldiya
17	4FW	Husain Abdulkarim	(2002-05-14) 14 May 2002 (age 23)	10	0	Al-Muharraq

Recent Players Called Up

These players have been called up for the team in the last 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Ammar Mohamed	(1999-02-10) 10 February 1999 (age 26)	3	0	Al-Khaldiya	26th Arabian Gulf Cup
DF	Mohamed Adel	(1996-09-20) 20 September 1996 (age 28)	38	0	Al-Khaldiya	26th Arabian Gulf Cup
DF	Ahmed Nabeel	(1995-08-25) 25 August 1995 (age 29)	11	0	Manama	v.  Australia, 19 November 2024
DF	Mohamed Al-Banna	(1989-10-17) 17 October 1989 (age 35)	2	0	Al-Muharraq	v.  Yemen, 6 June 2024
MF	Hasan Al-Karrani	(1997-11-27) 27 November 1997 (age 27)	2	0	Al-Muharraq	v.    Nepal, 26 March 2024
MF	Abdulwahab Al-Malood	(1990-06-07) 7 June 1990 (age 35)	86	5	Al-Muharraq	26th Arabian Gulf Cup
MF	Abbas Al-Asfoor	(1999-02-02) 2 February 1999 (age 26)	16	0	Al-Ahli	26th Arabian Gulf Cup
MF	Moses Atede	(1997-12-17) 17 December 1997 (age 27)	8	0	Kuching City	v.  Australia, 19 November 2024
MF	Sayed Sharaf	(2002-12-23) 23 December 2002 (age 22)	0	0	Al-Ahli	v.  Saudi Arabia, 15 October 2024
MF	Mohamed Al-Hardan	(1997-10-06) 6 October 1997 (age 27)	29	2	Al-Muharraq	v.    Nepal, 26 March 2024
FW	Mohamed Al-Romaihi	(1990-09-09) 9 September 1990 (age 34)	53	17	Al-Khaldiya	v.  Saudi Arabia, 5 June 2024 INJ
FW	Hashim Sayed Isa	(1998-04-03) 3 April 1998 (age 27)	19	6	Al-Riffa	v.  Saudi Arabia, 15 October 2024
FW	Abdulla Yusuf Helal	(1993-06-12) 12 June 1993 (age 32)	89	13	Bohemians 1905	v.  United Arab Emirates, 11 June 2024
INJ Withdrew due to injury PRE Preliminary squad / standby RET Retired from the national team SUS Serving suspension WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.

Team Records

These are some of the top players for Bahrain. Players in bold are still playing for the team.

Most Games Played

Top Goal Scorers

Ismail Abdullatif is Bahrain's top scorer with 48 goals.

Tournament History

FIFA World Cup Appearances

Bahrain has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. They have tried many times.

FIFA World Cup record										FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1954	Part of  United Kingdom									Part of  United Kingdom
1958 to 1966	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
1970 and 1974	Did not enter									Did not enter
1978	Did not qualify									4	1	0	3	4	6
1982										4	1	0	3	1	6
1986										4	1	2	1	8	6
1990	Withdrew									Withdrew
1994	Did not qualify									8	3	3	2	9	6
1998										4	1	0	3	3	9
2002										14	7	4	3	17	13
2006										16	5	6	5	21	14
2010										20	7	7	6	19	17
2014										6	2	3	1	13	7
2018										8	3	0	5	10	10
2022										8	4	3	1	15	4
2026										16	4	5	7	16	19
2030	To be determined
2034
Total	−	0/14	−	−	−	−	−	−		112	39	33	40	136	117

AFC Asian Cup History

Bahrain has played in the AFC Asian Cup several times. Their best finish was fourth place in 2004.

AFC Asian Cup record										AFC Asian Cup qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1956	Part of  United Kingdom									Part of  United Kingdom
1960
1964
1968	Did not enter									Did not enter
1972	Did not qualify									4	2	0	2	8	4
1976	Withdrew									Withdrew
1980	Withdrew after qualifying									3	0	0	3	0	5
1984	Withdrew									Withdrew
1988	Group stage	9th	4	0	2	2	1	3		3	2	1	0	4	0
1992	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	1	5
1996	Withdrew									Withdrew
2000	Did not qualify									6	3	0	3	6	6
2004	Fourth place	4th	6	1	3	2	13	14		6	4	1	1	14	9
2007	Group stage	13th	3	1	0	2	3	7		4	1	1	2	3	6
2011		10th	3	1	0	2	6	5		6	4	0	2	12	6
2015		12th	3	1	0	2	3	5		6	4	2	0	7	1
2019	Round of 16	14th	4	1	1	2	3	4		14	7	1	6	25	13
2023		15th	4	2	0	2	4	6		11	7	3	1	15	4
2027	Qualified									6	3	2	1	11	3
Total	Fourth place	8/19	27	7	6	14	33	44		68	33	10	23	106	62

Gulf Cup Achievements

Bahrain has won the Gulf Cup twice, in 2019 and 2024–25. They have also been runners-up four times.

Gulf Cup record
Year	Result	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1970	Runners-up	3	1	1	1	3	4
1972	Record annulled
1974	Group stage	2	0	0	2	1	8
1976	Fourth place	6	3	0	3	9	15
1979	Fourth place	6	2	2	2	8	9
1982	Runners-up	5	3	1	1	10	7
1984	Fifth place	6	1	2	3	3	6
1986	Fifth place	6	1	4	1	4	5
1988	Fourth place	6	3	0	3	4	4
1990	Third place	4	1	2	1	1	1
1992	Runners-up	5	3	0	2	6	4
1994	Third place	5	1	3	1	5	6
1996	Fifth place	5	0	2	3	4	8
1998	Fifth place	5	0	3	2	3	6
2002	Fourth place	5	1	2	2	4	6
2003	Runners-up	6	4	1	1	13	3
2004	Third place	5	2	2	1	10	6
2007	Semi-finals	4	1	1	2	4	5
2009	Group stage	3	1	0	2	3	4
2010	Group stage	3	0	1	2	4	7
2013	Fourth place	5	1	1	3	4	9
2014	Group stage	3	0	2	1	0	3
2017	Semi-finals	4	1	2	1	3	3
2019	Champions	5	2	2	1	7	6
2023	Semi-finals	4	2	1	1	5	4
2024–25	Champions	5	4	0	1	9	5
2026	qualified as Champion holders
Total	26/26	116	38	35	43	118	139

Arab Cup History

Bahrain has been runners-up in the Arab Cup twice.

FIFA Arab Cup record
Year	Result	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1963	Did not enter
1964
1966	Group stage	4	0	1	3	7	22
1985	Runners-up	4	1	2	1	4	3
1988	Group stage	4	0	3	1	2	3
1992	Did not enter
1998	Withdrew
2002	Runners-up	6	3	1	2	8	5
2012	Group stage	3	0	0	3	1	8
2021	Group stage	3	0	1	2	0	4
Total	Best: Runners-up	24	4	8	12	22	45

Asian Games Football

Asian Games record
Year	Result	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1951 to 1970	Did not enter
1974	15th place	3	0	0	3	1	15
1978	14th place	3	0	0	3	1	12
1982	Did not enter
1986	12th place	3	1	1	1	4	5
1990	Did not enter
1994	10th place	4	1	2	1	6	5
1998	Did not enter
2002 to present	See Bahrain national under-23 football team
Total	4/13	14	3	3	8	12	37

Arab Games Football

Bahrain won the gold medal in football at the Arab Games in 2011.

Arab Games record
Year	Result	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1953	Did not enter
1957
1961
1965
1976
1985
1997
1999	First round	2	0	0	2	0	6
2007	Did not enter
2011	Champions	4	3	1	0	9	3
Total	2/10	6	3	1	2	9	9

WAFF Championship History

Bahrain won the WAFF Championship in 2019.

WAFF Championship record
Year	Result	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
2000	Did not participate
2002
2004
2007
2008
2010	Group stage	2	1	0	1	2	3	–1
2012	Fourth place	5	2	2	1	3	2	+1
2014	Third place	4	0	3	1	0	1	–1
2019	Champions	4	3	1	0	3	0	+3
2026	Qualified
Total	4/9	15	6	6	3	8	6	+2

Team Achievements

Regional Titles

• Arabian Gulf Cup
  • Champions (2): 2019, 2024–25
  • Runners-up (4): 1970, 1982, 1992, 2003
  • Third place (3): 1990, 1994, 2004
• WAFF Championship
  • Champions (1): 2019
  • Third place (1): 2014
• Arab Games
  • Gold medal (1): 2011
• Arab Cup
  • Runners-up (2): 1985, 2002

Images for kids

• 

  The 1959 national football team

• 

  The Bahrain national football team playing Australia on June 10, 2009.

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Baréin para niños