Lebanon national football team facts for kids
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Nickname(s) | رجال الأرز (The Cedars) |
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Association | Lebanese Football Association (الاتحاد اللبناني لكرة القدم) |
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Confederation | AFC (Asia) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sub-confederation | WAFF (West Asia) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Head coach | Miodrag Radulović | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Captain | Mohamad Haidar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Most caps | Hassan Maatouk (123) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Top scorer | Hassan Maatouk (26) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Home stadium | Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
FIFA code | LBN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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FIFA ranking | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current | NR (7 February 2019) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Highest | 77 (September 2018) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lowest | 178 (April–May 2011) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Elo ranking | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current | 96 ![]() |
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Highest | 46 (27 April 1940) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lowest | 164 (28 July 2011) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
First international | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Tel Aviv, Mandatory Palestine; 27 April 1940) |
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Biggest win | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Tokyo, Japan; 28 September 1967) |
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Biggest defeat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Baghdad, Iraq; 25 November 1959) ![]() ![]() (Doha, Qatar; 27 March 1985) |
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Asian Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 3 (first in 2000) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | Group stage (2000, 2019, 2023) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arab Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 8 (first in 1963) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | Third place (1963) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
WAFF Championship | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 7 (first in 2000) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | Group stage (7 times) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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The Lebanon national football team represents Lebanon in association football. It is controlled by the Lebanese Football Association (LFA). The team is part of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA.
Lebanon has not yet played in the FIFA World Cup. However, they have qualified three times for the AFC Asian Cup. Their first time was in 2000, when Lebanon hosted the event. The team's main stadium is the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium in Beirut. They also play in other places, like the Saida Municipal Stadium in Sidon.
In 1935, Lebanon played its first match against a Romanian team, but FIFA did not officially recognize it. Their first FIFA-recognized game was in 1940 against Mandatory Palestine. During the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Lebanon reached the final round for the first time. This happened after a 2–1 win against South Korea in 2011. But they did not qualify for the 2014 World Cup.
At the 2019 Asian Cup, Lebanon almost made it to the knockout stages. They lost a tiebreaker to Vietnam because of the fair play rule. This meant they were knocked out in the group stage. Lebanon also plays in the Arab Cup, the WAFF Championship, and the Arab Games. As hosts, they finished third in the Arab Cup once and in the Arab Games twice.
The Lebanese team is called "the Cedars" (Arabic: رجال الأرز). This name comes from the cedar tree, which is Lebanon's national symbol. Their home uniform is mostly red, and their away uniform is white. These colors are from the national flag. Lebanon's FIFA ranking improved a lot from 2016 to 2018. They jumped 66 spots and reached their highest rank ever, 77th, in September 2018. This was after a 16-game unbeaten streak.
Contents
Team History
Early Days and First Games (1933–1957)
Lebanon was one of the first countries in the Middle East to create a football organization. On March 22, 1933, 13 football clubs met in Beirut to form the Lebanese Football Association (LFA). The LFA joined FIFA in 1936.
Lebanon played its first official FIFA game on April 27, 1940. They lost 5–1 to Mandatory Palestine. Camille Cordahi scored Lebanon's first official international goal. This happened in the second half, with help from Muhieddine Jaroudi.
In the early 1950s, Lebanon had coaches like Vinzenz Dittrich and Ljubiša Broćić. They played five official games between 1953 and 1956. One notable game was against Hungary in 1956, which Lebanon lost 4–1. Famous player Ferenc Puskás scored two goals for Hungary.
Regional Competitions and Growth (1957–1988)
From October 19 to 27, 1957, Lebanon hosted the Arab Games. They finished in third place. This was a good achievement for the team.
Joseph Nalbandian became the national team coach in 1958. He was one of Lebanon's most successful coaches. Under him, Lebanon hosted the 1959 Mediterranean Games.
Lebanon also hosted the first Arab Cup in 1963. They finished third in this tournament. In the 1966 edition, Lebanon reached the semi-finals. They ended up in fourth place.
Lebanon joined the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1964. Their first Asian Cup qualifying campaign was in 1971. They were eliminated in the semi-finals.
Even during the civil war, Lebanon played in the 1980 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. They finished third in their group and were eliminated. Lebanon also started in the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. However, they withdrew after four matches, and their results were canceled.
After the War and Asian Cup Hosting (1993–2004)

In 1993, Lebanon played in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers. This was their first full qualification campaign after the civil war. They finished third in their group and were eliminated.
Under Terry Yorath, their first foreign coach after the war, Lebanon tried to qualify for the 1996 Asian Cup. They won two games but were eliminated by a small difference in points. Yorath helped Lebanon improve their FIFA World Ranking.
Lebanon hosted the 2000 Asian Cup. They were in Group A with Iran, Iraq, and Thailand. In their first game, they lost 4–0 to Iran. In the second match against Iraq, Lebanon scored their first goal in the competition. Abbas Chahrour scored with a long shot. Moussa Hojeij scored another goal, and the game ended in a 2–2 draw. Lebanon drew 1–1 with Thailand in their last group game. They finished last in the group with two points.
Under Theo Bücker, Lebanon played in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers. They finished second in their group, scoring 26 goals in six games.
World Cup Qualification and Challenges (2006–2014)
In 2006, Lebanon withdrew from the 2007 Asian Cup qualifiers. This was due to the 2006 Lebanon War, which made it hard for players to stay in their homes.
In the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Lebanon beat India 6–3 over two games. This sent them to the third round. However, they finished last in their group with no points.

In 2011, Lebanon reached the third round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. They were grouped with South Korea, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. On November 15, Lebanon hosted South Korea. Ali Al Saadi scored early, and Abbas Ali Atwi scored a penalty. Lebanon won 2–1. This historic win qualified them for the fourth (and final) round of World Cup qualifiers for the first time.
In the fourth round, Lebanon was in Group A with South Korea, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Qatar. On September 11, 2012, Roda Antar scored a header against Iran. Lebanon won 1–0, which was important for their World Cup hopes. The team faced some challenges that affected player performance. Lebanon then lost to Uzbekistan and drew with South Korea, which eliminated them from the World Cup.
Asian Cup Qualification and Unbeaten Streak (2015–2019)
Miodrag Radulović became the new coach in 2015. He led Lebanon in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. They finished second in their group. This meant they qualified for the 2019 Asian Cup qualification third round.
Lebanon was in Group B for the Asian Cup with North Korea, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. They won five games and drew one, finishing first in their group. This qualified them for the 2019 Asian Cup for the first time through qualification. Hassan Maatouk, the team captain, scored five goals and was very important to this success.
Radulović led Lebanon to a 16-game unbeaten streak from March 2016 to September 2018. During this time, they won eight games and drew eight. In September 2018, Lebanon reached their best-ever FIFA ranking, 77th.

At the 2019 Asian Cup, Lebanon had many players born outside Lebanon. They lost their first game 2–0 to Qatar. A goal by Ali Hamam was disallowed, which was controversial. They then lost 2–0 to Saudi Arabia.
In their final group game against North Korea, Lebanon needed to win by four goals. They won 4–1, with two goals from Hilal El-Helwe. This was Lebanon's first-ever Asian Cup win. However, they were eliminated because they had more yellow cards than Vietnam. This is part of the fair play rule.
Recent Years and 2023 Asian Cup (2020–2024)

Former captain Jamal Taha became head coach in 2020. North Korea withdrew from the World Cup qualifiers in May 2021. This helped Lebanon, as their previous results against North Korea were canceled. Lebanon qualified for the 2023 Asian Cup for the third time. They also reached the final round of 2022 World Cup qualification for the second time.
Under coach Ivan Hašek, Lebanon played in the final round of World Cup qualification. They were in Group A with Iran, South Korea, UAE, Iraq, and Syria. They earned five points in their first four away games. This included a 3–2 win against Syria. The team was seen as an "early surprise." However, they only earned one more point in their remaining six games. They finished last in their group. A docuseries called Captains on FIFA and Netflix followed Lebanon's journey.

Radulović was re-appointed coach for the 2023 Asian Cup in January 2024. Lebanon was in Group A with hosts Qatar, China, and Tajikistan. They played the opening game against Qatar in front of 82,490 fans. Qatar won 3–0. Lebanon then drew 0–0 with China. In their final game against Tajikistan, Lebanon needed a win. Bassel Jradi scored early in the second half. But Kassem El Zein received a red card, leaving Lebanon with 10 men. Tajikistan scored twice late in the game, knocking Lebanon out.
Lebanon played in the second round of qualification for the 2026 World Cup. They did not qualify for the next round. However, their third-place finish sent them to the final round of qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup. These World Cup qualifiers were the last games for captain Hassan Maatouk. He retired as the team's all-time top goalscorer and most-capped player. He scored 26 goals in 123 games.
Team Look
Nickname
Lebanon is known as "the Cedars" (Arabic: رجال الأرز). This is because the cedar tree is the country's national symbol.
Kits
The national team usually wears red as their main color and white as their second color. These colors come from the national flag of Lebanon. Green is sometimes used for the goalkeeper's uniform. At home, Lebanon typically wears a red shirt, shorts, and socks with white details. The away kit is white with red details.
In their first unofficial match in 1935, Lebanon wore white shirts with the Lebanese cedar. They had black shorts and white socks. In 1940, for their first FIFA-approved game, they wore a white kit with a black collar.
For the 2000 Asian Cup, Lebanon wore a red Adidas shirt with white details. In the 2019 campaign, they wore a red kit made by Capelli Sport. The Lebanese cedar symbol was on the shirt. Since 2023, Kelme has made the team's kits.
Home Stadium
The Lebanese national team plays its home games in different stadiums. The main one is the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium. It was built in 1957 and is the country's largest stadium. It has 49,500 seats. The first game played there was in 1957, when Lebanon won 1–0. This stadium hosted the 2000 Asian Cup. In 2011, over 40,000 fans watched Lebanon beat South Korea 2–1 there. This win helped Lebanon reach the final round of World Cup qualification for the first time.
The team also plays in other stadiums. The Saida Municipal Stadium in Sidon holds 22,600 people. It was also used for the 2000 Asian Cup. Other stadiums include the Tripoli Municipal Stadium and the Beirut Municipal Stadium.
Media
FIFA and Netflix released Captains in 2022. It is a sports docuseries that follows six national team captains. They were trying to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. Hassan Maatouk represented Lebanon in the first season.
Results and Upcoming Games
As of November 19, 2024, the Lebanon national team has played 398 official matches. They have won 112, drawn 104, and lost 182 games. They have scored 469 goals and let in 602 goals. Lebanon's biggest win was 11–1 against the Philippines in 1967. Their longest winning streak is 8 wins. Their longest unbeaten streak is 16 official matches.
Here are the results from the last 12 months and any planned future games.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
2023
Friendly 28 December 2023 | Lebanon ![]() |
2–1 | ![]() |
Tripoli, Lebanon | ||
14:00 UTC+2 |
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https://the-lfa.com.lb/news/lebxjor.php | Stadium: Tripoli Municipal Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Maher Al Ali (Lebanon) |
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2024
Friendly 4 January 2024 | Saudi Arabia ![]() |
1–0 | ![]() |
Al Wakrah, Qatar | ||
16:30 UTC+3 | Al-Buraikan ![]() |
https://the-lfa.com.lb/news/fg_lebxksa-4123.php | Stadium: Al Janoub Stadium Attendance: 0 |
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2023 AFC Asian Cup GS 12 January 2024 | Qatar ![]() |
3–0 | ![]() |
Lusail, Qatar | ||
19:00 UTC+3 |
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https://www.the-afc.com/en/matches/afc-asian-cup/2023/2363521 | Stadium: Lusail Stadium Attendance: 82,490 Referee: Alireza Faghani (Australia) |
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2023 AFC Asian Cup GS 17 January 2024 | Lebanon ![]() |
0–0 | ![]() |
Doha, Qatar | ||
14:30 UTC+3 | https://www.the-afc.com/en/matches/afc-asian-cup/2023/2363526 | Stadium: Al Thumama Stadium Attendance: 14,137 Referee: Ko Hyung-jin (South Korea) |
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2023 AFC Asian Cup GS 22 January 2024 | Tajikistan ![]() |
2–1 | ![]() |
Al Rayyan, Qatar | ||
18:00 UTC+3 | https://www.the-afc.com/en/matches/afc-asian-cup/2023/2363527 | Jradi ![]() |
Stadium: Jassim bin Hamad Stadium Attendance: 11,843 Referee: Mohanad Qasim Sarray (Iraq) |
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2026 World Cup qualification R2 21 March 2024 | Australia ![]() |
2–0 | ![]() |
Sydney, Australia | ||
20:10 UTC+11 | Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Stadium: Western Sydney Stadium Attendance: 27,026 Referee: Khamis Al-Marri (Qatar) |
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2026 World Cup qualification R2 26 March 2024 | Lebanon ![]() |
0–5 | ![]() |
Canberra, Australia | ||
19:45 UTC+11 | Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
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Stadium: Canberra Stadium Attendance: 25,023 Referee: Mooud Bonyadifard (Iran) |
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Note: Lebanon played all their home matches in the 2026 World Cup qualification at a neutral venue, due to the adjacent Israel–Hamas war. |
2026 World Cup qualification R2 6 June 2024 | [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]] ![]() |
0–0 | ![]() |
Doha, Qatar | ||
19:00 UTC+3 | Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Stadium: Jassim bin Hamad Stadium Attendance: 2,428 Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar) |
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Note: Palestine played all their home matches in the 2026 World Cup qualification at a neutral venue, due to the ongoing Israel–Hamas war. |
2026 World Cup qualification R2 11 June 2024 | Lebanon ![]() |
4–0 | ![]() |
Al Rayyan, Qatar | ||
19:00 UTC+3 | https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288263/288267/400017266 | Stadium: Khalifa International Stadium Attendance: 13,721 Referee: Razlan Joffri Ali (Malaysia) |
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Note: Lebanon played all their home matches in the 2026 World Cup qualification at a neutral venue, due to the adjacent Israel–Hamas war. |
2024 Merdeka Tournament SF 4 September 2024 | Lebanon ![]() |
1–0 | ![]() |
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | ||
16:30 UTC+8 | https://www.flashscore.com/match/ziSdRdpf/#/match-summary | Stadium: Bukit Jalil National Stadium |
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2024 Merdeka Tournament Final 8 September 2024 | Lebanon ![]() |
0–1 | ![]() |
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | ||
21:00 UTC+8 | https://www.flashscore.com/match/2JuGLbJC/#/match-summary | Stadium: Bukit Jalil National Stadium Referee: Thoriq Alkatiri (Indonesia) |
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2024 VFF Tri-Nations Series 12 October 2024 | Lebanon ![]() |
Cancelled | ![]() |
Nam Dinh, Vietnam | ||
18:00 UTC+7 | Stadium: Thiên Trường Stadium |
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Note: The tournament was cancelled due to Lebanon withdrawing following the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon |
2024 VFF Tri-Nations Series 15 October 2024 | Vietnam ![]() |
Cancelled | ![]() |
Nam Dinh, Vietnam | ||
18:00 UTC+7 | Stadium: Thiên Trường Stadium |
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Note: The tournament was cancelled due to Lebanon withdrawing following the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon |
Friendly 14 November 2024 | Thailand ![]() |
0–0 | ![]() |
Rangsit, Thailand | ||
20:00 UTC+7 | https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2024-11-14/thailand-vs-lebanon/3552704/ | Stadium: Thammasat Stadium Attendance: 5,816 Referee: Tam Ping Wun (Hong Kong) |
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Friendly 19 November 2024 | Myanmar ![]() |
2–3 | ![]() |
Yangon, Myanmar | ||
17:00 UTC+6:30 | https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2024-11-19/myanmar-vs-lebanon/3562927/ | Stadium: Thuwunna Stadium Referee: Lê Vũ Linh (Vietnam) |
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Players
Current Squad
The following 26 players were called up for the friendly matches against Thailand and Myanmar in November 2024.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
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1 | GK | Mehdi Khalil | 19 September 1991 | 58 | 0 | ![]() |
21 | GK | Mostafa Matar | 10 September 1995 | 31 | 0 | ![]() |
23 | GK | Ali Sabeh | 24 June 1994 | 9 | 0 | ![]() |
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3 | DF | Khalil Khamis | 12 January 1995 | 12 | 0 | ![]() |
4 | DF | Mohammad Safwan | 10 March 2003 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
5 | DF | Nassar Nassar | 1 January 1992 | 27 | 0 | ![]() |
6 | DF | Hussein Zein | 27 January 1995 | 38 | 0 | ![]() |
18 | DF | Kassem El Zein | 2 December 1990 | 49 | 1 | ![]() |
DF | Mohammad El Hayek | 19 February 2000 | 12 | 0 | ![]() |
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2 | MF | Hassan Kourani | 22 January 1995 | 9 | 1 | ![]() |
8 | MF | Majed Osman | 9 June 1994 | 10 | 1 | ![]() |
10 | MF | Mohamad Haidar (captain) | 8 November 1989 | 98 | 5 | ![]() |
12 | MF | Hasan Srour | 18 December 2001 | 19 | 0 | ![]() |
15 | MF | Jihad Ayoub | 30 March 1995 | 19 | 1 | ![]() |
16 | MF | Ahmad Kheir El Dine | 7 July 1995 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
19 | MF | Daniel Kuri | 22 January 1999 | 13 | 0 | ![]() |
20 | MF | Rabih Ataya | 16 July 1989 | 54 | 5 | ![]() |
MF | Walid Shour | 10 June 1996 | 29 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Bassel Jradi | 6 July 1993 | 26 | 3 | ![]() |
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7 | FW | Karim Darwich | 2 November 1998 | 29 | 3 | ![]() |
9 | FW | Omar Chaaban | 3 January 1994 | 21 | 1 | ![]() |
11 | FW | Samy Merheg | 6 December 2006 | 2 | 2 | ![]() |
13 | FW | Malek Fakhro | 14 December 1997 | 2 | 1 | ![]() |
14 | FW | Gabriel Bitar | 23 August 1998 | 11 | 0 | ![]() |
17 | FW | Husseyn Chakroun | 10 November 2004 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
22 | FW | Zein Farran | 21 July 1999 | 10 | 0 | ![]() |
Recent Call-ups
These players were part of the national team in the last 12 months but are not in the current squad.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
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GK | Antoine Al Douaihy | 18 March 1999 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
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DF | George Felix Melki | 23 July 1994 | 33 | 1 | ![]() |
2024 Merdeka Tournament |
DF | Mohamad Baker El Housseini | 18 December 2002 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 Merdeka Tournament |
DF | Maher Sabra | 14 January 1992 | 23 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Hussein Sharafeddine | 13 October 1997 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Nour Mansour | 22 October 1989 | 67 | 3 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Hassan Chaitou | 16 June 1991 | 21 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Abdallah Moughrabi | 14 August 1995 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Robert Alexander Melki | 14 November 1992 | 29 | 0 | ![]() |
2023 AFC Asian Cup |
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MF | Ali Tneich | 16 July 1992 | 24 | 1 | ![]() |
2024 Merdeka Tournament |
MF | Hassan Maatouk (captain) | 10 August 1987 | 123 | 26 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Nader Matar | 12 May 1992 | 71 | 4 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Ali Al Haj | 2 February 2001 | 15 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Mouhammed-Ali Dhaini | 1 March 1994 | 26 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Yahya El Hindi | 24 September 1998 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
2023 AFC Asian Cup |
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FW | Khalil Bader | 27 July 1999 | 12 | 2 | ![]() |
2024 Merdeka Tournament |
FW | Leonardo Farah Shahin | 10 August 2003 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 Merdeka Tournament |
FW | Jackson Khoury | 13 November 2002 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Soony Saad | 17 August 1992 | 38 | 7 | ![]() |
2023 AFC Asian Cup |
FW | Mohamad Kdouh | 10 July 1997 | 27 | 6 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
Coaching Staff
Player Records
- Players in bold are still active with Lebanon.
Most Games Played

Rank | Player | Games | Goals | Years Played |
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1 | Hassan Maatouk | 123 | 26 | 2006–2024 |
2 | Mohamad Haidar | 98 | 5 | 2011–present |
3 | Abbas Ahmad Atwi | 88 | 8 | 2002–2016 |
4 | Roda Antar | 83 | 20 | 1998–2016 |
5 | Youssef Mohamad | 81 | 3 | 1999–2016 |
6 | Nader Matar | 71 | 4 | 2012–present |
Jamal Taha | 71 | 12 | 1993–2000 | |
8 | Walid Ismail | 69 | 1 | 2010–2019 |
9 | Nour Mansour | 67 | 3 | 2010–present |
10 | Vardan Ghazaryan | 66 | 21 | 1995–2001 |
Top Goal Scorers

Rank | Player | Goals | Games | Average | Years Played |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hassan Maatouk (list) | 26 | 123 | 0.21 | 2006–2024 |
2 | Vardan Ghazaryan | 21 | 66 | 0.32 | 1995–2001 |
3 | Roda Antar | 20 | 83 | 0.24 | 1998–2016 |
4 | Mohamad Ghaddar | 19 | 46 | 0.41 | 2006–2017 |
5 | Levon Altounian | 18 | 18 | 1 | 1956–1967 |
6 | Haitham Zein | 17 | 50 | 0.34 | 1997–2004 |
7 | Mahmoud El Ali | 12 | 46 | 0.26 | 2007–2012 |
Jamal Taha | 12 | 71 | 0.17 | 1993–2000 | |
9 | Mardik Tchaparian | 10 | 10 | 1 | 1956–1963 |
Joseph Abou Mrad | 10 | 21 | 0.48 | 1953–1967 |
Tournament History
Overview | |||
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Event | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place |
World Cup | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Asian Cup | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arab Cup | 0 | 0 | 1 |
WAFF Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Summer Olympics | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Asian Games | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arab Games | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Mediterranean Games | 0 | 0 | 1 |
FIFA World Cup

Lebanon's first World Cup qualification campaign was in 1986. But they withdrew because of the civil war. Their first full campaign was in 1994. Since then, Lebanon has tried to qualify for every World Cup.
Lebanon reached the final round of World Cup qualification for the first time in 2014. They beat Bangladesh and then were grouped with South Korea, Kuwait, and UAE. A big moment was their 2–1 win against South Korea at home. This sent them to the final round. In that round, they finished last in their group and were eliminated.
Champions Runners-up Third place
FIFA World Cup | Qualification | ||||||||||||||||
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Year | Host | Round | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pos. | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Ref. |
1930 to 1982 | Did not enter | Did not enter | — | ||||||||||||||
1986 | ![]() |
Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
1990 | ![]() |
Did not enter | Did not enter | — | |||||||||||||
1994 | ![]() |
Did not qualify | 3rd of 5 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 9 | ||||||||
1998 | ![]() |
2nd of 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | |||||||||
2002 | ![]() ![]() |
2nd of 4 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 5 | |||||||||
2006 | ![]() |
2nd of 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 5 | |||||||||
2010 | ![]() |
First round win, 4th of 4 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 17 | |||||||||
2014 | ![]() |
Second round win, 2nd of 4, 5th of 5 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 22 | |||||||||
2018 | ![]() |
2nd of 5 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 6 | |||||||||
2022 | ![]() |
2nd of 5, 6th of 6 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 21 | |||||||||
2026 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
Total | N/A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0/22 | 69 | 23 | 17 | 29 | 102 | 92 |
AFC Asian Cup

Lebanon first tried to qualify for the Asian Cup in 1972. They reached the semi-finals but lost.
Lebanon's first time playing in the Asian Cup finals was in 2000, as the host country. They lost to Iran, then drew 2–2 with Iraq. Abbas Chahrour scored Lebanon's first goal in the tournament. They drew again with Thailand, but it wasn't enough to move past the group stage.
After an unbeaten qualification round, Lebanon qualified for the 2019 Asian Cup on their own. They lost their first two games to Qatar and Saudi Arabia. In their last group game, they needed to win by four goals against North Korea. They won 4–1, with two goals from Hilal El-Helwe. But they were eliminated because they had more yellow cards than Vietnam.
Champions Runners-up Third place
AFC Asian Cup | Qualification | ||||||||||||||||
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Year | Host | Round | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pos. | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Ref. |
1956 to 1968 | Did not enter | Did not enter | — | ||||||||||||||
1972 | ![]() |
Did not qualify | 2nd of 3, semi-final loss | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | ||||||||
1976 | ![]() |
Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
1980 | ![]() |
Did not qualify | 3rd of 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||
1984 | ![]() |
Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
1988 | ![]() |
Did not enter | Did not enter | — | |||||||||||||
1992 | ![]() |
— | |||||||||||||||
1996 | ![]() |
Did not qualify | 2nd of 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | ||||||||
2000 | ![]() |
Group stage | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | Squad | Qualified as hosts | |||||||
2004 | ![]() |
Did not qualify | 3rd of 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8 | ||||||||
2007 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
2011 | ![]() |
Did not qualify | Preliminary round win, 4th of 4 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 14 | ||||||||
2015 | ![]() |
3rd of 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 14 | |||||||||
2019 | ![]() |
Group stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | Squad | 2nd of 5, 1st of 4 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 10 | |
2023 | ![]() |
Qualified | 2nd of 5 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | ||||||||
Total | Group stage | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | — | 3/18 | 50 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 72 | 68 | — |
FIFA Arab Cup

Lebanon has played in most Arab Cup tournaments. They hosted the first one in 1963 and finished third.
They finished fourth in the next two tournaments (1964 and 1966). Since then, they haven't made it past the group stage.
Lebanon's FIFA Arab Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||||||
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Host nation(s) and year |
Round | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Outcome | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Ref | |||
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Third place | 3rd of 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 4 | Squad | Qualified as invitees | ||||||||||
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Fourth place | 4th of 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | Squad | Qualified as invitees | ||||||||||
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4th of 9 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 10 | Squad | Qualified as invitees | |||||||||||
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Did not participate | Withdrew | — | |||||||||||||||||
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Group stage | 6th of 10 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | Squad | 2nd of 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
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Did not participate | No qualifying tournament | — | |||||||||||||||||
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Group stage | 9th of 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | Squad | 3rd of 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||
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8th of 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | Squad | Qualified as invitees | |||||||||||
2009 | Cancelled | 2nd of 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||||||||||
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Group stage | 10th of 10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | Squad | Qualified as invitees | ||||||||||
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Group stage | 10th of 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | Squad | Win | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
Total | Best: third place | 8/10 | 27 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 37 | 38 | — | Total | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 6 | — | |||
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WAFF Championship
Lebanon has played in most WAFF Championship tournaments. They have never made it past the group stage. Their first time was in 2000. They finished third in their group.
Summer Olympic Games
Lebanon's senior team has never qualified for the Summer Olympics. Their first try was for the 1960 Rome Olympics. The Olympic football tournament is now for under-23 teams.
Lebanon's Summer Olympic Games record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||||||
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Host nation, city and year |
Round | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Outcome | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Ref | |||
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Did not participate | Did not participate | — | |||||||||||||||||
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— | |||||||||||||||||||
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— | |||||||||||||||||||
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— | |||||||||||||||||||
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— | |||||||||||||||||||
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— | |||||||||||||||||||
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— | |||||||||||||||||||
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— | |||||||||||||||||||
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— | |||||||||||||||||||
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— | |||||||||||||||||||
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Withdrew | 3rd of 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||
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Withdrew | |||||||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 3rd of 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 9 | ||||||||||||
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First round loss | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||
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Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||||||
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Did not participate | Did not participate | — | |||||||||||||||||
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Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||||||
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Did not participate | Did not participate | — | |||||||||||||||||
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See Lebanon national under-23 football team | See Lebanon national under-23 football team | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | Best: N/A | 0/19 | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | Total | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 20 | 27 | — | |||
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Asian Games
The Lebanon senior team only played once at the Asian Games, in 1998. They won one game but did not qualify for the knockout round.
Lebanon's Asian Games record | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Host nation, city and year |
Round | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Ref | |||
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Did not participate | — | |||||||||||
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— | ||||||||||||
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— | ||||||||||||
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— | ||||||||||||
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— | ||||||||||||
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— | ||||||||||||
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— | ||||||||||||
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Group stage | 12th of 23 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 7 | Squad | ||||
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See Lebanon national under-23 football team | — | |||||||||||
Total | Best: group stage | 1/13 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 7 | — | — | |||
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Arab Games
Lebanon played in the first Arab Games in 1953. They hosted the 1957 edition and finished third. They also came third in 1997, again as hosts.
Lebanon's Arab Games record | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Host nation, city and year |
Round | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Ref | ||
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Group stage | 5th of 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | Squad | |||
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Third place | 3rd of 8 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 6 | Squad | |||
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Fourth place | 4th of 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 9 | Squad | |||
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Group stage | 7th of 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | Squad | |||
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Did not participate | — | ||||||||||
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— | |||||||||||
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— | |||||||||||
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Third place | 3rd of 8 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 7 | Squad | |||
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Second stage | 5th of 11 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 | Squad | |||
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Did not participate | — | ||||||||||
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— | |||||||||||
|
See Lebanon national under-23 football team | — | ||||||||||
Total | Best: third place | 6/11 | 27 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 43 | 42 | — | — | ||
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Mediterranean Games
Lebanon first played at the Mediterranean Games in 1959, when they hosted. They finished last. They played two more times but did not get past the group stage.
Lebanon's Mediterranean Games record | |||||||||||||
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Host nation, city and year |
Round | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Ref | |||
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Did not participate | — | |||||||||||
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— | ||||||||||||
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Third place | 3rd of 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | Squad | ||||
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Group stage | 7th of 9 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | Squad | ||||
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Did not participate | — | |||||||||||
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— | ||||||||||||
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— | ||||||||||||
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— | ||||||||||||
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— | ||||||||||||
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Group stage | 6th of 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | Squad | ||||
|
See Lebanon national under-20 football team | — | |||||||||||
Total | Best: third place | 3/10 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 16 | — | — | |||
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Other Tournaments
Lebanon won their first tournament, though unofficial, at the 1964 Tripoli Fair Tournament. They finished first in their group. In 1998, they came third at the Friendship Tournament. They also finished third at the 2009 King's Cup in Thailand.
Tournament | Round | Ref | |
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Champions | ||
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Group stage | ||
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Group stage | ||
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Group stage | ||
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Group stage | ||
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Third place | ||
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Third place | ||
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Group stage | ||
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Runners-up | ||
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Semi-finals | ||
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Third place | ||
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Runners-up | ||
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Honours
Regional
- Arab Cup
Third place (1): 1963
- Arab Games
- Mediterranean Games
Friendly
- Tripoli Fair Tournament
- Friendship Tournament
- AIFF Intercontinental Cup
- King's Cup
- Merdeka Tournament
Summary
Competition | ![]() |
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Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arab Cup | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Arab Games | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Mediterranean Games | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Total | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Images for kids
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The destroyed Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium during the Lebanese Civil War in 1982.
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Lebanon against Iran at the 2014 World Cup qualification
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Lebanon during the 2019 Asian Cup group stage match against Saudi Arabia
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Lebanon against Iran at the 2022 World Cup qualification
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Lebanon during the 2023 Asian Cup group stage match against Qatar
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Lebanon's match against South Korea at the 2022 World Cup qualifiers
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Lebanon's match against Qatar at the 2019 Asian Cup
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Lebanon at the 1963 Arab Cup
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Hassan Maatouk is Lebanon's all-time record goalscorer and most-capped player.
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Vardan Ghazarian was Lebanon's top scorer, before being surpassed by Hassan Maatouk in 2023.
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol del Líbano para niños
- List of men's national association football teams
- Lebanese Premier League
- Lebanese football league system
- Football in Lebanon
- Sport in Lebanon