The Bahraini national football team (Arabic: البحريني لكرة القدم) is the national team of the Kingdom of Bahrain and is controlled by the Bahrain Football Association. They have never made the World Cup, but have improved greatly during the past few years. Bahrain won the FIFA's most improved team award in 2004, and finished fourth in the 2004 Asian Cup. The international team was founded in 1951 and joined FIFA in 1966.
Bahrain finished fourth in the 2004 Asian Cup in a very surprising run, beating Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals but losing to Japan in the semi-finals in an exciting encounter which ended 4-3 to Japan, where Bahrain were leading several times. Bahrain then lost to Iran in the third place match, therefore finishing fourth place overall.
After Uzbekistan and Bahrain both finished third in their groups during the World Cup 2006 qualifiers, October 12, 2005, Bahrain entered a two-legged playoff with Uzbekistan, which they won due to away goals with an aggregate score of 1-1. This win allowed Bahrain to enter another two-legged playoff with the fourth placed CONCACAF nation, (Trinidad and Tobago), for a spot in the World Cup. But a 0-1 Bahrain loss in Manama after a 1-1 draw in Port of Spain saw the CONCACAF nation go through, which was greeted with both anger and sadness by Bahraini fans.
Bahrain played in group D in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification group games. Bahrain fielded a side which was essentially the Olympic (under 23) team against Australia, and they lost 2-0. Bahrain qualified for the Asian Cup 2007 after defeating Kuwait in their last match. Bahrain were knocked out in the group stages via two losses against Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, despite a win against Korea Republic.
On January 6, 2007, Bahrain faced Inter Milan in a friendly match which they lost 6-1. Despite the result, the event was greeted with enthusiasm by the whole country.[citation needed]
In the third round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Bahrain were drawn into group B along with Japan, Oman, and Thailand. They went on a great run, with wins against all three teams. They drew Oman 1-1 at home and finished second overall to qualify to the final round.
Having reached the final round, Bahrain finished third place overall in their group, below Australia and Japan, but above Uzbekistan and Qatar. In the 2nd leg of the playoff against Saudi Arabia to decide Asia's fifth best team, Bahrain drew 2-2 with Saudi Arabia after scoring a stunning equaliser in stoppage time which made them go through on away goals, after drawing their home leg 0-0. They went on to play New Zealand in the final playoff in which the victor would qualify for the World Cup. They had hoped to become the smallest country to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2010, succeeding Trinidad and Tobago for the title. However Bahrain failed to capitalize on home ground advantage with a goalless draw in Manama on 10 October 2009 with several opportunities left begging. That was to prove costly as on 14 November 2009, Bahrain lost the return leg 1-0 in Wellington, suffering the heartbreak of missing out on qualification at the last hurdle for the second time running.
The Bahrian national football team playing
Australia on June 10, 2009 in a World Cup qualifier
World Cup record
2010 Qualification
Round 1
| Team 1 |
Agg. |
Team 2 |
1st Leg |
2nd Leg |
 Bahrain |
4-1 |
 Malaysia |
4-1 |
0-0 |
Round 3
Group 2
| Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
 Japan |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
12 |
3 |
+9 |
13 |
| Bahrain |
6 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
5 |
+2 |
11 |
 Oman |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
−2 |
8 |
 Thailand |
6 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
14 |
−9 |
1 |
|
|
|
Round 4
Group A
Playoff Round 1
Playoff Round 2
FIFA World Cup (AFC) Qualification Records
| FIFA World Cup Asian Qualification Records |
| Year |
Round |
GP |
W |
D |
L |
GS |
GA |
1930 to
1974 |
Did not enter |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1978 |
Did not qualify |
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
| 1982 |
Did not qualify |
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
| 1986 |
Did not qualify |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
6 |
| 1990 |
Withdrew |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1994 |
Did not qualify |
8 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
9 |
6 |
| 1998 |
Did not qualify |
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
9 |
| 2002 |
Did not qualify |
14 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
17 |
13 |
| 2006 |
Did not qualify |
16 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
21 |
14 |
| 2010 |
Did not qualify |
20 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
19 |
17 |
| Total |
|
74 |
26 |
22 |
26 |
82 |
77 |
Asian Competitions History
AFC Asian Cup record
Final records
| Asian Cup |
| Year |
Round |
GP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
| 1956 to 1968 |
Did not enter |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1972 |
Did not qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1976 |
Withdrew |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1980 |
Withdrew after qualifying |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1984 |
Did not enter |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1988 |
Round 1 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| 1992 |
Did not qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1996 |
Withdrew |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 2000 |
Did not qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 2004 |
Fourth place |
6 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
13 |
14 |
| 2007 |
Round 1 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
7 |
| 2011 |
To Play |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Total |
3/14 |
13 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
17 |
24 |
|
AFC Qualification records
| Asian Cup |
| Year |
Round |
GP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
| 1956 to 1968 |
Did not enter |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1972 |
Did not qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1976 |
Withdrew |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1980 |
Withdrew after qualifying |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1984 |
Did not enter |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1988 |
Qualified |
4 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| 1992 |
Did not qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1996 |
Withdrew |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 2000 |
Did not qualify |
6 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
6 |
| 2004 |
Qualified |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
14 |
9 |
| 2007 |
Qualified |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
| 2011 |
To Play |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Total |
3/6 |
16 |
8 |
2 |
6 |
23 |
21 |
|
Regional Tournaments
Gulf Cup of Nations
|
Gulf Cup of Nations record
| Gulf Cup of Nations |
| Year |
Round |
GP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
| 1970 |
2/4
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
| 1972 |
Record Annulled
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| 1974 |
5/6
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
8
|
| 1976 |
4/7
|
6
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
9
|
15
|
| 1979 |
4/7
|
6
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
8
|
9
|
| 1982 |
2/6
|
5
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
10
|
7
|
| 1984 |
5/7
|
6
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
6
|
| 1986 |
5/7
|
6
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
| 1988 |
4/7
|
6
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
4
|
4
|
| 1990 |
3/5
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
| 1992 |
2/6
|
5
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
6
|
4
|
| 1994 |
3/6
|
5
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
5
|
6
|
| 1996 |
5/6
|
5
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
8
|
| 1998 |
5/6
|
5
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
6
|
| 2002 |
4/6
|
5
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
6
|
| 2003 |
2/7
|
6
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
13
|
3
|
| 2004 |
3/8
|
5
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
10
|
6
|
| 2007 |
4/8
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
5
|
| 2009 |
Group Stage
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
Total
|
Best: 2nd
|
87
|
28
|
26
|
33
|
95
|
107
|
Arab Nations Cup
|
Arab Nations Cup record
| Arab Nations Cup |
| Year |
Round |
GP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
| 1963 and 1964 |
Did not enter
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| 1966 |
5/5
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
7
|
22
|
| 1985 |
Runner Up
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
3
|
| 1988 |
Group Stage
|
4
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
| 1992 |
Did not enter
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| 1998 |
Withdrew
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| 2002 |
Runner Up
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
8
|
5
|
|
2009
|
Qualifications-on going
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Total
|
Best: Runner Up
|
18
|
4
|
7
|
7
|
21
|
33
|
Current squad
The following players were called up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification against New Zealand on November 14 2009.
Recent Call Ups
Note: Caps and goals may be incomplete for certain players, therefore being inaccurate.
|
References
|
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Bahrain 4 - 4 Kuwait 
Iraq 10 - 1 Bahrain 
Saudi Arabia
New Zealand
