Bahrain Squad Announced for Saudi Arabia Clash
Bahrain's hopes of reaching their first-ever FIFA World Cup rest heavily on their upcoming qualifier against regional rivals Saudi Arabia on 5 June at the Bahrain National Stadium.
Squad Announcement
Dragan Talajić has named a 25-man squad packed with a mix of experience and youthful energy. Goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfallah and midfielders Mehdi AlHumaidan and AlSayyed Mahdi Baqer will be key figures, Vincent Emmanuel, a naturalized player who adds firepower up front.
The full squad is as follows:
Ebrahim Lutfallah
AlSayyed Mohammed Jaafar
Abdulkarim Fardan
Waleed AlHayam
Abdullah AlKhulaifi
Ameen Bughammar
Ahmed AlSherooqi
Hussain Abdulkarim
Hussain AlAker
Haza'a Ali
Hamad Shamsan
Ali Haram
Jassim AlShaikh
Ismail Abdulatif
Ahmed Bujammar
AlSayyed Dia Saeed
Mohammed AlRumaihi
AlSayyed Mahdi Baqer
Mahdi Abduljabbar
Mehdi AlHumaidan
Vincent Emmanuel
Ebrahim AlKhattal
Ali Madan
Komail AlAswad
Mohammed Marhoon
Sayed Ahmed AlWaeli
The Stakes
The qualification race in Group C is tight. Japan sit comfortably at the top, already through to the World Cup with 20 points from eight matches. Australia hold second with 13 points, while Saudi Arabia are third with 10. Bahrain are fifth with six points, just behind Indonesia and ahead of bottom side China.
Only the top two teams qualify automatically for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year, while third and fourth place face additional playoff rounds. With little room for error, a win against Saudi Arabia on home soil is vital for Bahrain to keep their dream alive.
A Rivalry to Watch
The fixture reignites a passionate Gulf rivalry. Bahrain famously ended Saudi Arabia's 2010 World Cup hopes with a dramatic 2-2 draw in Riyadh, advancing on away goals. They also defeated the Saudis in the 2019 Gulf Cup final and again in the 2025 edition, showing they can punch above their weight against their neighbours.
But Saudi Arabia, coming off a World Cup campaign where they stunned Argentina but ultimately knocked out in the group stages, remain a tough opponent. Bahrain know they will need their best performance yet to secure a win.
What's Next?
After the Saudi game, Bahrain travel to face China on 10 June in what will be their final qualifier. The result in Riffa could define their entire campaign — a win could spark a remarkable turnaround, while defeat would likely end their World Cup hopes.
With the squad now named and the training camp underway, all eyes will be on Bahrain as they prepare for one of the most important matches in their footballing history.
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