Bahrain's World Cup Dream Hinges on Saudi Clash

Daily Tribune

20-05-2025

TDT | Manama
Bahrain's national team will begin a domestic training camp on 28 May ahead of their decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia on 5 June at Bahrain National Stadium.
The five-night camp will be held at the Wyndham Hotel in Bahrain Bay, providing head coach Dragan Talajić and his players a final opportunity to prepare for a match that could prove pivotal in Group C of the AFC Third Round Qualifiers.
Speaking to TDT, Bahrain midfielder Mehdi Humaidan remained upbeat about the team's qualification chances: "The group is still wide open, and in football, anything can happen. We've shown what we're capable of — beating Saudi on our way to the Gulf Cup title gave us real belief. Now it's about carrying that momentum into this decisive stage."
Tight Group, High Stakes
Japan lead the six-team group, already qualified with 20 unbeaten points and an impressive +22 goal difference. Australia hold second with 13 points, followed by Saudi Arabia in third with 10. Bahrain sit fifth with six points from six matches, just behind Indonesia in fourth, while China remain bottom with six points.
Only the top two sides in the group will secure automatic qualification for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Third and fourth-placed teams will enter additional play-off rounds.
Victory in Riffa would move Bahrain closer to their Gulf neighbours and keep hopes of qualifying for their first-ever World Cup alive.
Mixed Form for Both Sides
Bahrain opened their third-round campaign with a shock 1-0 win over Australia in September but have struggled for consistency since, managing just two 5 in 8 matches.
The rest of Bahrain's qualifying campaign has been a rollercoaster. The 0-0 draw away to Saudi Arabia on October 15 was followed by a narrow 1-0 home defeat to China on November 14. Just days later, they fought to a highly entertaining 2-2 draw against Australia on November 19. The new year brought tougher challenges, including a 2-0 loss away to group leaders Japan on March 20. Most notably, on March 25, Bahrain suffered a 1-0 defeat to Indonesia — a fixture charged with extra tension given the bitter rivalry and fiery exchanges between Bahraini and Indonesian fans in the qualifiers.
Saudi Arabia, under the guidance of former Morocco and Ivory Coast coach Hervé Renard, have shown inconsistent form this campaign. In the qualifiers, the Saudis have managed just two wins from eight matches, alongside two losses and four draws. Despite this patchy record, they currently sit in a promising third place in the group, which secures them a spot in the playoff round.
A Historic Rivalry
The upcoming fixture reignites a fierce Gulf rivalry between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Bahrain famously ended Saudi Arabia's 2010 World Cup hopes with a dramatic 2-2 draw in Riyadh, advancing on away goals. They also secured a memorable 1-0 win over the Green Falcons in the 2019 Gulf Cup final to claim their first major regional title. More recently, Bahrain continued their dominance by defeating Saudi Arabia en route to lifting the Gulf Cup again at the start of 2025.
Despite these memorable moments, Bahrain have generally struggled against their more decorated neighbours. Saudi Arabia, who impressed at the last World Cup in Qatar, famously defeated the eventual champions, Argentina, in the group stage—a match that will be remembered for its stunning upset.
What's Next
Following the match against Saudi Arabia, Bahrain will face China away in their last qualifiers on June 10.
A home win on 5 June could reignite Bahrain's campaign — and rekindle memories of past upsets.