'We Deserve This': Bahrain Women Target Asian Cup Berth
TDT | Manama
Bahrain's women fight for long-awaited breakthrough
Bahrain's women's national football team are preparing for a historic breakthrough as they aim to qualify for the AFC Women's Asian Cup for the first time. With the qualifiers set to begin later this month, the squad enters with belief, hunger, and a clear sense of purpose.
The team will travel to Yangon, Myanmar, to compete in Group C of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers, where they will face Bangladesh, Turkmenistan, and the hosts. Only the group winner will advance to the final tournament, scheduled for March 2026 in Australia. 'Qualifying for the first time would be amazing. It's a dream of ours," winger Farah Khaled, a national team player since 2015, told TDT.
'We don't just put in all this work for nothing. From the oldest player to the youngest, from under-11s to seniors, we compromise so much from our personal lives. We give our time, our energy, and our love to the game—and we show up. Always.'
Path to the Finals
A total of 34 teams are competing across eight groups in this year's qualification phase. Group winners will join the four already-qualified nations—hosts Australia, along with 2022's top three finishers: Japan, South Korea, and China.
Bahrain kick off their campaign on June 29 against Bangladesh, followed by matches against Turkmenistan on July 2 and Myanmar on July 5. All Group C matches will take place at Yangon's Thuwunna Stadium.
It's a competitive group, but one the coaching staff believes the team can navigate. Head coach Mohammed Adnan has overseen preparations that include friendly fixtures against Saudi Arabia and the UAE. 'We've been building towards this moment. There's belief in the camp, and there's unity,' Adnan said ahead of the qualifiers.
Futsal Roots, Football Goals
Several players from the squad recently featured in the AFC Women's Futsal Asian Cup in China, where Bahrain faced strong opposition including eventual champions Japan and runners-up Thailand.
A Legacy in the Making
While Bahrain have yet to reach the AFC Women's Asian Cup finals, they have come close. Their best chance came in 2017, when they finished just two points shy of qualification. Farah recalls watching it unfold as a youth player and feeling its lasting impact.
'I was still part of the kids' team back then, but I knew how much it meant,' she said. 'Even now, the players still bring it up. Because it proved that we can do what people think we can't. We have the skills, the commitment, and the love. We deserve this. That still motivates us.'
Bahrain's journey began in 2013 with a single win from three games, but it laid the groundwork for a more structured women's football programme. A decade on, the current squad wants to turn that foundation into history. 'Even if we weren't two points away last time, we'd still be fighting just as hard. That's something Bahraini girls are known for—our passion,' said Farah.
'We all have the same goal, the same drive, and we all support each other. I work full time and play football, and I see the sacrifices everyone makes—players and coaches. Qualifying wouldn't just be a dream come true. It would prove that everything we've given has been worth it.'
'And even if we make history, we won't stop there. We always aim higher.'
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