Final flourish, familiar fight
As the curtain draws on their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying journey, Bahrain's national team take to the pitch today against China.
Having already been mathematically eliminated from contention for North America, Dragan Talajic's side are playing for pride and for a measure of momentum heading into future cycles.
Nothing to Play For, Everything to Prove
The match at Chongqing Longxing Football Stadium, scheduled for 2:00 PM, carries no qualification weight for either side. Bahrain and China sit level on six points in Group C, with the former holding a superior goal difference.
While progression is off the table, the fixture offers both nations a chance to end their campaign with a statement, and perhaps a degree of redemption after a tough qualifying stretch.
Bahrain's most recent outing, a 2-0 loss at home to Saudi Arabia, confirmed their exit. Talajic's men showed flashes of potential, but a lack of cutting edge in the final third once again proved decisive. Now, the focus turns to a cleaner performance in Chongqing, where conditions and atmosphere will favour the hosts.
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