Bahrain national football team
Encyclopedia
The Bahrain national football team is the national team of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...

 and is controlled by the Bahrain Football Association
Bahrain Football Association
The Bahrain Football Association is the governing body of football in Bahrain, and controls the Bahrain national football team. It was founded in 1957, and has been a member of FIFA since 1966. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation....

; it was founded in 1951 and joined FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...

 in 1966. They have never reached the finals of the World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...

, but have twice come within one match of doing so. Bahrain won the FIFA's most improved team award in 2004, and finished fourth in the 2004 Asian Cup
2004 AFC Asian Cup
The 2004 AFC Asian Cup football competition is the thirteenth staging of AFC Asian Cup. It was held from July 17 to August 7, 2004 in China. The defending champions Japan defeated China in the final in Beijing....

, beating Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan national football team
The Uzbekistan national football team represents Uzbekistan in association football and is controlled by the Uzbekistan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Uzbekistan...

 in the quarter-finals but losing to Japan
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...

 in the semi-finals 4–3. Bahrain then lost to Iran
Iran national football team
The national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...

 in the third-place match, thus finishing in fourth place overall.
The detention without trial of Shia members of the current team in the wake of the 2011 pro-democracy reform protests has had political as well as sporting repercussions.

2006 World Cup

After Uzbekistan and Bahrain both finished third in their respective groups during the World Cup 2006 qualifiers, Bahrain entered a two-legged playoff with Uzbekistan, which they won on away goals with an aggregate score of 1–1. This allowed Bahrain to enter another two-legged playoff with the fourth-placed CONCACAF
CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...

 nation, (Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...

), for a spot in the World Cup. But a 0–1 Bahrain loss in Manama
Manama
Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 155,000 people.Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population...

 after a 1–1 draw in Port of Spain
Port of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...

 saw the CONCACAF nation go through.

2007 Asian Cup

Bahrain played in group D in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
The 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification was held in late 2005 and the final qualification round was held from February to November 2006 with 25 nations participating....

 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
Kuwait national football team
The Kuwait National Football Team is the national team of Kuwait and is controlled by the Kuwait Football Association. They made one World Cup Finals appearance, in 1982, managing a draw with Czechoslovakia but losing to England and France. During the match against France, France scored a goal...

 in their last match. Bahrain were knocked out in the group stages via two losses against Indonesia
Indonesia national football team
The Indonesia national football team represents Indonesia in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Indonesia . Prior to independence in 1945, the team competed as the Dutch East Indies national football team. Under this name, Indonesia was the first Asian team to...

 and Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia national football team
Saudi Arabia national football team is the national team of Saudi Arabia and is controlled by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation...

, despite a win against Korea Republic
Korea Republic national football team
The Korea Republic national football team represents Korea Republic in international football and is controlled by the Korea Football Association. Korea Republic is the most successful Asian football team in the history of the FIFA World Cup having participated in eight World Cup tournaments,...

.

2010 World Cup

In the third round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...

 qualifiers, Bahrain were drawn into group B along with Japan, Oman
Oman national football team
The Oman national football team is the national team of Oman. Although the team was officially founded in 1978, the squad was formed long before, and has established a proper football association in only December, 2005...

, and Thailand
Thailand national football team
The Thailand national football team represents Thailand in international football competition and is governed by the Football Association of Thailand. The team has a history of success in Southeast Asian competition, with three ASEAN Football Championship titles and nine senior-level Southeast...

. They finished second
Second
The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock....

 overall to qualify to the final round, in which Bahrain finished third overall in their group, below Australia and Japan, but above Uzbekistan and Qatar. In the second leg of the playoff against Saudi Arabia to decide Asia's fifth best team, Bahrain drew 2–2 with Saudi Arabia after scoring in stoppage time which allowed 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, but after a goalless draw in Manama on 10 October 2009, Bahrain lost the return leg 1–0 in Wellington, missing out on qualification at the last hurdle for the second time running
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...

.

Player suspensions during the Bahrain 2011 Arab Spring protests

On 5 April 2011 A'ala Hubail
A'ala Hubail
On 5 April 2011 A'ala Hubail and his brother Mohamed were arrested by the Bahraini authorities and held in custody on an indefinite basis. A'ala Hubail, a trained paramedic, had attended demonstrations during the 2011 Bahraini protests and had reportedly helped provide medical assistance...

 and his brother Mohamed Hubail
Mohamed Hubail
Mohamed Hubail is a Bahraini footballer who was sentenced to a two year term of imprisonment by a special security court in Bahrain after taking part in pro-democratic reform protests in Bahrain in 2011.-Career:...

, both members of the national football team, were arrested by the Bahraini authorities in connection with their participation in the 2011 Bahraini protests. A'ala Hubail, Golden Boot winning member of Bahrain's 2004 Asian Cup team and a trained paramedic, had attended demonstrations where he had reportedly helped provide medical assistance. Mohamed Hubail had taken part in a march. The day before his arrest Ala'a Hubail had appeared on a chat-show programme on Bahrain state television in which he had been aggressively questioned and criticised and sports stars taking part in the protests had been denounced as "stray hyenas". The Hubails' club, Al-Ahli, announced that the brothers had been dismissed from the club squad. Another member of the national team Sayed Mohamed Adnan
Sayed Mohamed Adnan
Sayed Mohamed Adnan is a Bahrani footballer currently playing for the Brisbane Roar in A-League. He is known for joining up in attacks during open play to help score using his height advantage.-Club career:...

 was also arrested and a fourth Shia member of the team Abbas Ayaad
Abbas Ayyad
Abbas Saeed Ali Mansoor Ayyad is a footballer from Bahrain. He currently plays for the Bahraini football club Al-Ahli Manama, and has played in the Bahrain national football team.- External links :...

 was among 150 other athletes, including nationally known basketball, volleyball, and handball players, suspended from local clubs as part of an effort to suppress anti-government dissent. As of mid-June 2011 the Hubail brothers and Mohamed Adnan were still being held without trial.

The Bahrain Football Association described the players' suspensions as "falling under misconduct, and the breaching of the rules and regulations of sporting clubs . . . not to engage in any political affairs".

The players' effective ban from the national team has raised controversy concerning the failure by FIFA, football's international governing body, to apply its strict rules banning political interference in the running of football impartially.

According to Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa al Khalifa, the Bahraini Football Association vice president and a member of the ruling family targeted by pro-democracy protests, FIFA's rules on political interference do not apply to the Bahraini situation because the players concerned had "opposed the general laws and bylaws of the country". A show of tolerance towards the footballers would "result in the disintegrating of the equality under the law spirit"[sic], contrary to everything that Bahrain's "revered government" stood for.

On the other hand Keir Radnedge, former editor of World Soccer and expert commentator, pointing to discrepancies in FIFA's treatment of governments who have attempted to interfere politically in football, reflected that neither prospective candidate in the imminent FIFA Presidential election was thought likely to wish to upset the al-Khalifas with their extensive sporting influence in the region. Human rights activists have suggested that FIFA's silence is liable to be interpreted by the Bahraini FA as a signal of approval to tolerate violence against football players.

The Bahrain football squad of which the Hubails and Adnan were members, described as the most talented group of footballers since Bahrain achieved independence, were referred to by their former coach Milan Macala ahead of the 2009 World Cup playoff against New Zealand as a symbol of unity, with no religious differences. As a result of the unprotested jailing of Shia members, the national team is no longer seen as a symbol of unity.

World Cup record

FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...

Year Round GP W D L GS GA
1930
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...

 to
1974
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...

Did not enter
1978
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...

Did not qualify 4 1 0 3 4 6
1982
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...

Did not qualify 4 1 0 3 1 6
1986
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...

Did not qualify 4 1 2 1 8 6
1990
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...

Withdrew
1994
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...

Did not qualify 8 3 3 2 9 6
1998
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...

Did not qualify 4 1 0 3 3 9
2002
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...

Did not qualify 14 7 4 3 17 13
2006
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...

Did not qualify 16 5 6 5 21 14
2010
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...

Did not qualify 20 7 7 6 19 17
Total 74 26 22 26 82 77


Asian Cup record

Asian Cup
AFC Asian Cup
The AFC Asian Cup is an international association football tournament run by the Asian Football Confederation . It is the second oldest continental football championship in the world after Copa América. The winning team becomes the champion of Asia and automatically qualifies for the FIFA...

Year Round GP W D L GF GA
1956
1956 AFC Asian Cup
The 1956 AFC Asian Cup was the inaugural tournament of the AFC Asian Cup. The final tournament was held in Hong Kong from 1 September to 15 September 1956...

 to 1968
1968 AFC Asian Cup
The 1968 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Iran between May 10 and May 19. It was organized on a round robin basis, with the home team Iran winning with a perfect record of four wins.- Qualification :...

Did not enter
1972
1972 AFC Asian Cup
-Semi-finals:----- Third place play-off :-Final:-External links:**...

Did not qualify
1976
1976 AFC Asian Cup
-Group B:---------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:-----Third place play-off:-Final:-Goalscorers:3 goals: Gholam Hossein Mazloumi Nasser Nouraei Fathi Kamel2 goals: Alireza Azizi Alireza Khorshidi Hassan Roshan...

Withdrew
1980
1980 AFC Asian Cup
The 1980 AFC Asian Cup was the seventh edition of the Asian Nations Cup, the football championship of Asia . It was hosted by Kuwait between September 15 and 30. The field of ten teams was split into two groups of five. Kuwait won their first championship, beating Korea Republic in the final 3-0....

Withdrew after qualifying
1984
1984 AFC Asian Cup
The 1984 AFC Asian Cup was the eighth edition of the Asian Nations Cup, the football championship of Asia . It was hosted by Singapore between December 1 and December 16. The field of ten teams was split into two groups of five...

Did not enter
1988
1988 AFC Asian Cup
The Asian Football Confederation's 1988 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Qatar between December 2 and December 18. Saudi Arabia defeated Republic of Korea in the final match in Doha.-Qualification:...

Round 1 4 0 2 2 1 3
1992
1992 AFC Asian Cup
The Asian Football Confederation's 1992 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan between October 29 and November 8. The host nation, Japan, defeated the defending champion Saudi Arabia in the final in Hiroshima.-Stadiums:...

Did not qualify
1996
1996 AFC Asian Cup
The Asian Football Confederation's 1996 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in the United Arab Emirates between December 4 and December 21. Saudi Arabia defeated host nation U.A.E. in the final match in Abu Dhabi.-Qualification:...

Withdrew
2000
2000 AFC Asian Cup
The Asian Football Confederation's 2000 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Lebanon between October 12 and October 29. Japan defeated defending champion Saudi Arabia in the final match in Beirut.-Qualification:...

Did not qualify
2004
2004 AFC Asian Cup
The 2004 AFC Asian Cup football competition is the thirteenth staging of AFC Asian Cup. It was held from July 17 to August 7, 2004 in China. The defending champions Japan defeated China in the final in Beijing....

Fourth place 6 1 3 2 13 14
2007
2007 AFC Asian Cup
The Asian Football Confederation's 2007 AFC Asian Cup finals were held from July 7 to July 29, 2007. For the first time in its history, the competition was co-hosted by four nations: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The tournament was won by first-time champions Iraq, who defeated Saudi...

Round 1 3 1 0 2 3 7
2011
2011 AFC Asian Cup
The 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Qatar on 7–29 January 2011. It was the fifteenth time the tournament has been held, and the second time it has been hosted by Qatar, the other being the 1988 AFC Asian Cup...

Round 1 3 1 0 2 6 5
Total 4/15 16 3 5 8 23 29

Gulf Cup of Nations record

Gulf Cup of Nations
Gulf Cup of Nations
The Gulf Cup of Nations , also known as Khaleeji followed by the edition of the games , is a football tournament currently held every two years rotating the host city every edition...

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
2009 Gulf Cup of Nations
The 2009 Gulf Cup of Nations was the nineteenth edition of the biannual Gulf Cup competition, and took place in Muscat, Oman, from 4 January to 17 January 2009 and was won by Oman for the first time in its history, in a penalty shootout against regional rivals, Saudi Arabia.The 2009 Gulf Cup of...

Group Stage
3
1
0
2
3
4
2010
Group Stage
3
0
1
2
4
7
Total
Best: 2nd
90
28
27
35
99
114


Arab Nations Cup

Arab Nations Cup
Arab Nations Cup
The Arab Cup of Nations , is a football competition held between Arab countries, the first edition where held in 1963 in Lebanon.-Winners:...

Year Round GP W D L GF GA
1963
1963 Arab Nations Cup
The 1963 Arab Nations Cup is the 1st edition of the Arab Nations Cup hosted by Beirut, Lebanon. Tunisia won the first title of the Arab Nations Cup.-Group:-------------------------External links:*...

 and 1964
1964 Arab Nations Cup
The 1964 Arab Nations Cup is the 2nd edition of the Arab Nations Cup hosted by Kuwait. In Iraq's first appearance, they won the title for the 1st time.- Group :---------------------External links:*...

Did not enter
-
-
-
-
-
-
1966
1966 Arab Nations Cup
The 1966 Arab Nations Cup is the 3rd edition of the Arab Nations Cup hosted by Baghdad, Iraq. The host nation and defending Champions Iraq won the title for the 2nd time.-Group A:---------------------Group B:------------...

5/5
4
0
1
3
7
22
1985
1985 Arab Nations Cup
The 1985 Arab Nations Cup is the 4th edition of the Arab Nations Cup hosted by Taif, Saudi Arabia. The defending champion Iraq won the title for the 3rd time.- Group A :------------- Group B :-------------Knock-out stage:...

Runner Up
4
1
2
1
4
3
1988
1988 Arab Nations Cup
The 1988 Arab Nations Cup is the 5th edition of the Arab Nations Cup hosted by Amman, Jordan. The defending champion Iraq won the title for the 4th time.-Overview:Algeria and Saudi Arabia did not send their senior national teams to the competition...

Group Stage
4
0
3
1
2
3
1992
1992 Arab Nations Cup
The 1992 Arab Nations Cup is the 6th edition of the Arab Nations Cup hosted by Syria, in 2 Provinces Aleppo and Damascus. Egypt won their first title with the Olympic team.- Part of the Pan Arab Games :...

 
Did not enter
-
-
-
-
-
-
1998
1998 Arab Nations Cup
The 1998 Arab Nations Cup is the 7th edition of the Arab Nations Cup hosted by Qatar, in Doha. Saudi Arabia won their first title.- Qualifying : qualified as hosts. qualified as holders...

 
Withdrew
-
-
-
-
-
-
2002
2002 Arab Nations Cup
The 2002 Arab Nations Cup is the 8th edition of the Arab Nations Cup hosted by Kuwait. The defending Champions Saudi Arabia won the title for the 2nd time.- Group A:--------------------- Group B:--------------------...

 
Runner Up
6
3
1
2
8
5
2009
2009 Arab Nations Cup
The Arab Nations Cup 2009 was the 9th staging of the Arab Nations Cup, an association football tournament held between Arab countries by UAFA. The first stage of qualifying began in December 2006, but no further rounds were played and the tournament was cancelled.-Qualifying:* The First qualifying...

Cancelled
-
-
-
-
-
-
Total
Best: Runner Up
18
4
7
7
21
33


Current squad

The following squad was selected for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC Third Round
This page provides the summaries of the AFC Third Round matches for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.-Format:In this round the fifteen winners from the second round joined the five AFC sides seeded 1–5 in the AFC World Cup rankings...

 matches against Iran
Iran national football team
The national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...

 on November 11, 2011 and the Qatar
Qatar national football team
The Qatar national football team is the national team of Qatar and is controlled by the Qatar Football Association. They have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup but are hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The team has also appeared in seven AFC Asian Cup tournaments and hosted the 2011 AFC Asian...

 on November 15, 2011.

Caps and goals updated as of November 11, 2011.

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|----- bgcolor="#DFEDFD"

Recent Callups

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Note: Caps and goals may be incomplete for certain players, therefore being inaccurate.

External links

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