Bahrain Face Tough Group in AFC U23 Qualifiers

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s U23 team must navigate a tricky Group H featuring hosts Qatar, India, and Brunei Darussalam in the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers, scheduled from September 1–11 in Doha.

The official draw, held Thursday at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, placed Bahrain in one of the competition’s more balanced groups. Qatar, the highest-seeded team in the group, will enjoy home advantage. India, steadily building their youth ranks under new coach Naushad Moosa, present a growing threat, while Brunei enter as clear underdogs.

With 44 teams split across 11 groups of four, the path to qualification is narrow: only group winners and the four best runners-up will secure spots at the 16-team finals in Saudi Arabia. Bahrain, who bring solid regional pedigree, know that every point will count.

One Group, One Goal

Qatar start as favourites, given their infrastructure and youth talent. But Bahrain, experienced and competitive at U23 level, are well capable of challenging. India’s technical growth adds another layer to the group, and Brunei could be dangerous if overlooked. The format is a single round-robin, with Bahrain’s fixtures against India and Qatar likely to define their campaign.

Why It Matters

The AFC U23 Asian Cup is a youth tournament as well as it’s a platform for Olympic qualification. The top three teams from the 2026 finals in Saudi Arabia are expected to qualify for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. For Bahrain, the stakes are long-term: competing now means building toward higher accolades in the future.

AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers: All Groups

Group A: Jordan, Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei, Bhutan

Group B: Japan, Kuwait, Myanmar, Afghanistan

Group C: Vietnam, Yemen, Singapore, Bangladesh

Group D: Australia, China PR, Timor-Leste, Northern Mariana Islands

Group E: Uzbekistan, Palestine, Kyrgyz Republic, Sri Lanka

Group F: Thailand, Malaysia, Lebanon, Mongolia

Group G: Iraq, Cambodia, Oman, Pakistan

Group H: Qatar, Bahrain, India, Brunei Darussalam

Group I: UAE, IR Iran, Hong Kong China, Guam

Group J: Korea Republic, Indonesia, Laos, Macau

Group K: Tajikistan, Syria, Philippines, Nepal