Final flourish, familiar fight
TDT | Manama
Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com
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.
Training Under Talajic
Bahrain began their final preparations at Chongqing Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, with head coach Dragan Talajic leading the session. In the pre-match press conference, Talajic said “We are determined to cap off the playoffs with a performance that befits the reputation of the Bahraini national team. We aim to achieve a positive result that reflects our preparation, and strengthens the confidence of the fans in us in the next stage.”
The squad features the likes of Mohammed Marhoon, Mahdi Humaidan, Komail Al Aswad, and veteran striker Ismaeel Abdullatif. Defensive solidity will be key after recent struggles, with Ebrahim Lutfalla expected to retain his place in goal.
Group C Landscape
Elsewhere in Group C, Japan have already sealed top spot with 20 points and a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, despite suffering a surprise defeat to Australia last week.
The Socceroos, boosted to 16 points by Aziz Behich’s late winner, now prepare for a crucial clash with Saudi Arabia in Jeddah tonight at 9:15 PM.
The Saudis, currently on 13 points, must beat Indonesia, who sit just one behind on 12, and hope for a favour from Japan to finish second. Otherwise, they’ll face the longer route through the fourth-round playoff.
Today’s other key match will see Japan host Indonesia at 1:35 PM, with the Southeast Asians needing a major result to stay in the mix.
A Broader Picture
In total, 18 teams are split across three groups in the AFC’s third round. Group A includes Iran, Qatar, Uzbekistan, UAE, Kyrgyzstan, and North Korea. Group B features South Korea, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine, and Kuwait.
The top two sides from each group advance directly to the 2026 finals in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Third and fourthplaced teams will fight on in the fourth round, with a final chance to book one of the continent’s remaining spots.
Building for Tomorrow
For Bahrain, today’s match is a chance to reflect on a campaign of what-ifs and rebuild for the future. A positive display against China would not change the standings, but it could change the mood around a national team hungry to evolve.
In football, a strong finish—no matter the context—can be a quiet beginning.
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