Bahrain Football Returns with Treble Dreams Alive

Hussain Almaskati

sports March 31, 2026

TDT | Manama

Bahrain football returns this week with the title race finely poised and silverware still up for grabs across multiple competitions. April promises to be decisive, with the league, cup, and treble ambitions all hanging in the balance.

Title race

The Nasser bin Hamad Premier League resumes on April 2 with Matchweek 17, ushering in the final seven rounds of a season full of surprises.

Al Khaldiya, founded only in 2020, sit top of the table on 39 points. Since Tunisian coach Lassaad Al Chaabi arrived in November, the club has been nearly unstoppable. Their rapid rise and early consistency put them in prime position to chase what would be just the third league title in their short history. Their confidence was boosted earlier this month when they beat Muharraq to lift the Super Cup, a match effectively played by U21 squads as both teams rested senior players. With the league lead and a place in the King’s Cup semi-finals, Al Khaldiya are firmly in contention for a domestic treble.

Reigning champions Muharraq are just two points behind on 37. The league’s most decorated side, holders of 35 Premier League titles, remain a formidable presence under Portuguese coach Fernando Manuel de Jesus Santos. Their attack is led by Edimar Ribeiro da Costa, the league’s top scorer with 12 goals, and they will look to prove why they remain Bahrain’s benchmark club.

Riffa are in third on 34 points. Under Kuwaiti coach Mohammed Mashaan, they have combined league consistency with cup success, including their Khalid bin Hamad Cup win over Muharraq in February. With the league challenge and King’s Cup semi-final ahead, Riffa also have a clear path to a treble.

The top three are separated by just five points, and every match from now on could reshape the title race. Behind them, Al Malkiya sit fourth on 23 points, largely safe but capable of influencing the top three, while Aali Club, Al Hidd, Al Ahli, and Al Najma occupy the mid-table positions with mixed form.

Relegation battle

At the bottom, Sitra (18 points), Al Budaiya (18), Al Shabab (10), and Bahrain Club (7) are fighting to avoid the drop. Bahrain Club’s miserable season leaves them in the most perilous position, while Al Shabab must quickly find form to survive. Every point gained in the next seven fixtures is crucial.

League fixtures

The league restarts on April 2, with fifth-place Aali Club facing Bahrain Club at 7 PM, while eighth-place Al Najma take on Al Shabab at the same time.

On April 3, Muharraq face Sitra at 5:15 PM, followed by Al Budaiya against Al Hidd at 7:30 PM. The spotlight then shifts to April 4, when league leaders Al Khaldiya clash with Riffa at 5:15 PM in a match that could prove pivotal for the title.

Later that evening, seventh-place Al Ahli will play against fourth-place Al Malkiya at 7:30 PM.

Cup semi-finals

Just days later, attention turns to the Bahrain King’s Cup, with semi-finals scheduled for April 10 and 11.

On April 10, holders Al Khaldiya meet Riffa, a fixture that pits two sides still chasing silverware on multiple fronts. Both clubs have treble ambitions heading into the decisive stages of the season.

The following day, Muharraq face Al Ahli, aiming to assert their pedigree and keep their season alive.

April stakes

April could define the domestic season. Al Khaldiya have momentum and trophies already in the bag. Riffa have shown they can deliver in crucial moments. Muharraq, with their history and firepower, remain ever-threatening.

With seven league games remaining and a place in the cup final at stake, the margin for error is quickly vanishing.