TDT | Manama

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Bahrain have been drawn alongside hosts Thailand, three-time champions Japan and Iraq in Group A of the 2026 AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup.

The ceremony took place yesterday at the Asian Football Confederation headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, setting the groups for the 12-team tournament in Thailand from November 18 to 28.

Elsewhere, defending champions Iran were placed with Lebanon, Vietnam and Afghanistan in Group B. Last year’s runners-up Oman will meet the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan in Group C.

The top two from each section will reach the quarter-finals alongside the two best third-placed sides, completing the eight-team knockout stage.

Several former champions feature in the field. Iran lead the all-time list with four titles (2013, 2017, 2023 and 2025), followed by Japan with three (2009, 2011 and 2019) and the UAE with two (2007 and 2008). Bahrain lifted the inaugural crown in 2006, while Oman triumphed in 2015.

With just over two months until the competition begins, Bahrain’s preparations are already under way. They played two friendlies against Saudi Arabia late last month, responding to a 2-1 defeat with a 4-3 victory the next evening.

The 14-player squad featured Mehran Mohammed, Issa Al Dosari, Ali Hassanein, Mohammed Jaafar, Ebrahim Almarzooqi, Hussain Al Dosari, Hesham Yousef, Akbar Saeed, Issa Ghaleb, Mohammed Darwish, Hussain Shaker and former senior football star Sayed Mohammed Adnan.

Goalkeepers Hussain Marhoon and Ahmed Abdulrasool completed the travelling party.