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Football in Bahrain

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Football in Bahrain
The Bahrain national team playing Australia on June 10, 2009, in a World Cup qualifier
CountryBahrain
Governing bodyBahrain Football Association
National team(s)men's national team
National competitions
International competitions

The sport of football in the country of Bahrain is run by the Bahrain Football Association, and significantly the most popular sport in the nation.[1][2]

Bahrain has its own top-tier domestic professional football league, the Bahraini Premier League. It features 10 football clubs that play a two-round robin set, with each team playing a total of 18 fixtures.[3] The winners of the domestic championship qualify for the AFC Cup.

The league uses a promotion and relegation system in association with the Bahraini Second Division, Bahrain's second-tier football league. The season usually starts in September and concludes in May, as in other football leagues. The first season was held in 1952. Although games are played on a home and away basis, most games are played at the Bahrain National Stadium.

The relegation of the lowest season finishing team is decided by a relegation/promotion playoff match against the second lowest finishing team. The most successful club in the league's history is Al-Muharraq SC.

Total championships

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As of 2019–20 season.

Club
Number of Championships
Muharraq Club 34
Bahrain Riffa Club (includes West Riffa) 12
Bahrain Club 5
Al-Ahli (Manama) 5
Al-Hidd 2
Al-Nasr 1
Arabi Club 1
Al Hala SC 1
East Riffa Club 1
Busaiteen 1
Malkiya SCC 1

League system

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Level League(s)/Division(s)
1 Premier League
12 clubs
↓↑ 2 clubs
2 Second Division
12 clubs

The Bahrain national football team

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The most significant achievement of the Bahrain national football team is reaching the semi-finals of the 2004 AFC Asian Cup.[4][5] The national football team of Bahrain lost against Japan in the semi-finals of the tournament.

Football stadiums in Bahrain

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# Stadium City Capacity Home team(s) Image
1 Bahrain National Stadium Riffa 24,000 Bahrain national football team, Al-Khaldiya SC, Al-Riffa SC
2 Al Muharraq Stadium Arad 20,000 Al-Muharraq SC
3 Khalifa Sports City Stadium Isa Town 15,000
4 Al-Ahli Stadium Manama 10,000 Al-Ahli Club

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Team sports in Bahrain". TimeOut Bahrain. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Football in Bahrain: A house divided". The Economist. 2011-08-13. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  3. ^ Bahraini Premier League, Goalzz.com, retrieved on 15 June 2012.
  4. ^ "Flashback: When Bahrain stunned the continent to reach the 2004 AFC Asian Cup Semi-finals". 3 August 2017.
  5. ^ "When Bahrain stunned the continent to reach the 2004 AFC Asian Cup semi-finals". 3 August 2017.