FUTSAL – Bahrain have named their final 14-player squad that will be competing in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers.
The Bahrainis are in Group B of qualification, which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from Saturday.
The nationals departed yesterday for the Thai capital ahead of the start of play.
The nationals’ roster was announced by the Bahrain Football Association (BFA). The players include Ammar Mihad, Hassan Marzooq, Mohammed Fouad, Ahmed Antar, Hassan Al Jadahasa, Mohammed Al Sindhi, Mohammed Abdulla, Hassan Budahoom, Salman Al Mulla, Raouf Al Asfoor, Ali Al Araibi, and goalkeepers Amin Hussain, Sayed Fadhel Mahfouz, and Louay Jaafar.
The Bahrainis are coached by Brazilian tactician Rafael Fogageiro, who has been supervising their preparations over the past several weeks.
The kingdom’s delegation that has travelled to Bangkok is headed by BFA official Ahmed Al Bahdahi, and it includes BFA futsal committee chairman Raed Baba, assistant coach Ahmed Al Kooheji, goalkeeper coach Sayed Mohammed Sabt, administrator Basem Mohammed, and supporting staff members.
Bahrain are one of 31 national teams competing in qualifying. The field has been divided into seven groups of four and one group of three. Each division is being held at a centralised location.
The eight group winners and the seven best-ranked runners-up will join hosts Indonesia at next year’s edition of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup, which will be held next year in Jakarta, from January 27 to February 7.
Bahrain are joined in a tough Group B by South Korea, Brunei Darussalam, and hosts Thailand.
The nationals are scheduled to kick off their qualifiers bid against the South Koreans on Saturday at 12.30pm.
They then take on Thailand on Monday next week at 3.30pm before completing their schedule against Brunei Darussalam on Wednesday next week at 12.30pm. All times are Bahrain.
Elsewhere in qualification, Group A features Australia, Mongolia, India, and hosts Kuwait; Group C is composed of Japan, Macau, Cambodia, and hosts Tajikistan; Group D comprises Iraq, Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, and hosts Saudi Arabia; Group E includes Vietnam, Lebanon, Hong Kong, and hosts China; Group F features Uzbekistan, Timor-Leste, Palestine, and hosts Kyrgyzstan; Group G is composed of Iran, the UAE, Bangladesh, and hosts Malaysia; and Group H comprises Afghanistan, the Maldives, and hosts Myanmar.
The AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 will be the 18th edition of the competition.
Bahrain are aiming to be a part of the tournament for the fifth time.
They made their debut in the 2002 event, also in Jakarta, while they have also participated in the last three editions held in Chinese Taipei in 2018, in Kuwait in 2022, and in Thailand in 2024.
The nationals’ best finish was in 2018 when they made it to the quarter-finals.
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