FOOTBALL – The draw ceremony for the 2025-26 His Majesty the King’s Cup – Bahrain’s richest football tournament – was held last night by the Bahrain Football Association (BFA).
In attendance were BFA president Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, BFA vice-president Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Isa Al Khalifa, General Sports Authority CEO Dr Abdulrahman Askar, and other high-ranking officials along with representatives from the kingdom’s football clubs under the BFA umbrella.
The match-ups were set for the first two stages as well as for the round of 16, where all 12 teams competing in the 2025-26 Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League are already waiting.
The remaining sides from the kingdom’s first division will be battling for four available places amongst the last 16.
In the opening round of play, Busaiteen will take on Um Al Hassam, with the winners moving on to face Al Hala in round two.
Etihad Al Reef will face Al Tadhmaun, with the victor advancing to take on Isa Town in the second stage.
Also in round one, Buri take on Al Ittifaq and Al Ettihad face Galali, with the winners of both games going head-to-head in round two.
Also in the second stage, East Riffa play Manama. All the winners from this phase will qualify for the last 16.
There, HM the King’s Cup holders Al Khaldiya await the winners of Hala’s game with either Busaiteen or Um Al Hassam.
Reigning Nasser Bin Hamad Bahrain Premier Football League champions Muharraq await the victors from Isa Town’s contest against either Etihad Al Reef or Tadhamun.
Riffa await the winners of the East Riffa-Manama game, while Sitra will take on the victors emerging from the Buri-Ittifaq and Ettihad-Galali pairings.
Elsewhere in the round of 16, A’ali play Al Najma, Bahrain Club take on Hidd, Al Shabab clash with Malkiya, and Budaiya lock horns with Al Ahli.
Khaldiya won last season’s HM the King’s Cup after edging past Sitra 3-2 in the tournament final, played in April earlier this year.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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