National team gears up for World Cup Qualifier away matches against Japan and Indonesia

TDT | Manama

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Bahrain’s senior men’s football team have begun their build-up for the next phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers, assembling at the Bahrain Football Association’s pitches in Riffa’s Isa Sports City.

Head coach Dragan Talajic is steering the squad through training ahead of two critical away fixtures in Group C: Japan on March 20 at Saitama Stadium 2002, and Indonesia on March 25 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

The team departs for Japan this Thursday, with these matches—the seventh and eighth in this round—carrying the weight of Bahrain’s dream to reach the finals for the first time.

Bahrain’s senior men’s football team have begun their build-up for the next phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers, assembling at the Bahrain Football Association’s pitches in Riffa’s Isa Sports City.

Head coach Dragan Talajic is steering the squad through training ahead of two critical away fixtures in Group C: Japan on March 20 at Saitama Stadium 2002, and Indonesia on March 25 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

Humaidan: Japan a Test, but Points Are the Prize

Bahrain linger in fifth in Group C with six points, tied with Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and China after six games. Japan dominate with 16 points, their only slip a draw, while Australia sit second with seven. Speaking exclusively to The Daily Tribune (TDT), forward Mahdi Humaidan laid bare the stakes. “We’ve got four matches left, and every one matters,” he said. “Japan’s one of the continent’s strongest sides, no question, but we’re going there hoping to grab points.” Humaidan’s focus then shifted to Indonesia, a direct rival on equal footing. “They’re right there with us on points—we’ll tackle them next, one game at a time.” With the top two securing direct qualification and third or fourth entering a play-off, Bahrain’s mixed bag—a 1-0 win over Australia, a 5-0 drubbing by Japan—demands sharper consistency.

Talajic Leans on Gulf Cup Backbone

The Croatian manager has called up a 26-man squad, built around the core that clinched the 26th Gulf Cup title in January. Strikers Mahdi Abduljabbar and Abdulla Yusuf, each with two goals in the campaign, lead the attack, while Ebrahim Lutfalla remains a rock in goal. Komail Al Aswad’s creativity in midfield and Waleed Al Hayyam’s reliability at the back are vital, with Abdulla Al Khalasi—whose strike sank Australia—bringing edge. The squad, featuring Mohammed Jassim Marhoon, Ali Madan, and Ahmed Bughammar among others, marks their first competitive reunion since the Gulf Cup, and Talajic is banking on that spark to ignite their qualifying push.

A Tight Group and a Bigger Picture

The third round pits three groups against each other, feeding into the expanded 2026 tournament across the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Group A sees Iran, Qatar, and Uzbekistan jostle with UAE, Kyrgyzstan, and North Korea, while Group B has South Korea, Iraq, and Jordan facing Oman, Palestine, and Kuwait. Bahrain’s Group C is the most congested, and Humaidan knows the upcoming tests—Japan’s fluid play and Indonesia’s home tenacity—will reveal their mettle. “Our goal is to win every match,” he told TDT. “That’s the best gift we can give the fans.” Looking ahead to Saudi Arabia at home on June 5 and China away on June 10, he added: “We’re aiming to pile up points for second place, inshAllah. Even if luck turns, third or fourth and a play-off shot would still keep us in the fight.” Talajic, who guided Al-Shorta to Iraq’s league title in 2022, has the pedigree to galvanise this side, but the margins remain punishingly slim.