Bahrain eye World Cup under new coach Pizzi

TDT | Manama              

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain is hopeful that new senior men’s national football team head coach Juan Antonio Pizzi can help the Kingdom realise its dream of one day playing in the FIFA World Cup—global football’s showpiece event.

This was declared yesterday by Bahrain Football Association (BFA) president Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa at the official unveiling and contract signing of Pizzi, held at the BFA headquarters in Riffa. "Coach Pizzi has won the Copa America; he coached Saudi Arabia in the World Cup in Russia; he has good experience, which this team needs for us to go to the next level," Shaikh Ali told TDT.

Shaikh Ali singled out qualifying for the 2026 World Cup as Bahrain’s main target under the renowned Argentinian tactician. The national team will be vying for one of the expanded eight direct slots from Asia in the tournament or looking to make it through the inter-confederation play-offs.

Bahrain advanced to that last hurdle of the World Cup qualifiers twice in the past—first facing Trinidad and Tobago for a berth in the 2006 World Cup and then against New Zealand for a place in the 2010 competition—but narrowly lost by a single goal both times. Shaikh Ali is encouraged that Bahrain can make history for the 2026 event with Pizzi at the helm. "We’ve been through to the end of the qualifiers twice; we succeeded until the last mile against Trinidad and Tobago and then New Zealand," Shaikh Ali recalled.

Opportunity

"We failed in the previous World Cup qualifiers, so overall, I think this opportunity is high. There are eight teams that will qualify, plus one, so it’s an opportunity for us. We must support him and help Bahrain reach the World Cup as an objective, which every Bahraini wants."

Also in attendance at yesterday’s unveiling were BFA vice president His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Isa Al Khalifa, BFA secretary general Rashid Al Zoubi, and other officials. Shaikh Ali said that Pizzi was one of their top choices to take over the national team in place of departed Portuguese head coach Helio Sousa.

"We had a long list of coaches; we started negotiating with them one by one, and Coach Pizzi was one of our high choices," Shaikh Ali explained. "He is a well-known coach. For the Kingdom of Bahrain, for our upcoming programme with the World Cup qualifiers and the Asian Cup coming ahead, it’s important to have someone with his background."

According to Shaikh Ali, Pizzi has signed a two-year contract with Bahrain. One of his first duties will be to approve the senior men’s national team’s training plan in preparation for the AFC Asian Cup, which will be held in Doha in January of next year. Bahrain is one of 24 teams that have qualified for the continent’s premier tournament.

Prior to the Asian Cup, the Bahrainis will begin their World Cup qualifying campaign this November. They will play directly in the second round of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers. The draw for the groupings will be held on Thursday. There are five rounds in the qualification format for Asia.