Football in Bahrain

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]

Football in South 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

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 Classification League, 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

As of 2019–20 season.

Club
 Number of Championships
Muharraq Club34
Bahrain Riffa Club (includes West Riffa)12
Bahrain Club5
Al-Ahli (Manama)5
Al-Hidd2
Al-Nasr1
Arabi Club1
Al Hala SC1
East Riffa Club1
Busaiteen1
Malkiya SCC1

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

National team

The most significant achievement of the Bahrain national team is, finishing as semi-finalist at the 2004 AFC Asian Cup.[4][5]

Bahrain football venues
Bahrain National Stadium
StadiumCityCapacity
Bahrain National StadiumRiffa24,000
Al Muharraq StadiumArad20,000
Khalifa Sports City StadiumIsa Town15,000
Al-Ahli StadiumManama10,000

See also

References
  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.


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