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

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]

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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