Qatar and Bahrain Battle to 2-2 Draw in Friendly Match

Qatar’s national football team played to a 2-2 draw against Bahrain in a friendly match held behind closed doors at Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday. The match featured goals from Qatar forwards Mohammed Muntari and Ahmed Alaaeldin, while Kamil Al-Aswad and Ebrahim Al-Khattal found the net for Bahrain.

This friendly was the first of two matches for Qatar during the international break, as they gear up for the crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian play-offs scheduled for next month. Under the guidance of coach Julen Lopetegui, Qatar will face Russia in their second friendly on Sunday at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.

Upcoming World Cup Play-offs

In the upcoming World Cup play-offs, Qatar is grouped with Oman and the United Arab Emirates. They will compete against Oman on October 8 and the UAE on October 14. The group winners will secure direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The runners-up will enter a two-legged play-off on November 13 and November 18, aiming for a place in the FIFA Playoff Tournament— the final step towards World Cup qualification.

Bahrain’s Preparations for the Arab Cup

Bahrain, having been eliminated in the third round of the Asian qualifiers, is now preparing for the FIFA Arab Cup, which will take place in Qatar from December 1 to December 18. They are set to face Djibouti in a one-off qualifier in November, along with a friendly match against the UAE on Monday.

This friendly encounter serves as a significant opportunity for both teams as they fine-tune their strategies and line-ups ahead of important upcoming fixtures. As the international football calendar heats up, the performance in these matches will be crucial for both Qatar and Bahrain in their respective campaigns.