Bahrain

Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after second-half goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo gave them a 2-0 win over Bahrain on Thursday.... more »

Bahrain stunned Australia 1-0 away on Thursday thanks to an 89th-minute Harry Souttar own goal in a major upset to start the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.... more »

Captain Wataru Endo warned that Japan's Asian Cup rivals will "exploit" their weaknesses after they wobbled before reaching the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Bahrain on Wednesday.... more »

Iran has protested to Iraq over the use of the name "Arabian Gulf" for a regional football competition held in the neighbouring country, state media reported Wednesday.... more »

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has ramped up pressure on Bangkok to release a refugee footballer held on a Bahrain extradition request, as sporting authorities cancelled two events in Thailand over his detention.... more »