According to a report by the Japanese football digest, after Bahrain lost to China at home, both the team and the head coach faced criticism from fans.
In the fifth round of the 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifiers, held on November 14, Bahrain hosted China.
During the match, both teams had their moments of attack, and the game remained closely contested. Until the 87th minute, the score was still 0-0. At this point, Bahrain’s Abdul Wahab Al-Marroud delivered a precise through ball to his teammate Ali Halam. Halam skillfully controlled the ball with his chest and then struck it with a powerful volley, sending the ball into the net. However, after review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the goal was ruled offside and thus invalid.
In the first minute of stoppage time (90+1 minute), Bahrain’s defense showed a moment of laxity, allowing China’s Zhang Yuning to capitalize on the opportunity and score, leading to an unexpected 0-1 loss for Bahrain. This result marked their fourth consecutive match without a win in the qualifiers.
After the match, the outcome sparked widespread dissatisfaction among Bahraini fans, who expressed their disappointment on social media. Comments included calls for a new coach, such as “Get a new coach,” “The quality of play is terrible,” “The team lacks focus,” “We lost without a fight,” “I don’t know who we can beat,” “No tactics, no soul,” and “This team has become a joke.”
Fans of other teams also mocked Bahrain, saying things like “The referee didn’t want our money this time,” “Without the referee’s help, Bahrain can’t win,” and “Good job, China. Bahrain has been crying on the field all night; now they can cry all night long.”
Next, Bahrain will face Australia at home on the 19th, which will be another tough challenge for them.
