Team Qatar Share the Spoils with Bahrain in Behind-Closed-Doors Friendly

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September 3, 2025
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3-September-2025

Team Qatar Share the Spoils with Bahrain in Behind-Closed-Doors Friendly

DOHA - Qatar and Bahrain played out an entertaining 2–2 draw in a closed-door international friendly at Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday evening.

For the reigning Asian champions, Mohammed Muntari and Ahmed Alaaeldin were on target, while Kamil Al-Aswad and Ebrahim Al-Khattal struck for Bahrain to ensure the contest ended all square.

The match marked the first of two friendlies for Julen Lopetegui’s side during the international break, as Qatar fine-tune their preparations for next month’s crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian play-offs. The Maroons will next face Russia on Sunday at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.

In the play-offs, Qatar have been drawn alongside Oman and the UAE. They will meet Oman on October 8 before taking on the UAE on October 14. The group winners will book an automatic ticket to the 2026 World Cup, while the runners-up advance to a two-legged play-off on November 13 and 18 for a chance to reach the FIFA Playoff Tournament – the final pathway to qualification.

Bahrain, who bowed out in the third round of the Asian qualifiers, are using these friendlies to gear up for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, scheduled from December 1 to 18. They will meet Djibouti in a one-off qualifier in November and face the UAE in another warm-up fixture on Monday.