Preview:Qatar vs Bahrain - prediction, team news, lineups

Qatar and Bahrain will face off in an international friendly at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha on Wednesday evening.

Bahrain suffered elimination from World Cup qualifying in June, but Qatar have a second chance to reach the finals in the fourth stage, which takes place next month.

Match preview

A dismal performance in the third stage of AFC qualifying means 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar must go through another round in order to seal their spot at the finals.

They finished fourth behind Iran, Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates, with just 13 points from 10 games, taking just one point from their five away matches.

Form has hardly picked up since then either, losing in friendlies to Udinese and Lebanon during the club-football preseason, so this month’s games against Bahrain and Russia will be very important for manager Julen Lopetegui, who arrived in May.

There is some disdain being shown towards Qatar, and fellow seeds Saudi Arabia, because they have been selected as the hosts for the fourth stage, with the four other nations competing at that stage claiming it will give them a competitive advantage.

FIFA’s close ties with Qatar and Saudi Arabia are clear, considering the former hosted the 2022 World Cup, and the latter will stage the 2034 edition, and more controversy arose when the world body were quick to seed the Saudis for the draw, even though it was confirmed that Iraq would soon overtake them in the World Rankings.

Qatar are the favourites to qualify for the finals from their three-team section which also includes Oman and UAE, but the latter finished above them in their third-stage group, so it will be far from plain sailing.

Disappointing results this month could add further pressure, especially if Bahrain cause them as many problems as some of the nations in their previous qualifying group did.

Bahrain struggled greatly in a challenging group that contained Japan, Australia and Saudi Arabia, as they finished bottom of a six-team section, taking just six points from 10 games.

Getting that far was still a wonderful accomplishment for the nation though, whose stature in the game and financial muscle in developing players is dwarfed by the teams they came up against, as the other two sides in the group, Indonesia and China, both greatly benefit from investment and a strong diaspora of talent around the world too.

Bahrain’s competitive calendar looks a little sparse following their exit from qualifying, as they will only play one more non-friendly in 2025, an Arab Cup qualifier against Djibouti, but they are already assured of a place in the Gulf Cup next autumn.

Qatar form (all competitions:

W L W L W L

Bahrain form (all competitions):

L L L L L W

Team News

It is largely the same squad for Qatar that was called up in June, with only Saad Al Sheeb, Abdelrahman Moustafa, Amro Surag and the inexperienced Mohamed Aiash who are not present this time around.

Four members of the squad have over 100 caps, one of whom is Akram Afif, who will carry most of their hopes in attack, with 38 international goals to his name.

Goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham will earn his 50th for the Maroons if he starts here, but there could also be an opportunity for Salah Zakaria between the sticks, before the tougher assignment against Russia next week.

There is plenty of experience in the Bahrain ranks, with five players into triple figures for international appearances, including midfielder Ali Madan who hit the 100-mark in June’s matches.

Striker Mohamed Al-Romaihi has been struggling with injury over the summer after pulling out of the squad in June, so Mahdi Abd Al Jabar is expected to start up front.

Qatar possible starting lineup:

Zakaria; Yousif, Al Rawi, Suhail, Al Amin; Hatem, Madibo, Meshaal; Edmilson Junior, Afif, Al Ganehi

Bahrain possible starting lineup:

Jaffer; Al Shamsan, Benaddi, Al Hayam, Al Khalasi; Madan, Al Aswad, Dhiya, Humaidan; Marhoon, Abd Al Jabar

We say: Qatar 2-1 Bahrain

Qatar have done little to suggest they belong in Asian football’s elite, and even with Lopetegui at the helm, not much has improved, but they should have just enough to get past Bahrain here.

Bahrain fought valiantly in a tough section during World Cup qualifying, and even though they sprang one or two shocks, they are the outsiders for a reason here.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.