Bahrain Beat Saudi Arabia In The Gulf Cup, Becomes A Hazard Alarm Ahead Of The Indonesian National Team

JAKARTA - Bahrain sent a danger alarm for the Indonesian national team ahead of meeting in the follow-up match of the 2026 World Cup Qualification Third Round.

Bahrain has just beaten Saudi Arabia with a score of 3-2 in the inaugural match of Group B of the 2024 Bay Cup (Arabian Gulf Cup), Sunday, December 22, 2024, WIB night.

Bahrain's impressive appearance is clearly a warning for the Indonesian national team to face Bahrain. The two teams will meet in the Third Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, on March 25, 2025.

"I've always said from the start that I was the coach of the Bahrain national team that we would step step by step, game to game, and we will continue like this," said Bahrain coach Dragan Talajic, quoted from GDN Online on Tuesday, December 24, 2024.

"We have very talented players. We are working very hard in mental preparation."

"They began to believe in themselves that they could do something. Alhamdulillah, I am proud because I have the opportunity to work with players like them, who want to learn, who want to listen. Congratulations to them," he said again.

Prior to that, Bahrain had a chance to meet with Saudi Arabia on October 16, 2024 in the Third Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. But the match ended with a score of 0-0 glasses at home to The Green Falcon.

Meanwhile, the last meeting between Indonesia and Bahrain occurred in the Third Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers at Riffa which ended in a 2-2 draw.

However, the match was marked by controversy due to referee Ahmed Al Kaf's decision from Oman, including the addition of six minutes from time to 11 minutes.

In Group C standings for the 2026 World Cup Qualification, the Red-White Team currently occupies third place behind Japan and Australia. While Bahrain is in fifth place with the same points, six points.

Before meeting Indonesia, Bahrain will first face a tough challenge by traveling to Japan headquarters on March 20, 2025.

At the same time, the Indonesian national team will also take the test no less difficult than traveling to Australian headquarters.

Then, they just hosted Bahrain at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, five days later.