Bahrain face off with Lebanon today in their opening match of the qualification competition for the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025.
The Bahrainis and Lebanese are in Group A of the qualifiers, being held in Thailand. Their clash is scheduled for a 12.30pm kick-off at Nonthaburi Stadium in the Thai city of Nonthaburi.
Other teams in their pool are hosts Thailand, Palestine, and Iraq.
The official pre-match technical meeting was held yesterday where it was confirmed that Bahrain would wear their red kits for the contest while Lebanon will be in white.
The nationals, coached by Brazilian Marcelino Gomes, have a 14-player squad in Thailand, including Hessa Al Isa, Shaikha Alanood Al Khalifa, Manar Ebrahim, Leleeya Sabkar Jawed, Ameera Bader Swar, Fatima Hamad Alnusuf, Rawan Nabeela Alaali, Eman Rashed Alkhatal, Rose Fayez Tobila, Sama Amjad, Amina Hamad Aldoseri, Shoog Abdulhaleem Alalwani, and goalkeepers Zahra Nezar and Hiba Salem Alhabishe.
They are one of 19 national teams playing in four different qualification groups – each being held at separate locations – for the right to claim one of nine available berths in the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup, which will be held in China in May of this year.
Following today’s fixture, the Bahrainis take on Iraq on Monday at 12.30pm, and then play hosts Thailand on January 17 at 3.30pm. The nationals battle Palestine in their final game on January 19 at 12.30pm. All times are Bahrain.
Group B features hosts Indonesia, Hong Kong, Pakistan, India, and Kyrgyzstan; while Group C is composed of hosts Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Australia, the Philippines, and Kuwait. There are only four teams in Group D, including hosts Myanmar, Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, and Macau.
The top two teams from each pool, along with the best third-placed side overall, will book their tickets to the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup, which is set to take place in China from May 7 to 18, with a field of 12 teams.
The nine qualifiers will join China, Iran, and Japan in the tournament.
This year’s championship is set to be the third edition of the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup. Bahrain are looking to qualify for only the second time in the tournament’s history.
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