The action heats up as Bahrain plays host to Indonesia in the ongoing AFC qualifier for the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup. With both teams desperate to secure a spot in one of the world's biggest sporting events, expect an intense and riveting match filled with non-stop action and drama. Stay updated and never miss a beat with Al Jazeera English's live text commentary of the game.
Indonesia and Bahrain Face Off in Fierce FIFA World Cup Qualifier
The highly anticipated AFC qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up as Bahrain prepares to host Indonesia on March 28, 2023. Both teams are determined to secure a spot in the biggest sporting event in the world, ensuring an intense and captivating match.
Background
The FIFA World Cup is an international association football competition held every four years and contested by national teams from FIFA's member associations. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the 23rd edition of the competition and will be hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Indonesia and Bahrain are both members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). They have faced each other 13 times in international matches, with Bahrain holding a slight advantage with six victories compared to Indonesia's three.
Current Event Update
The upcoming match between Indonesia and Bahrain will be crucial for both teams' chances of advancing to the next round of qualifiers. Indonesia currently sits in fourth place in Group H, while Bahrain is in third. Only the top two teams in each group will automatically qualify for the third round of qualifiers.
Al Jazeera English will provide live text commentary of the match, ensuring fans never miss a beat of the action.
Top 5 FAQs
Can I watch the match live? Yes, you can watch the match live on Al Jazeera English's digital platforms.
What time does the match start? The match will start at 19:15 GST (16:15 GMT).
Who are the key players to watch? Key players to watch for Indonesia include Evan Dimas and Saddil Ramdani, while Bahrain will rely on Abdulla Yusuf Helal and Kamal Al Aswad.
What is the history between Indonesia and Bahrain in football? Indonesia and Bahrain have faced each other 13 times in international matches, with Bahrain having the slight edge with six wins.
What are the chances of Indonesia and Bahrain qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Indonesia and Bahrain both have a chance of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but it will be a difficult task. They will need to secure a top-two finish in their respective groups in the second round of qualifiers.
Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has praised Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, stating that he has all the qualities to be remembered as the greatest all-format bowler of all time. He highlighted Bumrah's variety in his bowling, with his ability to ace the slower ball, deliver perfect yorkers, swing the ball, and change his delivery at the last moment. However, while Bumrah has had tremendous success in all formats of the game, he has had a rough start to the India-New Zealand series.
Despite winning the first Test of the series, South Africa arrived at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium with something to prove. And they did just that, thanks to maiden centuries from Tony De Zorzi and Joshua Stubbs. The duo's performances helped South Africa reach a commanding 321/3 on Day 1, leaving Bangladesh with a tough task ahead. Follow along for live coverage of the rest of the action.
Manchester City's Rodri took home the prestigious Ballon d'Or award for 2024, edging out Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham. However, tensions were high as Real Madrid decided to boycott the event after learning that Vinicius Jr would not receive the award. Despite this, Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal showed true sportsmanship by being the first to congratulate Rodri on his win, despite being unable to attend due to a season-ending injury.
On the first day of the second Test in Chattogram, South African batsmen Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs dominated the Bangladeshi bowlers and put their team in a commanding position. De Zorzi remained unbeaten on 141 runs while Stubbs scored 106 runs before getting dismissed. Despite desperate attempts from the Bangladesh bowlers, the South African batsmen held their ground and put their team in a strong position with a partnership of 201 runs.
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior has expressed his disappointment on finishing second in the voting for the Ballon d'Or award, which was won by Manchester City's Rodri. Real Madrid also won the award for club of the year and Carlo Ancelotti was named the best coach. Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Bayern Munich's Harry Kane shared the Gerd Muller Trophy for best goalscorer, after scoring 52 goals each in the previous season.
Amidst rumors linking him to the vacant Manchester United manager position, Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim has broken his silence. He led his team to the next round of the Portuguese cup, but there was no big farewell to fans, leaving speculation about his future. Amorim expressed uncertainty and stated that nothing has been decided yet regarding the United job.
Portuguese football manager Ruben Amorim, who has had a successful tenure at Sporting Lisbon, is linked with a move to Manchester United as the club's new manager. With Amorim's current employers in talks with the Premier League club, the fans showed their appreciation for the manager ahead of what could be his last match in charge. Amorim has been a key factor in guiding Sporting to their first league title in 19 years and adds to his list of achievements with two domestic cups. Despite his reluctance to talk about the speculation, it is expected that Amorim, along with three assistant coaches, will make the move to Manchester.
After sacking Erik ten Hag, Manchester United are reportedly close to securing a deal with Ruben Amorim as their new manager. The move has been accelerated after discussions by Ineos, with United hoping to have Amorim in charge for their match against Chelsea this weekend. In addition to the new manager, United are also rumored to be interested in signing one of Amorim's young talents, Geovan Quenda.
Fans of AC Milan will have to wait for their team to take on Bologna as extensive flooding in the city has led to the postponement of the match. The decision was made by Bologna officials, citing unsafe conditions in the city due to the flooding on Thursday. The match was supposed to take place on Saturday but has been delayed for a later date.
The Copa del Rey, the Spanish cup competition, kicks off on Wednesday with six La Liga teams, including Atletico Madrid, taking the field against lower league clubs. Atletico, looking to avenge last season's semifinal loss, faces a team from the sixth tier of Spanish football. Other La Liga teams are also expected to have smooth sailing, but must follow the rule that requires seven first team players on the pitch at all times. This is an opportunity for them to gain some confidence and momentum before returning to league play.