The sport of football in the country of Bahrain is run by the Bahrain Football Association, and significantly the most popular sport in the nation.
Bahrain has its own top-tier domestic professional football league, the Bahraini Premier League. It features 10 football clubs that play a two-round robin set, with each team playing a total of 18 fixtures.Bahraini Premier League, Goalzz.com, retrieved on 15 June 2012. The winners of the domestic championship qualify for the AFC Cup.
The league uses a promotion and relegation system in association with the Bahraini Second Division, Bahrain's second-tier football league. The season usually starts in September and concludes in May, as in other football leagues. The first season was held in 1952. Although games are played on a home and away basis, most games are played at the Bahrain National Stadium.
The relegation of the lowest season finishing team is decided by a relegation/promotion playoff match against the second lowest finishing team. The most successful club in the league's history is Al-Muharraq SC.
Total championships As of 2019–20 season.
ClubNumber of Championships Muharraq Club34Bahrain Riffa Club (includes West Riffa)12Bahrain Club5Al-Ahli (Manama)5Al-Hidd2Al-Nasr1Arabi Club1Al Hala SC1East Riffa Club1Busaiteen1Malkiya SCC1
League system LevelLeague(s)/Division(s)1Premier League12 clubs ↓↑ 2 clubs2Second Division12 clubs
The Bahrain national football team
The most significant achievement of the Bahrain national football team is reaching the semi-finals of the 2004 AFC Asian Cup. The national football team of Bahrain lost against Japan in the semi-finals of the tournament.
Football stadiums in Bahrain
See also Sport in Bahrain Bahrain national football team Lists of stadiums
References