The Bahrain national football team, known as Al-Ahmar (The Red), is a competitive force in Gulf football and has become a regular challenger in the latter stages of Asian Cup qualification. While they have yet to win a major continental trophy, they have come agonizingly close, finishing as runners-up in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup. The team is known for its physical and organized approach, often proving to be a difficult opponent for more fancied sides. Their home matches in Riffa provide a strong advantage. The squad primarily features players from the domestic Bahraini Premier League, with a few key individuals playing abroad. A constant goal is to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time, and they have been involved in several intercontinental playoffs, narrowly missing out. Bahrain continues to strive for a breakthrough that would elevate their status in Asian football.