Manama, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, received a phone call from Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Football Association (BFA), who congratulated His Majesty on the national football team's victory over Australia in the first round of the third stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. His Majesty commended the outstanding performance of the national team against Australia, praising the players' advanced levels, sportsmanship, and determination. HM King Hamad noted that this performance reflects the progress of Bahraini football and its standing at the regional and international levels, expressing hope that this victory will serve as motivation for the players to continue achieving success in upcoming matches. His Majesty also commended the efforts of BFA, led by Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa, in preparing the team and providing all necessary means of success for the players. His Majesty expressed appreciation to the technical and administrative staff of the na tional team for their outstanding work, which has fostered a winning spirit among the players, and praised all the dedicated national efforts supporting the team. Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa expressed his gratitude for the support the sports sector receives from His Majesty King Hamad, noting that His Majesty's patronage reflects his great interest in Bahraini sports. He also commended the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, through various government programmes that back the sports sector. Shaikh Ali underscored the support of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), for BFA. He also lauded the efforts of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of SCYS, Chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA), and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC), which have d riven the development of sports and contributed to further successes and achievements. Shaikh Ali said that His Majesty's congratulations are a source of pride for the entire Bahraini sports community. He expressed his gratitude for His Majesty's recognition and emphasised that the responsibility within the Bahraini football establishment has now grown, committing to intensified efforts in preparing the national team for the upcoming stages of the World Cup qualifiers. Source: Bahrain News Agency