1. Home
2. Sports
3. Football – Asia 2027: Brunei Ahead, Lebanon One Step Away From Qualification

On Tuesday at 2:15 p.m. (Beirut time), at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Lebanon visits Brunei for Matchday 5 of Group B in the third qualifying round for the 2027 Asian Cup. Sitting atop the group with 10 points, the Lebanese are targeting a fourth victory that would put qualification within reach — a draw against Yemen on March 31, 2026, would then be enough to secure first place, even if Yemen beats Bhutan.

Fresh off an intense training camp in Kuwait, Miodrag Radulović’s men traveled long hours to Bandar Seri Begawan and held a first session on site to adapt. On the injury front, setback for Jihad Ayoub (Grade I muscle tear) and confirmation of Hussein Chakroun’s unavailability (injured earlier with Hannover 96). Both will also miss the Arab Cup playoff against Sudan, scheduled on the 26th in Doha (Al-Gharafa Stadium), ahead of the tournament taking place from December 1 to 18 in Qatar.

Group standings… and the equation

Lebanon leads (10 pts), followed by Yemen (8), Brunei (3) and Bhutan (1). The first leg kicked off the campaign with a 5–0 win “at home” in Al-Wakrah. A repeat expected in the return fixture? The Lebanese remain unbeaten in 11 straight continental qualifiers (30 goals scored, 6 conceded) and are aiming for a 12th match without defeat. Brunei will also become the 47th country to officially host the Lebanese national team.

Radulović sets the tone, Fakhro aims right

In the press conference, Radulović did not mince words: “We are ready for another strong performance and a positive result in continuity. The objective remains to finish top of the group. The trip was exhausting; we are managing the adaptation to the climate and time difference, but I expect a solid match from the players.”
On squad building: “For two years, we have been recruiting quality profiles. Rebuilding while winning matches was not easy, but the results show the progress.”

Scorer in the first leg, Malek Fakhro added: “It’s very important to win against a fast and interesting team. We must rely on our experience to take another step toward the Asian Cup. Our focus is total, match after match, until the March showdown with Yemen.”

On the pitch: efficiency and control

The plan is clear: impose the tempo early to avoid falling into a tropical slow pace, use width, strike quickly. Rotation will be limited but controlled, with the intention of maintaining momentum while preserving freshness ahead of the Sudan match. Control, realism and composure: the roadmap to return from Brunei with what is still needed to seal qualification.