Lebanon national football team
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The Lebanon national football team,Template:Efn controlled by the Lebanese Football Association (LFA), have represented Lebanon in association football since their inception in 1933. The squad is governed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) continentally, and FIFA worldwide. While Lebanon have yet to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, they have qualified three times to the AFC Asian Cup: they first participated in 2000, when they hosted the event. Lebanon's main venue is the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium in Beirut; however, they also play in other locations such as the Saida Municipal Stadium in Sidon.
Having joined FIFA in 1936, Lebanon played their first FIFA-recognised game in 1940 against Mandatory Palestine. During their 2014 qualification campaign for the World Cup, Lebanon reached the final qualifying round for the first time thanks to a 2–1 victory against South Korea at home in 2011, but failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup finishing bottom of their group. At the 2019 Asian Cup, Lebanon were close to qualifying to the knock-out stages for the first time. However, they lost a tiebreaker to Vietnam in the third-place ranking on the fair play rule and were knocked out of the competition at the group stage. Lebanon also compete in the Arab Cup, the WAFF Championship, and the Arab Games. As hosts, they have finished third—once at the Arab Cup (1963) and twice at the Arab Games (1957 and 1997).
Inspired by their national symbol, the Lebanese team is known as "the Cedars" (Template:Langx) by fans and media. Their home kit is primarily red and their away kit white, a reference to their national flag. After a steady decline in their FIFA ranking from 1998 to 2016, Lebanon jumped 66 places (from 147th in 2016 to 81st in 2018) and reached their highest rank to date—77th—in September 2018. This came after a 16-game unbeaten streak, from 29 March 2016 to 9 September 2018, during which Lebanon won eight games and drew eight.
HistoryEdit
1933–1947: Formation and early matchesEdit
Lebanon was one of the first nations in the Middle East to establish a formal administrative body for association football.Template:EfnTemplate:Sfn On 22 March 1933, representatives from 13 football clubs gathered in the Minet El Hosn district of Beirut to form the Lebanese Football Association (LFA).<ref name="akhbar2018">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="LFAabout">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The LFA was initially led by Hussein Sejaan,Template:Sfn and became a member of FIFA in 1936.<ref name="LFAabout" /><ref name="elsportLFA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On 3 February 1934, the LFA organized a training camp for 22 players from Beirut in preparation for a friendly match against the Romanian club CA Timișoara (TAC).<ref name="TAC1934">Template:Cite news</ref> The players were divided into two teams and competed against each other at the American University of Beirut (AUB) field.<ref name="TAC1934" /> However, the scheduled match against TAC on 18 February was canceled due to financial disputes between the LFA and AUB, which had organized the event.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Beirut XI team eventually faced TAC on 21 November 1935 at the AUB field,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> losing 3–0.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 29 October 1939, the Beirut XI played their first match against Syria's Damascus XI in Beirut, resulting in a 5–4 defeat.<ref>L'Orient (in French). 31 October 1939.</ref> They played a return game in Damascus on 14 November, which resulted in a 6–1 win for Beirut XI.<ref>Le Jour (in French). January–February 1947.</ref> Over the following years, the two teams competed in 16 unofficial matches until 1963, with the Beirut XI securing seven victories, two draws, and seven losses.<ref name="RSSSFprehist">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Lebanese national team's first official FIFA-recognized match was played on 27 April 1940, facing Mandatory Palestine at the Maccabiah Stadium in Palestine.<ref name="results">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The game ended in a 5–1 defeat for Lebanon, with an estimated attendance of 6,000 to 10,000 spectators.<ref name="filastin">Template:Cite news</ref> Mandatory Palestine dominated the first half, scoring four goals.<ref name="palestinepost">Template:Cite news</ref> In the second half, Lebanese forward Camille Cordahi, assisted by Muhieddine Jaroudi, scored Lebanon's first official international goal.<ref name="palestinepost" /> Mandatory Palestine added a fifth goal, concluding the match with a 5–1 victory.<ref name="palestinepost" />
Lebanon played their first official match against Syria on 26 April 1942, losing 2–1 in Beirut as part of the Coupe Hauteclocque.<ref name="LJ280442">Template:Cite news</ref> The trophy, donated by French diplomat Template:Ill in 1939, was intended to be a regular fixture between Lebanon and Syria.<ref name="LJ190342">Le Jour (in French). 19 March 1942.</ref> The match, held at the AUB field in front of 3,000 spectators, saw Lebanon coached by Abed Traboulsi and captained by Labib Majdalani.<ref name="LJ280442" /> Although two matches were initially planned,<ref name="LJ190342" /> only the Beirut fixture took place.<ref name="LJ280442" /> The Coupe Hauteclocque remained a point of contention, as the Syrian Football Association had retained possession of the cup since 1939.<ref name="LJ190342" /> Lebanon played two additional friendlies against Syria in 1947, losing 4–1 in Beirut on 4 May,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and 1–0 in Aleppo on 18 May.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1953–1963: Entry into regional competitionsEdit
Coached by Vinzenz Dittrich,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lebanon participated in their first international tournament at the inaugural edition of the football tournament at the Arab Games, held in Egypt in 1953.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The team finished at the bottom of its group after a 4–1 loss to Jordan,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and a 0–0 draw with Syria.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the fifth-place match, Lebanon secured a 9–1 victory over Palestine.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 29 February 1956, Lebanon played Hungary in a notable 4–1 home defeat, during which Hungarian star Ferenc Puskás scored two goals.<ref>An-Nahar (in Arabic). 1 March 1956.</ref><ref>Al-Hayat (in Arabic). 1 March 1956.</ref> Lebanon also participated in unofficial matches against prominent European clubs such as Dynamo Moscow, Leipzig, and Spartak Trnava in 1957.<ref name="RSSSFprehist" /> That same year, Lebanon faced Romanian club Energia Flacăra Ploiești in the opening game of the Sports City Stadium in Beirut, securing a 1–0 victory with a goal by Joseph Abou Mrad.<ref name="CSSC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
From 19 to 27 October 1957, Lebanon hosted the second edition of the Arab Games and were drawn with Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Jordan in the group stages.<ref name="PAG2" /> After two 1–1 draws against Saudi Arabia and Syria, Lebanon defeated Jordan 6–3 thanks to two braces by Joseph Abou Mrad and Mardik Tchaparian, and one goal each by Robert Chehade and Levon Altounian; this placed them first in their group.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the semifinals, Lebanon lost 4–2 to Tunisia.<ref>Al-Hayat (in Arabic). 27 October 1957.</ref> They finished in third place after Morocco withdrew from the third-place match.<ref name="PAG2" />
Lebanon hosted the third edition of the Mediterranean Games in 1959, held in Beirut in October, and were grouped with Italy B and Turkey B.Template:Efn<ref name="MED59" /> They finished last in the group, after four losses to the two European teams.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Al-Hayat (in Arabic). 15 October 1959.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Lebanon played their first Summer Olympic qualifiers in 1959 between November and December. Coached by English coach Harry Wright, Lebanon were grouped with Iraq and Turkey. They played two games against Iraq, losing 3–0 at home and 8–0 away, before withdrawing from the qualifiers prior to their two matches against Turkey.<ref>Al-Hayat (in Arabic). 17 November 1959.</ref><ref>Al-Hayat (in Arabic). 26 November 1959.</ref>
The 1961 Arab Games, marking the third edition of the competition, were held in Morocco. The tournament featured six teams competing in a single round-robin format. Lebanon's national team participated in the event, under head coach Joseph Nalbandian, recording a mixed set of results.<ref>Le Jour (in French). 17 August 1961.</ref> Lebanon won matches against Saudi Arabia (7–1) and Kuwait (4–0), and suffered defeats against Morocco (1–0), the United Arab Republic (UAR; 4–0), and Libya (3–2). Lebanon finished in fourth place out of the six participating teams.<ref>The Egyptian Gazette. 7 September 1961.</ref><ref>L'Orient (in French). 9 September 1961.</ref>
Lebanon hosted the inaugural Arab Cup in 1963 between March and April, marking the first edition of the tournament.<ref name="AC63" /> The concept of an Arab Cup was initially proposed in 1957 by Lebanese journalist Nassif Majdalani and Izzat Al Turk, the Secretary General of the LFA.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1962, the LFA, under the leadership of its president Georges Dabbas, formally advocated for the establishment of the tournament.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The inaugural competition took place in Beirut between April and May 1963, featuring five participating teams.<ref name="AC63" /> Lebanon was placed in a group with Tunisia, Syria, Kuwait, and Jordan.<ref name="AC63" /> The Lebanese team began the tournament with a 6–0 victory over Kuwait, highlighted by a hat-trick from Mardik Tchaparian.<ref name="orient63">Template:Cite news</ref> Following another win against Jordan (5–0) and losses to Syria (3–2) and Tunisia (1–0), Lebanon secured a third-place finish in the tournament.<ref name="AC63" />
The 1963 Mediterranean Games, the fourth edition of the event, was held in Italy in September. Lebanon was placed in Group B alongside Turkey, Spain, Malta, and the UAR. Notably, European teams in the tournament fielded amateur players. Lebanon's campaign began with a 1–0 loss to Spain,<ref>L'Orient (in French). 21 September 1963.</ref> followed by a 4–0 loss to Turkey,<ref>L'Orient (in French). 22 September 1963.</ref> and a 2–0 victory over Malta.<ref>L'Orient (in French). 24 September 1963.</ref> In their final group match against the UAR on 25 September, the game was abandoned in the 27th minute due to a waterlogged pitch, with the score tied at 0–0. Rescheduled for the next day, a dispute over the venue arose: the UAR insisted on relocating, while Lebanon refused, citing tournament regulations. The technical committee sided with the UAR, leading Lebanon to withdraw. Consequently, the UAR was awarded a 2–0 walkover victory.<ref>La Stampa (in Italian). 26 September 1963.</ref>
1964–1971: AFC membership and continued regional participationEdit
Lebanon played at the 1964 Tripoli Fair Tournament, held in Tripoli, Libya in March; in a group with Sudan B, Morocco B, Malta B, and hosts Libya, they finished in first place with seven points.<ref name="FIFAbulletin42" />
The 1964 Arab Cup, the second edition of the tournament, was held in Kuwait in November. The competition featured five teams—Iraq, Libya, Kuwait, Jordan, and Lebanon—competing in a single-round robin format. Lebanon finished in fourth place, recording one win, one draw, and two defeats during the tournament.<ref>L'Orient (in French). 17 November 1964.</ref><ref>L'Orient (in French). 20 November 1964.</ref><ref>L'Orient (in French). 22 November 1964.</ref>
The 1965 Arab Games, the fourth edition of the event, took place in Cairo, UAR. Lebanon was placed in Group A alongside the UAR, Palestine, Iraq, and Aden. The team finished fourth in the group.<ref>L'Orient (in French). 4 September 1965.</ref><ref>L'Orient (in French). 5 September 1965.</ref><ref>L'Orient (in French). 7 September 1965.</ref><ref>L'Orient (in French). 8 September 1965.</ref>
In the 1966 Arab Cup, the third edition held in Iraq, Lebanon were drawn with Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain in Group A.<ref>L'Orient (in French). 31 March 1966.</ref> After three wins and a draw,<ref>Le Jour (in French). 3 April 1966.</ref><ref>Baghdad News. 5 April 1966.</ref><ref>Le Jour (in French). 6 April 1966.</ref><ref>Le Jour (in French). 8 April 1966.</ref> they qualified to the semi-finals against Syria, where they lost 1–0.<ref>L'Orient (in French). 10 April 1966.</ref> In the third-place match, Lebanon lost 6–1 to Libya, finishing the competition in fourth place.<ref>Le Jour (in French). 13 April 1966.</ref>
Lebanon participated in the 1968 Summer Olympics qualifiers, held in Tokyo, Japan, from September to October 1967. Lebanon faced challenges early on, as the team's Hungarian coach, József Albert, was unable to obtain a visa for Japan and was replaced by Joseph Nalbandian.<ref>L'Orient (in French). 20 September 1967.</ref> Lebanon began with a 1–1 draw against South Vietnam,<ref>L'Orient (in French). 29 September 1967.</ref> followed by a 2–0 loss to South Korea,<ref>Le Jour (in French). 2 October 1967.</ref> and a 3–1 defeat to Japan.<ref>L'Orient (in French). 4 October 1967.</ref><ref>Le Jour (in French). 4 October 1967.</ref> However, the team secured two notable victories: an 11–1 win over the Philippines on 6 October,<ref name="LJ071067">Le Jour (in French). 7 October 1967.</ref> which remains Lebanon's largest margin of victory to date,<ref name="results" /> and a 5–2 win against Taiwan.<ref>L'Orient (in French). 10 October 1967.</ref><ref>Le Jour (in French). 10 October 1967.</ref> The match against the Philippines featured four goals by Joseph Abou Mrad and three by Samir Nassar.<ref name="LJ071067" /> Despite these wins, Lebanon finished third out of six teams and did not qualify for the Olympics.<ref name="OLY68" />
Four years later, Lebanon took part in the 1972 Summer Olympics qualifiers under coach Joseph Abou Mrad. It was initially planned for a group stage in Tehran, featuring North Korea, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. However, due to visa issues with Iranian authorities, FIFA restructured the group into knockout ties.<ref name="OLY72" /> Ultimately, Lebanon faced Iraq in a home-and-away series. Lebanon won the first match 1–0 in Beirut,<ref>An-Nahar (in Arabic). 21 June 1971.</ref> but lost the second 1–0 in Baghdad.<ref>An-Nahar (in Arabic). 15 July 1971.</ref> A decisive third match was held in Istanbul, Turkey, where Iraq secured a 2–1 victory, advancing to the second round of qualifiers; Lebanon was eliminated from the competition.<ref>An-Nahar (in Arabic). 21 September 1971.</ref>
After joining the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1964,<ref name="LFAabout" /><ref name="elsportLFA" /> Lebanon's first Asian Cup qualifying campaign was for the 1972 tournament under coach Abou Mrad.<ref name="AFCcoaches">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Western Zone qualifiers, held in Kuwait in December 1971, began with an allocation match to determine Lebanon's group placement. Lebanon lost 3–0 to Bahrain,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and was placed in Group B alongside Kuwait and Syria.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the group stage, Lebanon suffered a 1–0 defeat to Kuwait,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but secured a 3–2 victory over Syria, advancing to the semi-finals.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, in the decisive semi-final match, where a win would have guaranteed qualification, Lebanon lost 4–1 to Iraq.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The team concluded their campaign with a 2–0 consolation victory over Jordan in the third-place match.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1979–1988: Civil war disruptionsEdit
Despite Lebanon's ongoing civil war (1975–1990), the national football team continued participating in international competitions, though with significant disruptions. A notable incident occurred in 1979 during preparations for a match against South Korea, when Joseph Nalbandian, secretary-general of the LFA, was detained for six hours in the basement of the Kataeb Regulatory Forces' War Council building, the paramilitary wing of the Kataeb Party.<ref name="travel1984">Template:Cite news</ref> Despite this political interference, the national team proceeded with its travel to South Korea for the match.<ref name="travel1984" />
The team faced further challenges during the 1980 Asian Cup qualifiers, held in Abu Dhabi in November 1979. After a 0–0 draw against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Lebanon needed a victory over Syria to secure qualification for the final tournament.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The decisive match proved controversial, with refereeing decisions including a disputed penalty awarded to Syria, a disallowed Lebanese goal, and the sending off of three Lebanese players.<ref name="SYR79">Template:Cite news</ref> These incidents contributed to Lebanon's 1–0 defeat, resulting in their elimination from the competition.<ref name="SYR79" />
Lebanon's participation in the 1984 Asian Cup qualifiers was similarly affected by the civil war. Drawn into Group 2 alongside six other teams for matches scheduled in Saudi Arabia between 20–31 October 1984,<ref name="ANC84" /> the squad under Bulgarian coach Todor Simeonovski was ultimately unable to compete.<ref name="travel1984" /> Despite arriving at Beirut International Airport on 17 October 1984 ready to depart, the team was prevented from traveling, with the LFA subsequently informing Saudi officials via telegram that "security reasons beyond [its] control" had forced their withdrawal.<ref name="travel1984" />
The national team's first attempt at qualifying for the FIFA World Cup in 1986 was also impacted by the conflict. Lebanon played four matches in March 1985 against Iraq and Qatar, losing all fixtures before withdrawing from the competition due to the escalating civil war.<ref name="WC86" /> FIFA subsequently annulled all of Lebanon's results from the qualifiers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
At the 1987 Mediterranean Games in Latakia, Syria, Lebanon participated in the football tournament but struggled competitively. After an initial 0–0 draw against San Marino,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> defeats to Turkey Olympic (1–0)<ref>Milliyet (in Turkish). 19 September 1987 (link).</ref> and hosts Syria (6–1) saw the team finish third in their group and fail to progress beyond the group stage.<ref name="MED87" />
Lebanon's final major tournament appearance during the civil war came at the 1988 Arab Cup. After qualifying through matches in Aleppo, including a 2–1 loss to Syria<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and a 0–0 draw with Palestine,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Lebanon competed in the finals in Jordan. Drawn in a group with Egypt, Iraq, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia, the team recorded one win, two draws, and one defeat to finish third in their group, failing to advance to the knockout stages.<ref name="AC88" />
1993–2004: Post-war rebuilding and 2000 Asian Cup hostsEdit
Lebanon returned to international competition in 1993, entering in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers under coach Adnan Al Sharqi. <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Their gap of 57 years between the date of FIFA affiliation (1936) and their first full World Cup qualifying campaign (1993) was the highest to date; it was surpassed by the Philippines three years later with a gap of 68 years.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lebanon finished third in their group with two wins, four draws, and two losses, failing to advance.<ref name="WC94" />
Under Terry Yorath, Lebanon's first post-war foreign manager, the team began their first post-war campaign to qualify for the 1996 Asian Cup.<ref name="ANC96" /> Despite winning twice against Turkmenistan and losing only once (at home, against Kuwait), Lebanon were eliminated from the competition with a one-point difference with Kuwait (the group leader).<ref name="ANC96" /> Yorath's tenure (1995–1997) saw Lebanon rise 10 places in the FIFA rankings after a 3–3 draw with the Czech Republic and a 1–0 win over Jordan, both friendlies played in February 1997.<ref name="AFCTOTM97">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Thanks to their performances, Lebanon were awarded the Asian Team of the Month award.<ref name="AFCTOTM97" /> Lebanon were drawn in a group which included Kuwait and Singapore in the 1998 World Cup qualifiers, played between April and June 1997.<ref name="WC98" /> Led by Yorath, the Cedars were eliminated with only four points.<ref name="WC98" /> Despite the team's elimination, the Welsh manager was one of the team's most successful managers, with 15 wins in 31 official matches during his two-year tenure.<ref name="results" />
Template:Football squad on pitch Lebanon hosted the 2000 Asian Cup, despite FIFA's concerns about stadium conditions.<ref name="guardian2000AFC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Coached by Josip Skoblar<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and captained by Jamal Taha,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lebanon drew into Group A with Iran, Iraq, and Thailand.<ref name="ANC00" /> Out of the 23 called-up players for the tournament, five were Brazilians with Lebanese ancestry.<ref name="TRTdiaspora">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lebanon played their first Asian Cup game against Iran on 12 October 2000 at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium with 52,418 spectators.<ref name="ANC00" /> Trailing by one goal at half time, Lebanon conceded three further goals in the second half to end their first group stage match in a 4–0 defeat.<ref name="ANC00" /> In the second match, against Iraq, two goals in the first 22 minutes gave the opposing team a comfortable lead.<ref name="ANC00" /> However, an Abbas Chahrour long-distance volley in the 28th minute,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lebanon's first goal in the competition,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and a goal by Moussa Hojeij in the 76th minute gave Lebanon their first point of the competition.<ref name="ANC00" /> Lebanon played Thailand in the final group stage match.<ref name="ANC00" /> With the opposing team gaining the lead in the 58th minute, Luís Fernandes equalised for Lebanon to end the match 1–1.<ref name="ANC00" /> The draw was not enough as they finished last in the group, with only two points.<ref name="ANC00" />
Managed by Theo Bücker, Lebanon drew with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand in the first round of the 2002 World Cup qualifications.<ref name="WC02" /> The team, with good offense from Roda Antar, Haitham Zein, Vartan Ghazarian, and Gilberto dos Santos, finished second in their group with 26 goals in six games (the most in their group).<ref name="WC02" />
Under Richard Tardy,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lebanon drew into Group D of the 2004 Asian Cup qualifiers.<ref name="ANC04" /> Before the match away to North Korea, the Lebanese team were reportedly ill-treated; hotel conditions were poor, and their training field contained goats and sheep.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Lebanon finished third in their group, with four points.<ref name="ANC04" /> For the second round of the qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup, Lebanon were grouped with South Korea, Vietnam, and the Maldives.<ref name="WC06" /> Under Mahmoud Hamoud, they finished second in their group and were eliminated.<ref name="WC06" />
2006–2014: World cup qualification breakthroughs and controversiesEdit
Lebanon drew into Group D for the 2007 Asian Cup qualifying campaign with Australia, Bahrain, and Kuwait, played in 2006.<ref name="ANC07" /> The scheduled meeting between Australia and Lebanon made Buddy Farah, an Australian player of Lebanese descent, declare his return to the Lebanese national side.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Before Lebanon's match with Bahrain on 16 August, it was announced on 1 August that the Asian Football Confederation had accepted a withdrawal request from the Lebanon Football Association due to the 2006 Lebanon War, which forced several players to leave their homes to avoid the war.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2007 Lebanon was seeded in the first round of the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup, where they faced India to qualify directly for the third round of the qualifiers.<ref name="WC10qualIND">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lebanon won 6–3 on aggregate and advanced to the third round, with two goals by Mohammed Ghaddar in the second match.<ref name="WC10qualIND" /> Lebanon, grouped with Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Uzbekistan, finished last with no points.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In April 2008, Lebanon and the Maldives (the two lowest-ranked teams in Asia)Template:Efn<ref name="TOM">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> played home-and-away matches in the preliminary round of the 2011 Asian Cup; the winner would proceed to the next round.<ref name="AFC11qualMDVAFC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="AFC11qualMDVFIFA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A 4–0 home win and a 2–1 victory in the away match advanced Lebanon to the qualifying round.<ref name="AFC11qualMDVAFC" /><ref name="AFC11qualMDVFIFA" /> Between 2009 and 2010, they drew into Group D with China, Syria, and Vietnam, finishing last.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Emile Rustom, re-appointed as head coach in November 2008, led Lebanon into the second round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They faced Bangladesh, winning 4–0 in Beirut on 23 July 2011, and losing 2–0 in Dhaka five days later.<ref name="WCqual14BAN">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lebanon advanced to the third round, where they were grouped with South Korea, Kuwait, and the UAE.<ref name="SWWCqual14">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rustom resigned less than a week later, citing internal administrative problems.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On 4 August 2011, Theo Bücker was reappointed as Lebanon's head coach.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The former national team manager took the reins nine years after leaving that position. Lebanon began the third round losing 6–0 away to South Korea. In the second match, they came back from one goal down to defeat the UAE 3–1 at home.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The team then drew 2–2 to Kuwait in Beirut on 11 October.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> For the first time since 2005, when the LFA barred fans from the stadiums due to behavioural issues, spectators (32,000) were allowed at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Bad fan behaviour (mainly fireworks-related) was again a problem against Kuwait, forcing referee Masaaki Toma to stop the game several times.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A month later, Lebanon defeated Kuwait 1–0 in Kuwait City;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> it was Kuwait's first home loss to Lebanon.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 15 November, Lebanon hosted South Korea at Beirut's Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium before over 40,000 spectators.<ref name="keedaBrazil">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ali Al Saadi gave Lebanon the lead after four minutes, however South Korea tied the score with a penalty kick. Lebanon regained the lead in the 30th minute through an Abbas Ali Atwi penalty; the match finished in a 2–1 victory. Lebanon's first-ever win against South Korea qualified them for the fourth (and final) round of the World Cup qualifiers for the first time.<ref name="BRSK14">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2012 Lebanon drew into Group A of the fourth round, with South Korea, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Qatar.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In Lebanon's fourth game, on 11 September against Iran, a first-half Roda Antar goal gave Lebanon the lead through a header.<ref name="SWWCqual14IRN">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They held onto the lead and won 1–0; the three points were crucial to stay in contention for a spot at the 2014 World Cup.<ref name="SWWCqual14IRN" /> On 26 February 2013, team members Ramez Dayoub and Mahmoud El Ali were involved in the 2013 Lebanese match-fixing scandal; they were accused of illegal betting on several matches involving Lebanese teams (including the national team), in addition to manipulating results.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The players were fined $15,000 and banned from the Lebanon Football Association for life.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lebanon's 1–0 defeat to Qatar was part of the scandal, with defender Dayoub purposely passing the ball to the Qatari striker, who netted the only goal of the game.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Lebanese team then lost to Uzbekistan 1–0 on the road.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the following match they hosted South Korea in Beirut and led 1–0, until South Korea scored the equaliser in the 97th minute, eliminating Lebanon.<ref name="SNetSK18">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2013 the team drew into group B with Iran, Thailand and Kuwait for the 2015 Asian Cup qualifications.<ref name="SWAFCqual15">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After losing 5–0 to Iran, and winning 5–2 against Thailand, Giuseppe Giannini replaced Theo Bücker as head coach.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> During Giannini's first game, on match day three, Mohammad Ghaddar scored the equaliser against Kuwait in Beirut to earn a point for Lebanon.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lebanon ended the qualifications in third place in their group, with two wins, two draws, and two losses.<ref name="SWAFCqual15" /> Lebanon and China were tied on points in the ranking of third-places teams; China had a better goal difference, however, and went on to play in the final tournament.<ref name="SWAFCqual15" />
After the country's failed attempt to qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia, the Lebanese Football Association decided to reform the national team in 2014 by modeling it on the Belgium national team (particularly Belgium's performance in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil).<ref name="keedaIndia">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Inviting new players from nations with a large Lebanese community (such as the United States, Germany, Denmark, and Norway) would, it was hoped, bring about a rebirth of Lebanese football.<ref name="keedaIndia" /> On 8 September 2014, Lebanon played an unofficial FIFA match against the Brazilian Olympic team in Doha for the first time; the match ended in a 2–2 draw. Hassan Maatouk scored a goal which would have given Lebanon a 3–1 lead, but the goal was incorrectly ruled offside; Brazil's equalising goal was erroneously ruled onside.<ref name="akhbarBrazil">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The match excited the Lebanese people, despite poor refereeing.<ref name="akhbarBrazil" /> After Lebanon's 5–0 away loss to Qatar a month later,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Giuseppe Giannini was fired.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2015–2019: First Asian Cup qualification and record unbeaten runEdit
Miodrag Radulović was appointed the team's new coach in 2015,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and led Lebanon in the 2018 World Cup qualifications, played between June 2015 and March 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The team were drawn in a group that included Asia's runners-up South Korea, Kuwait, Myanmar, and Laos,<ref name="SWWCqual18">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the second time Lebanon faced South Korea and Kuwait in World Cup qualifiers. Lebanon finished second in the group and, although they were eliminated from the World Cup, they qualified to the 2019 Asian Cup qualification third round, played between March 2017 and March 2018.<ref name="2019roosqual">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The Asian Cup draw put Lebanon in Group B, with North Korea, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.<ref name="SWAFCqual19">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> With five wins and a draw, Lebanon topped the group and qualified for the cup for the first time (after qualifying as host in 2000, the country's only previous participation).<ref name="FIFAradu17">Template:Cite news</ref> Hassan Maatouk (who succeeded Roda Antar as captain in 2016)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> was key to Lebanon's success, scoring five goals in six games.<ref name="2019roosqual" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Although Radulović failed to qualify the team for the 2018 World Cup, he helped Lebanon reach their first-ever Asian Cup through qualification in 2019;Template:Efn<ref name="2019roosqual" /> he was the first Montenegrin manager to help a team qualify for a major tournament. Radulović managed a 16-game unbeaten streak (from 29 March 2016 to 9 September 2018),<ref name="kuwstreak">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> winning eight and drawing eight,<ref name="Morrison">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> making Lebanon the second-most unbeaten national team by number of games at that point (16) after Spain (26).<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> In September 2018, Lebanon achieved their best-ever FIFA ranking (77th).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Lebanon relied on their diaspora abroad for the 2019 Asian Cup, with nine of their 23 called-up players being born outside Lebanon.<ref name="TRTdiaspora" /> They started the campaign on 9 January 2019, with a 2–0 loss against Qatar.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the 37th minute, Ali Hamam scored a goal for Lebanon from a corner, only for it to be controversially disallowed for a foul.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Two goals by Qatar in the second half secured all three points for the opposing team.<ref name="AFC19QAT">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Three days later, Lebanon played their second match of the tournament against Saudi Arabia.<ref name="AFC19KSA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Two goals without reply brought Lebanon their second defeat of the tournament.<ref name="AFC19KSA" />
In the final group stage game against North Korea, played on 17 January, Lebanon needed to win by four goals to pass to the knock-out stages.<ref name="AFC19PRK">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The encounter ended in a 4–1 win, thanks to a brace by Hilal El-Helwe, which gave Lebanon their first ever Asian Cup win.<ref name="AFC19PRK" /> However, they lost out to Vietnam in the third-place ranking on the fair play rule.<ref name="AFC19PRK" /> Because they had received seven yellow cards against five by Vietnam, they were knocked out of the competition.<ref name="AFC19PRK" />
Liviu Ciobotariu was appointed for the joint qualifications for the 2022 World Cup and the 2023 Asian Cup.<ref name="Ciobotariu">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His first games took place at the 2019 WAFF Championship, where Lebanon were drawn with hosts Iraq, Syria, Palestine, and Yemen.<ref name="GSAWAFF19">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lebanon finished fourth in their group with four points, after a win, a draw, and two defeats.<ref name="GSAWAFF19" />
For the second round of qualification for the 2022 World Cup, Lebanon were drawn with South Korea, for the third time in a row,<ref name="SWWCqual14" /><ref name="SWWCqual18" /> North Korea, who Lebanon had faced in both the qualifications and final stage of the 2019 Asian Cup,<ref name="SWAFCqual19" /><ref name="AFC19PRK" /> Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Lebanon played five matches (two wins, two draws, and one defeat) between September and November 2019,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> before the remaining games were postponed on 9 March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2020–2024: Post-COVID era and 2023 Asian CupEdit
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Former national team captain Jamal Taha was appointed head coach in summer 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> North Korea withdrew from the World Cup qualifiers in May 2021, and their previous results were voided; this highly benefited Lebanon, as they had only gained one point in two games against them.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite only winning only one of their following three games, other results went in Lebanon's favour and they finished among the best runners-up, qualifying to the 2023 Asian Cup for the third time, and the final round of 2022 World Cup qualification for the second time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Lebanon played in Group A of the final round of qualification under coach Ivan Hašek between September 2021 and March 2022, and were drawn with Iran, South Korea, the UAE, Iraq and Syria. Having earned five points in the first four games (all away from home), most notably via a 3–2 win against Syria,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the team was noted as an "early surprise",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> sitting in the play-off qualifying third place as the lowest-ranked team in the round.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the remaining six games (including five at home), Lebanon earned only one point and finished in last place with six points.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref> The qualification campaign was partially covered by Captains, a docuseries released by FIFA and Netflix following six national teams and their respective captains in their 2022 World Cup qualification runs.<ref name="FIFA+" />
Between June and September 2023, Lebanon took part in various friendly tournaments in preparation ahead of the upcoming 2023 Asian Cup. The team finished runners-up in the 2023 Intercontinental Cup – losing 2–0 to hosts India in the final,<ref name="23intercontinental">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> reached the semi-finals of the 2023 SAFF Championship – also losing to hosts India on penalties,<ref name="23SAFF">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and finished in third place in the 2023 King's Cup – defeating India 1–0.<ref name="23kings">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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Radulović was re-appointed head coach of Lebanon ahead of the 2023 Asian Cup, played in January 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They were drawn with hosts Qatar, China and Tajikistan in Group A.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lebanon played the opening game of the Asian Cup on 12 January in front of 82,490 spectators at the Lusail Stadium, which had hosted the 2022 World Cup final 13 months prior.<ref name="QAT24">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Qatar comfortably won the encounter 3–0.<ref name="QAT24" /> Lebanon faced China five days later in a goalless draw.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 22 January, Lebanon headed into the final game against Tajikistan needing a win to progress. Lebanon's Bassel Jradi gave them the lead early in the second half; however, Kassem El Zein's red card reduced them to 10 men in the 52nd minute.<ref name="TJK24">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tajikistan scored twice late in the game and knocked Lebanon out of the competition, who finished last in their group with only one point.<ref name="TJK24" />
Lebanon was drawn in Group I of the second round of qualification for the 2026 World Cup, alongside Australia, Palestine and Bangladesh.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Played between November 2023 and June 2024, Lebanon won once, drew three times and lost twice.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite not qualifying for the next round of World Cup qualification, Lebanon's third-place finish advanced them to the final round of qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The World Cup qualifiers were also the last games of Lebanon's captain Hassan Maatouk, who retired as the team's all-time top goalscorer and most-capped player with 26 goals in 123 games.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Team imageEdit
NicknameEdit
Lebanon is known as "the Cedars" (Template:Langx) by fans and the media, since the cedar tree is the country's national symbol.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
KitsEdit
Template:Multiple image The national team traditionally wear red as their primary colour and white as their secondary colour.Template:Sfn<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The choices originate from the national flag of Lebanon (red, white, and green); green is sometimes reserved for the goalkeeper.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At home, Lebanon usually wear a red shirt, shorts, and socks, with white details;<ref name="AFC19KSA" /> the away kit is a white outfit with red details.<ref name="AFC19QAT" />
During their first unofficial match in 1935, Lebanon wore white shirts with the Lebanese cedar and the association's name on the chest, black shorts, and white socks; the goalkeeper wore a black shirt and white trousers.Template:Sfn In 1940, on the occasion of their first FIFA-sanctioned game against Mandatory Palestine, Lebanon wore a white kit with a black collar, along with black shorts and striped socks.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During the 1960s, Lebanon wore a red shirt with a white horizontal band in the center, which included a green cedar tree in the middle; the shorts were white, and the socks were red-and-white-striped.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In the 2000 Asian Cup, Lebanon wore a red Adidas shirt with white details on the sides and a white collar, white shorts, and red socks.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the 2019 campaign, Lebanon wore a red kit with white details and a white collar,<ref name="AFC19KSA" /> manufactured by Capelli Sport, a sports brand founded by Lebanese-born entrepreneur George Altirs.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Lebanese cedar, the country's national symbol, was present under the team logo in a darker shade of red.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Since 2023, the team kit has been manufactured by Kelme.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Previous manufacturers include Diadora and Adidas.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Home stadiumEdit
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The Lebanese national team play their home games in various stadiums throughout the country. The team's main venue is the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium. Built in 1957 during the presidency of Camille Chamoun, it is the country's largest stadium with 49,500 seats.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Its inaugural game was in 1957, when the national team played Energia Flacara Ploiesti and won 1–0 thanks to a Joseph Abou Mrad goal.<ref name="CSSC" /> It was the main stadium used to host the 2000 Asian Cup held in Lebanon; six matches were played in the stadium including the opening match and the final.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2011 the stadium hosted the famed 2–1 victory against South Korea in the 2014 World Cup qualification, sending Lebanon to the final round of qualification for the first time.<ref name="keedaBrazil" /> Over 40,000 spectators were present to watch the match.<ref name="keedaBrazil" />
The national team, however, also play in other stadiums such as the Saida Municipal Stadium located in Sidon. Built over the sea, the stadium holds 22,600 people,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and was one of the venues to host the 2000 Asian Cup.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Other stadiums in which the national team play include the Tripoli Municipal Stadium and the Beirut Municipal Stadium.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
MediaEdit
Produced by Fulwell 73, FIFA released Captains in 2022, an eight-part sports docuseries following six national team captains in their respective 2022 World Cup qualification campaigns.<ref name="FIFA+">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hassan Maatouk, representing Lebanon, starred in the first season alongside Thiago Silva (Brazil), Luka Modrić (Croatia), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), Andre Blake (Jamaica) and Brian Kaltak (Vanuatu).<ref name="FIFA+" /> It was released by Netflix, and also shown on FIFA's own streaming platform, FIFA+.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Results and fixturesEdit
Template:As of, the Lebanon national football team has played 402 official matches, recording 116 wins, 104 draws, and 182 defeats.<ref name="results" /> The team has scored 482 goals while conceding 603 during this period. Lebanon's largest victory margin remains their 11–1 win against the Philippines in 1967.<ref name="results" /> The team's longest winning streak stands at eight matches, while their record unbeaten run spans 16 consecutive official games.<ref name="Morrison" />
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
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2024Edit
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2025Edit
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2026Edit
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Coaching staffEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
Template:Updated<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Template:Flagicon Miodrag Radulović |
| Team manager | Template:Flagicon Rashid Nassar |
| Assistant coach | Template:Flagicon Srđan Kljajević |
| Goalkeeper coach | Template:Flagicon Mileta Radulović |
| Fitness coach | Template:Flagicon Nikola Vukčević |
| Administrator | Template:Flagicon Fouad Balhawan |
| Physiotherapist | Template:Flagicon Elie Metni |
| Media officer | Template:Flagicon Charbel Krayem |
| Equipment officer | Template:Flagicon Shafiq Fares |
PlayersEdit
Current squadEdit
The following 25 players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Oman and the 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Yemen, on 28 May and 10 June 2025, respectively.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Block indent
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Recent call-upsEdit
The following footballers were part of a national selection in the past 12 months, but are not part of the current squad. Template:Nat fs r start Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs end
Individual recordsEdit
Template:Updated<ref>"Lebanon Most-Capped Players and Top Scorers". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 11 June 2024.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Players in bold are still active with Lebanon.
Most-capped playersEdit
| Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hassan Maatouk | 123 | 26 | 2006–2024 |
| 2 | Mohamad Haidar | 103 | 6 | 2011–present |
| 3 | Abbas Ahmad Atwi | 88 | 8 | 2002–2016 |
| 4 | Roda Antar | 83 | 20 | 1998–2016 |
| 5 | Youssef Mohamad | 81 | 3 | 1999–2016 |
| 6 | Nader Matar | 71 | 4 | 2012–present |
| Jamal Taha | 71 | 12 | 1993–2000 | |
| 8 | Walid Ismail | 69 | 1 | 2010–2019 |
| 9 | Nour Mansour | 67 | 3 | 2010–2024 |
| 10 | Vardan Ghazaryan | 66 | 21 | 1995–2001 |
Top scorersEdit
| Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Average | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hassan Maatouk (list) | 26 | 123 | {{#expr:26/123 round 2}} | 2006–2024 |
| 2 | Vardan Ghazaryan | 21 | 66 | {{#expr:21/66 round 2}} | 1995–2001 |
| 3 | Roda Antar | 20 | 83 | {{#expr:20/83 round 2}} | 1998–2016 |
| 4 | Mohamad Ghaddar | 19 | 46 | {{#expr:19/46 round 2}} | 2006–2017 |
| 5 | Levon Altounian | 18 | 18 | {{#expr:18/18 round 2}} | 1956–1967 |
| 6 | Haitham Zein | 17 | 50 | {{#expr:17/50 round 2}} | 1997–2004 |
| 7 | Mahmoud El Ali | 12 | 46 | {{#expr:12/46 round 2}} | 2007–2012 |
| Jamal Taha | 12 | 71 | {{#expr:12/71 round 2}} | 1993–2000 | |
| 9 | Mardik Tchaparian | 10 | 10 | {{#expr:10/10 round 2}} | 1956–1963 |
| Joseph Abou Mrad | 10 | 21 | {{#expr:10/21 round 2}} | 1953–1967 |
Competitive recordEdit
| Overview | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Event | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place |
| World Cup | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Asian Cup | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Arab Cup | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| WAFF Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Summer Olympics | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Asian Games | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Arab Games | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Mediterranean Games | 0 | 0 | 1 |
FIFA World CupEdit
Although the Lebanese Football Association was formed in 1933,<ref name="akhbar2018" /><ref name="LFAabout" /> Lebanon's first qualification campaign for the FIFA World Cup took place in the 1986 edition.<ref name="WC86" /> However, after playing four matches, Lebanon withdrew due to the ongoing civil war, and their results were subsequently annulled.<ref name="WC86" /> The country's first full qualification campaign came two editions later, in 1994, where they finished third in their group with two wins, four draws, and two losses.<ref name="WC94" /> Ever since, Lebanon have participated in every iteration of the World Cup qualifiers.
Lebanon first reached the final round of World Cup qualification during the 2014 campaign. After beating Bangladesh 4–2 on aggregate in the second round,<ref name="WCqual14BAN" /> Lebanon qualified to the third round, where they were drawn with South Korea, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.<ref name="SWWCqual14" /> The team beat South Korea in a historic 2–1 win at home, coming second in their group and qualifying to the fourth (and final) round for the first time.<ref name="BRSK14" /> Grouped with Iran, South Korea, Uzbekistan, and Qatar,<ref name="SWAFCqual15" /> Lebanon finished last in Group A and were eliminated with only one win and two draws in eight games.<ref name="SNetSK18" />
Template:Lebanon FIFA World Cup record
AFC Asian CupEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
Lebanon's first qualification campaign for the Asian Cup came at the 1972 edition; drawn in Group B of the Western Zone, Lebanon came second thanks to a 3–2 victory over neighbors Syria and advanced to the next stage.<ref name="ANC72" /> In the decisive semi-final match against Iraq, Lebanon lost 4–1 and were knocked-out.<ref name="ANC72" /> Lebanon won a consolatory third-place match against Jordan.<ref name="ANC72" />
The 2000 edition was Lebanon's first participation in the finals, when the country hosted the event.<ref name="guardian2000AFC" /> Following a 4–0 defeat to Iran in the competition's opening match,<ref name="ANC00" /> Lebanon came from behind to draw 2–2 against Iraq;<ref name="ANC00" /> Abbas Chahrour became Lebanon's first goalscorer in the competition.<ref name="ANC00" /> Lebanon drew once again, 1–1 against Thailand, and were eliminated, finishing last in the group.<ref name="ANC00" />
After finishing the 2019 third round of qualification unbeaten, Lebanon qualified to the Asian Cup for the first time in their history.<ref name="FIFAradu17" /> In the finals, Lebanon lost the first group stage match 2–0 to eventual champions Qatar,<ref name="AFC19QAT" /> before losing once again by the same score to Saudi Arabia.<ref name="AFC19KSA" /> In the final match of the group, Lebanon needed a win by four goals or more against North Korea to qualify to the knock-out stage.<ref name="AFC19PRK" /> Despite conceding an early free-kick goal, Lebanon went on to win the match 4–1 thanks to a brace by Hilal El-Helwe.<ref name="AFC19PRK" /> However, they lost out to Vietnam in the third-place ranking due to having received more yellow cards, and were knocked out of the competition.<ref name="AFC19PRK" />
Template:Lebanon AFC Asian Cup record
FIFA Arab CupEdit
Lebanon have taken part in all iterations of the Arab Cup, except the 1985 and 1992 editions. They hosted the inaugural edition in 1963, in a group containing Tunisia, Syria, Kuwait, and Jordan.<ref name="AC63" /> After beating Kuwait 6–0 through a hat-trick by Mardik Tchaparian,<ref name="orient63" /> Lebanon lost 3–2 to Syria, before winning 5–0 against Jordan.<ref name="AC63" /> In a decisive match against Tunisia, Muhieddine Itani scored an own goal, and Lebanon lost 1–0, finishing third.<ref name="AC63" />
Lebanon finished in fourth place in the subsequent two editions (1964 and 1966); ever since, they have failed to pass the group stage.<ref name="AC64" /><ref name="AC66" /> Template:Lebanon FIFA Arab Cup record
WAFF ChampionshipEdit
Bar the 2008 and 2010 editions, Lebanon have participated in every WAFF Championship; they have failed to qualify past the group stage on all occasions. Their first participation in the WAFF Championship was in 2000, at the inaugural edition.<ref name="WAFF00" /> Drawn with Iraq, hosts Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon finished third in their group with one win, one draw, and one loss.<ref name="WAFF00" />
Template:Lebanon WAFF Championship record
Summer Olympic GamesEdit
Template:See also Lebanon's senior team have never qualified to the Summer Olympics final tournament; their first qualification campaign was for Rome 1960.<ref name="OLY60" /> After losing the first two group stage games against Iraq, Lebanon withdrew and the two remaining matches were awarded to their opponent Turkey.<ref name="OLY60" /> Lebanon participated in two more qualifications, in 1968 and 1972, failing to qualify to the final tournament on both occasions.<ref name="OLY68" /><ref name="OLY72" /> Starting from the 1992 edition, the Olympic Football Tournament has been reserved for national under-23 teams.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Lebanon national football team at the Summer Olympics record
Asian GamesEdit
The Lebanon national senior team only participated once at the Asian Games, at Bangkok 1998. Thanks to a 5–1 win against Cambodia, Lebanon qualified past the preliminary round and were drawn with Qatar, Thailand, and Kazakhstan in the second round.<ref name="AG98" /> Following two 1–0 defeats, respectively to Qatar and Thailand, Lebanon won 3–0 against Kazakhstan in their final encounter of the group stage.<ref name="AG98" /> However, the three points weren't enough to qualify Lebanon to the knockout round.<ref name="AG98" />
Template:Lebanon national football team at the Asian Games record
Arab GamesEdit
After participating in the inaugural edition of the Arab Games, at Alexandria 1953,<ref name="PAG1" /> Lebanon hosted the 1957 edition.<ref name="PAG2" /> Topping a group containing Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, Lebanon reached the semi-finals where they lost 4–2 to Tunisia.<ref name="PAG2" /> Due to Morocco withdrawing from the third-place match, Lebanon finished the tournament in third place.<ref name="PAG2" /> Lebanon also came third in 1997, once again as hosts.<ref name="PAG8" /> With two draws and a win, Lebanon came second in their group and qualified to the semi-finals, which they lost after extra time to Syria.<ref name="PAG8" /> Lebanon finished in third place after beating Kuwait 3–1.<ref name="PAG8" />
Template:Lebanon national football team at the Arab Games record
Mediterranean GamesEdit
Lebanon's first participation at the Mediterranean Games was in 1959, when they hosted the event.<ref name="MED59" /> They lost both legs against Italy and Turkey, finishing last with no points.<ref name="MED59" /> Lebanon's senior team participated two more times, in 1963 and 1987, failing to qualify past the group stage on both occasions.<ref name="MED63" /><ref name="MED87" />
Template:Lebanon national football team at the Mediterranean Games record
Other tournamentsEdit
Lebanon won their first tournament—albeit unofficial—at the 1964 Tripoli Fair Tournament; with three wins and one draw, Lebanon finished first in a group containing Libya, Morocco, Sudan, and Malta.<ref name="FIFAbulletin42" /> In 1998, Lebanon participated at the Friendship Tournament in the United Arab Emirates where, with two draws and a defeat, they finished in third place out of four.<ref name="friend98" /> Lebanon also finished in third place at the 2009 King's Cup in Thailand; after losing to the hosts in the semi-finals, they won against North Korea in the third-place match.<ref name="kings09" />
| Tournament | Round | Template:Abbr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagicon 1964 Tripoli Fair Tournament | Champions | <ref name="FIFAbulletin42">Template:Cite news</ref> | |
| Template:Flagicon 1974 Kuneitra Cup | Group stage | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| Template:Flagicon 1975 President's Cup | Group stage | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| Template:Flagicon 1978 President's Cup | Group stage | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| Template:Flagicon 1989 Peace and Friendship Cup | Group stage | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| Template:Flagicon 1998 Friendship Tournament | Third place | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| Template:Flagicon 2009 King's Cup | Third place | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| Template:Flagicon 2009 Nehru Cup | Group stage | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| Template:Flagicon 2023 Intercontinental Cup | Runners-up | <ref name="23intercontinental" /> | |
| Template:Flagicon 2023 SAFF Championship | Semi-finals | <ref name="23SAFF" /> | |
| Template:Flagicon 2023 King's Cup | Third place | <ref name="23kings" /> | |
| Template:Flagicon 2024 Merdeka Tournament | Runners-up | ||
| |||
HonoursEdit
RegionalEdit
- Arab Cup
- Template:Bronze3 Third place (1): 1963
- Arab Games
- Template:Bronze3 Bronze medal (2): 1957, 1997
- Mediterranean Games
- Template:Bronze3 Bronze medal (1): 1959
FriendlyEdit
- Tripoli Fair Tournament
- Winners: 1964
- Friendship Tournament
- Third place: 1998
- AIFF Intercontinental Cup
- Runners-up: 2023
- King's Cup
- Merdeka Tournament
- Runners-up: 2024
See alsoEdit
- List of men's national association football teams
- Lebanese Premier League
- Lebanese football league system
- Football in Lebanon
- Sport in Lebanon
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
- Citations
- Bibliography
External linksEdit
- Template:Official website Template:In lang
- Lebanon at FIFA
- Lebanon at AFC
- WAFF team profile Template:In lang
- ELO team records
Template:Lebanon national football team Template:Navboxes Template:Lebanon national football team managers Template:Navboxes