Soccer fans from across the Kingdom will have the opportunity to witness their home team face off with the Uzbeks, the group’s other contenders, with the winners to secure third place and revive their chances of winning a spot in the World Cup finals.

"We all know that this match is important for all of us as Bahrainis so we decided to open the stadium’s gates for our supporters," said BFA general secretary Ahmed Jassim.

"This is the second time that we have reached the stage where we have to fight for third place in the final qualifying round and we absolutely have a long way ahead.

"Winning this match will only involve us in more playoffs before we fulfil our dream of playing in the World Cup finals for the first time and we should all work hard together to make this dream come true," added Jassim.

Heading into their last match of this five-team group, Bahrain have seven points from seven matches and a draw will ensure them a third-place finish.

The Uzbeks, with four points to their credit, must win the match by any result to leapfrog the Bahrainis and claim third position to set up a home-and-away playoff against the third-placed team from Group ’B’.

The winners from this playoff will then have to play Oceania champions New Zealand in another home-and-away matches for a spot in next year’s cup finals.

Meanwhile, the Bahrainis will resume training today under their coach Milan Macala at the Bahrain Football Association grounds in Riffa.

The team returned yesterday from Sydney where they lost to Australian 0-2 last Wednesday in their penultimate group match.

Macala admitted his side lacked the drive to claim the point they needed to clinch third place and a World Cup qualifying play-off spot after the defeat to the so-called ’Socceroos’.

Macala, who before the game claimed his side would not be intimidated by the Australians, conceded Bahrain did not do enough to avoid defeat.

"We hoped we could get a point because we have a World Cup dream," said the 64-year-old Czech Republic tactician.

"But to get that point we needed more courage offensively because we did not create opportunities. The Australians created more opportunities and in the second-half, they took them."

However, Macala believes that this result has made his side stronger as they head into their deciding match against the Uzbeks.

"This is a very serious situation for us and even though we have the advantage of needing just a point, our players should fight for the full three points and nothing else," added Macala.

Macala underlined individual mistakes had cost his side in several matches during their campaign, including against Australia.