Lebanon have never played at a FIFA World Cup, but the Cedars have come far closer than most realised.
Here is Lebanon’s complete football history, World Cup track record, and where the national team stands today.
Lebanon’s Football Origins
The Lebanese Football Association was founded on 22 March 1933 — a decade before Lebanese independence — when representatives from 13 Beirut clubs gathered in the Minet El Hosn district to formally establish the game.
Lebanon joined FIFA in 1936 and the Asian Football Confederation in 1964, placing it among the Middle East’s earliest football nations.
The Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) struck at the heart of the national programme. Lebanon withdrew from their first World Cup qualification attempt in 1986 after playing just four preliminary matches — FIFA annulled all results when the conflict escalated.
The association split into rival administrations during the conflict, and FIFA froze Lebanon’s membership until February 1987. Lebanon participated in their first complete World Cup qualifying campaign in 1993–94 — a full 57 years after first joining FIFA.
Lebanon’s World Cup Qualification Record
Lebanon have entered every World Cup qualifying cycle since 1994 without ever reaching the finals.
According to FA Lebanon, the team reached the final (fourth) round of AFC qualification twice — for the 2014 and 2022 tournaments — the furthest the Cedars have ever gone.
Their record across every qualifying cycle:
| World Cup | Lebanon’s Result |
|---|---|
| 1994 (USA) | First post-war qualifying campaign. Eliminated in the early rounds. |
| 1998 (France) | Eliminated in AFC qualifying rounds. |
| 2002 (Korea/Japan) | Eliminated at the group stage. |
| 2006 (Germany) | Eliminated in the second round. |
| 2010 (South Africa) | Beat India 6–3 on aggregate to advance, then finished bottom of a third-round group with Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Singapore. |
| 2014 (Brazil) | Historic campaign — reached the final round for the first time. |
| 2018 (Russia) | Finished second in their group, earning a place at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. |
| 2022 (Qatar) | Reached the final round again — showed early promise but finished last in a six-team group. |
| 2026 (USA/Canada/Mexico) | Finished third in a second-round group with Australia, Palestine, and Bangladesh — eliminated from World Cup contention but advanced to the 2027 Asian Cup third-round qualifiers. |
2014 – The Greatest World Cup Run
In November 2011, playing at home in Beirut, Lebanon produced one of the biggest upsets in Asian football history: a 2–1 win over South Korea that sent them to the final round of 2014 World Cup qualification for the first time. As Bleacher Report reported, the result shook the Asian game.
Lebanon finished second in their third-round group — behind South Korea on goal difference but ahead of the UAE and Kuwait — earning a place in the final round alongside Iran, South Korea, Uzbekistan, and Qatar. The highlights of their final-round campaign:
- A 1–0 home win over Iran — one of Lebanon’s biggest-ever results against an Asian powerhouse
- Staying in World Cup contention going into the penultimate matchday
- Eliminated when South Korea scored a 97th-minute equaliser in Beirut
Lebanon finished last in Group A, but the 2014 campaign set a new benchmark for what Lebanese football could achieve against the continent’s elite.
2022 – Early Brilliance, Late Collapse
Lebanon qualified for the final round again for the 2022 tournament, under Czech coach Ivan Hašek.
They made a strong start — five points from four matches, including a 3–2 win over Syria — briefly emerging as the surprise contenders in a group with Iran, South Korea, the UAE, Iraq, and Syria.
But Lebanon earned just one point from their remaining six games and finished last in the group — their story later documented in FIFA and Netflix’s series Captains.
As The New Arab noted, the national team carries exceptional symbolic weight in a country where football remains one of the few unifying forces.
2026 – Playing in Exile, Ending in Style
Lebanon’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign was shaped by events far beyond the pitch.
With the Hezbollah–Israel conflict making Beirut unusable as a hosting venue, Lebanon was required to play all their “home” fixtures at neutral venues — spending the campaign based out of Qatar.
Drawn in Group I alongside Australia, Palestine, and Bangladesh, the Cedars faced a tough task. Australia topped the group unbeaten across all six matches, scoring 22 goals without conceding one.
Lebanon’s full campaign results:
| Date | Fixture | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Nov 2023 | Lebanon vs Palestine | 0–0 |
| 21 Nov 2023 | Bangladesh vs Lebanon | 1–1 |
| 21 Mar 2024 | Australia vs Lebanon | 2–0 |
| 26 Mar 2024 | Lebanon vs Australia | 0–5 |
| 6 Jun 2024 | Palestine vs Lebanon | 0–0 |
| 11 Jun 2024 | Lebanon vs Bangladesh | 4–0 |
Lebanon finished third on six points (W1 D3 L2) — three points behind Palestine, whose second-place finish secured direct entry into the third round of 2026 qualification.
The campaign’s defining moment came on the final day. Captain Hassan Maatouk — Lebanon’s all-time leader in both caps (123) and goals (26) — announced his retirement before the Bangladesh match, then said goodbye with a hat-trick at Khalifa International Stadium.
A fourth goal from Nader Matar completed a 4–0 win, ending Maatouk’s international career exactly as it deserved: with a victory and the armband.
Lebanon Football Ranking in 2026
Lebanon are ranked 99th in the FIFA World Ranking as of June 2026, down from their all-time high of 77th in September 2018.
The 2026 qualifying cycle ended at the second round — an earlier exit than 2014 or 2022.
Lebanon entered the 2027 AFC Asian Cup third-round qualifiers, drawn alongside Yemen, Bhutan, and Brunei. Leading their group with 13 points from five matches, they needed only a draw from the final game to secure a place at the tournament. Yemen won 2–0 in Doha on 4 June 2026, ending Lebanon’s hopes of a fourth Asian Cup appearance.
Two milestones close this chapter in Lebanese football:
- Hassan Maatouk retirement: Lebanon’s all-time record holder — 123 caps and 26 goals — retired after the 2026 qualifiers. He is widely considered the greatest Lebanese footballer of his generation.
- New era under Bougherra: Miodrag Radulović, who oversaw the 2026 qualifying campaign, was replaced in January 2026 by Algerian coach Madjid Bougherra. Lebanon’s record under Radulović included their all-time best FIFA ranking (77th, September 2018) and first merit-based Asian Cup qualification. Bougherra now leads the team into the 2030 World Cup cycle.
The 2030 World Cup qualifying cycle gives the Cedars their next shot at football’s biggest stage.
Lebanon National Football Team: Current Squad
Under Madjid Bougherra — the former Algeria and Rangers centre-back appointed on 29 January 2026 — Lebanon are rebuilding after Hassan Maatouk’s retirement ends a 15-year era.
The squad blends European-based diaspora talent with domestic Lebanese players. Several key contributors to the 2026 qualifying campaign remain the backbone of the side.
Team Profile
| Head Coach | Madjid Bougherra (appointed January 2026) |
| Confederation | AFC (Asian Football Confederation) |
| FIFA Ranking | 99th (June 2026) |
| All-Time Top Scorer | Hassan Maatouk — 26 goals (retired 2024) |
| Most Capped Player | Hassan Maatouk — 123 caps (retired 2024) |
| Home Venue | Beirut Municipal Stadium (matches currently played at neutral venues) |
Key Players (2026 Campaign Squad)
| Position | Player | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Defender | Joan Oumari | Experienced centre-back and former captain |
| Defender | Tarek Elrich | Lebanese-Australian right-back |
| Midfielder | Walid Shour | Central midfielder |
| Midfielder | Bassel Jradi | Attacking midfielder; plays for AEL Limassol (Cyprus) |
| Forward | Omar Bugiel | Striker; plays for AFC Wimbledon (England) |
| Forward | Soony Saad | Lebanese-American winger |
| Forward | Nader Matar | Scored in Maatouk’s farewell match vs Bangladesh |
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Lebanon ever qualified for the FIFA World Cup?
No — Lebanon have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. Their closest attempt came in the 2014 qualifying cycle, when they reached the final round of AFC qualification for the first time and stayed in contention until the penultimate matchday.
Who is Lebanon’s all-time top scorer?
Hassan Maatouk holds both the goals record (26) and caps record (123) for Lebanon. He retired after the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign and is widely considered the greatest Lebanese footballer of his generation.
When did Lebanon first appear at the AFC Asian Cup?
Lebanon first appeared at the AFC Asian Cup in 2000 as tournament hosts. Their first qualification on merit came for the 2019 edition in the UAE, where they claimed their first-ever Asian Cup win — a 4–1 victory over North Korea.
What is Lebanon’s best FIFA ranking?
Lebanon’s highest-ever FIFA ranking was 77th, reached in September 2018 under coach Miodrag Radulović. As of June 2026, they are ranked 99th.
How did Lebanon fare in the 2026 World Cup qualifying?
Lebanon were drawn in Group I with Australia, Palestine, and Bangladesh. Playing all home matches at neutral venues due to the Hezbollah–Israel conflict, they finished third with six points (W1 D3 L2) and were eliminated from World Cup contention. Captain Hassan Maatouk retired in the final game with a farewell hat-trick in a 4–0 win over Bangladesh.
Sources
- FIFA — Lebanese Football Association Official Profile
- FA Lebanon — 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Season Page
- Bleacher Report — Lebanon Beats South Korea and Writes History During 2014 World Cup Qualification
- The New Arab — Lebanon’s Football Team Is Doing More Than Lifting Spirits
- AFC — Lebanon at the AFC Asian Cup
- FIFA — Lebanon Men’s World Ranking
- Wikipedia — Lebanon National Football Team (historical records)
- Wikipedia — 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
- The Daily Star — Lebanon 4–0 Bangladesh: Maatouk’s farewell hat-trick
- Wikipedia — Hassan Maatouk
- Yemen Monitor — Yemen qualifies for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup after defeating Lebanon
- Wikipedia — 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC fourth round
- Wikipedia — Madjid Bougherra
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