| Brunei Darussalam | |
| Nickname: | Tebuan (The Wasps) |
| Association: | Football Association of Brunei Darussalam |
| Sub-Confederation: | AFF (Southeast Asia) |
| Confederation: | AFC (Asia) |
| Website: | the-fabd.com |
| Coach: | Vacant |
| Captain: | Azwan Ali Rahman |
| Most Caps: | Azwan Saleh (34) |
| Top Scorer: | Shah Razen Said (8) |
| Home Stadium: | Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium |
| Fifa Trigramme: | BRU |
| Fifa Max: | 140 |
| Fifa Max Date: | December 1992 |
| Fifa Min: | 203 |
| Fifa Min Date: | October 2012 |
| Elo Max: | 163 |
| Elo Max Date: | 1971 |
| Elo Min: | 230 |
| Elo Min Date: | 2016 |
| Pattern La1: | _whiteborder |
| Pattern B1: | _BRU2326h |
| Pattern Ra1: | _whiteborder |
| Pattern Sh1: | __BRU2326h |
| Leftarm1: | 000000 |
| Body1: | FFD700 |
| Rightarm1: | 000000 |
| Shorts1: | FFD700 |
| Socks1: | F0FC23 |
| Pattern La2: | _blackborder |
| Pattern B2: | _blackcollar |
| Pattern Ra2: | _blackborder |
| Pattern Sh2: | _blacksides |
| Leftarm2: | 367588 |
| Body2: | 367588 |
| Rightarm2: | 367588 |
| Shorts2: | 367588 |
| Socks2: | 367588 |
| First Game: | 8–0 (Bangkok, Thailand; 22 May 1971)[1] |
| Largest Win: | 4–0 (Kuching, Malaysia; 2 November 2016) 6–2 |
| Largest Loss: | 0–12 (Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei; 14 April 2001) |
| Regional Name: | AFC Challenge Cup |
| Regional Cup Apps: | 1 |
| Regional Cup First: | 2006 |
| Regional Cup Best: | Group stage (2006) |
| 2Ndregional Name: | AFC Solidarity Cup |
| 2Ndregional Cup Apps: | 1 |
| 2Ndregional Cup First: | 2016 |
| 2Ndregional Cup Best: | Fourth place (2016) |
| 3Rdregional Name: | AFF Championship |
| 3Rdregional Cup Apps: | 2 |
| 3Rdregional Cup First: | 1996 |
| 3Rdregional Cup Best: | Group stage (1996, 2022) |
| Badge Size: | 180px |
The Brunei national football team (; recognized as Brunei Darussalam by FIFA[2]), nicknamed Tebuan (The Wasps), is the national team of Brunei, controlled by the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam. The team was founded in 1959 and joined FIFA in 1969. In the past, they have also frequently featured in the Malaysian league and cup competitions as one of the state representative sides.
The Brunei State Football Amateur Association was formed on 15 March 1956. In 1993, the word "Amateur" was dropped, and they were known as the Brunei Football Association. Brunei's experience of international football has been more or less restricted to regional Asian competitions, such as the Southeast Asian Games and the AFF Championship. So far, Brunei has entered the FIFA World Cup qualifiers only four times, in 1986, 2002, 2018 and 2022. On these occasions, they did not qualify for the competition. They have made five appearances in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, but they have never passed the first qualification round.[3]
The national team's first appearance took place during the 1972 AFC Asian Cup qualification, where they were unable to qualify after all three heavy defeats.[4] The following two championships (1976 and 1977) were no different from the first, with their first and second victory during the 1980 Summer Olympics.[5] In 1979, Brunei entered a team to compete in the professional Malaysian league and despite competing against Malaysian clubs, Brunei had previously never made an impact.[6] However, in 1999, they shocked everyone by lifting the Malaysia Cup.[7]
Brunei won their first and only Brunei Merdeka Games trophy in 1985.[8] Since then, team was not able to qualify into or win any major tournaments. Coming the closest was the 1993 Philippines International Cup, where they came in third position after a 1–0 victory against the Philippines.[9] Brunei was then invited for the inaugural 2006 AFC Challenge Cup held in Bangladesh being grouped with Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal. Brunei narrowly lost to Sri Lanka 1–0 before bouncing back from their defeat in the second match winning against Nepal 2–1 however with them needing the win in the last fixture, Brunei ended up in a goalless draw crashing out from the cup splitting the same points as Nepal but on goal differences.
In September 2009, the Brunei Football Association (BAFA) was suspended due to governmental interference in its affairs, which started with a decision by the Brunei authorities to dissolve BAFA and to replace it with a new federation in December 2008.[10] [11] The suspension was applied with immediate effect and meant that the Brunei club DPMM were no longer permitted to play in the Singapore S.League until it was resolved.[12] DPMM has confirmed to Football Association of Singapore (FAS) that they are unable to finish their S.League season because of the issue with its association. FIFA rejected FAS's final request on 17 October 2009 to permit DPMM to compete in the current S.League season while BAFA's suspension persisted.[13]
On 19 March 2010, the FIFA Executive Committee agreed to submit to the next FIFA Congress the expulsion of the association if the BAFA has not been reinstated by then, after noting that no major progress had been made since the BAFA was suspended in September 2009. FIFA warned that unless BAFA came to FIFA's Congress on 9 and 10 June in South Africa having met the conditions for reinstatement it would be expelled.[14] Brunei were re-instated on 31 May 2011 and the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) was formed that same year.[15]
Upon returning to the football action, the Wasps were unable to qualify for both the 2012 and 2014 AFF Championship following several losses. Brunei was again defeated 2–1 in aggregate against the Chinese Taipei during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification in March 2015.[16] The wasps failed to qualify for the 2016 AFF Championship after suffering defeats from Cambodia and Laos. Brunei was then invited to the 2016 AFC Solidarity Cup where they finished in fourth place after losing 3–2 to Laos. Despite the disappointment, Shah Razen Said from the Bruneian side managed to become the tournament's top scorer, finishing with a total of 4 goals.[17]
Timor-Leste defeated Brunei in the second leg 2018 AFF Championship qualifying match at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium on 8 September 2018, securing their spot in the 2018 AFF Championship final round group action for the first time in 14 years. Despite having a two-goal advantage from the first leg, Timor-Leste fell 1–0 but still advanced with a 3–2 aggregate score.[18] Brunei defeated Mongolia 2–1 on 11 June 2019,[19] but were unable to advance to the next stage of the preliminary joint qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.[20] [21]
Under new coach Mario Rivera, Brunei managed to qualify to the 2022 AFF Championship for the first time in 26 years since its inaugural edition in 1996, by defeating Timor-Leste 6–3 on aggregate.[22] The Wasps were grouped with Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Cambodia.[23] They finished the group stage without gaining a single point, conceding at least 5 goals in every game with Razimie Ramlli scoring against the Philippines and Nur Ikhwan Othman scoring against Cambodia.[24]
On 17 October 2023, Brunei returned to the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium after four years since their last match against Mongolia in 2019 for their fixture against Indonesia in the first round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.[25] The Wasps were beaten 0–12 on aggregate, knocking them out of the qualification in the first round.[26]
In 2024, FIFA invited Brunei to the 2024 FIFA Series held in March in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where they would face their first ever opponents outside of their confederation.[27] On 22 March, Brunei faced off against CONCACAF opponent Bermuda but conceded two late goals, losing 2–0.[28] Four days later, Brunei came against Vanuatu and won the match 3–2, when three minutes into stoppage time Hakeme Yazid Said's direct free kick sealed the victory against their opponents from Oceania.[29]
Later in June of that year, Brunei invited the Sri Lankan national team to two friendly matches in the country in conjunction with the FIFA calendar.[30] Headed by interim coach Rui Capela Batista, Brunei extended their winning form to three which is the first time in their history after captain Azwan Ali Rahman scored the only goal in both games held at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium on 8 and 11 June.[31]
Brunei had initially worn dark yellow shirts and shorts as their home kit since their inception in 1956 to represent the colours of their flags.
On 11 July 2021, a decade after it was formed, the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD) aligned itself with the country’s philosophy as part of its rebranding strategy. In fact, FABD, which was earlier established as the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD), dropped the word National from its name including a new logo which was also unveiled consisting of a three-layered crescent combined to represent the lunar stages culminating into a full moon. The three layers of the crescent each represent the colours of the national flag of Brunei. The ‘ripe-lemon’ coloured crescent contains a Jawi inscription of the association’s name in Malay while the black crescent has the association’s name written in English. The logo also features a green football covered with honeycomb pattern, signifying the association’s wish to inject more precise and better growth in the sport. In fact, the honeycomb motif was chosen as it drew inspiration from the national team’s nickname ‘The Wasps’.
Brunei's home stadium is the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan. The stadium capacity is 28,000. Since 2021, Brunei have used the Track & Field Sports Complex as an alternative stadium as their main stadium went for a renovation works for improvement however as the Track & Field Sports Complex does not meet the required standards, Brunei have chosen the Kuala Lumpur Stadium in Malaysia as their home ground for their 2022 AFF Championship matches.
| Image | Stadium | Capacity | Location | Last match | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium | 28,000 | Bandar Seri Begawan | v (11 June 2024; Friendly) | ||
| Track & Field Sports Complex | 1,700 | Bandar Seri Begawan | v  Sabah FC (6 September 2023; Unofficial friendly) |
See main article: Brunei national football team results. The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
| Position | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Technical director | Vacant | |
| Head coach | Vacant | |
| Team manager | Waslimin Momin | |
| Assistant team manager | Ah Chua Bangau | |
| Assistant coach | Ali Mustafa | |
| Goalkeeping coach |  Atsushi Hanita | |
| Fitness coach | Rosmin Kamis Ameer Lani | |
| Physiotherapists | Shuntaro Hagino | |
| Kitman | Roney Morni | |
| Media officer | Hazim Hamzah |
Oscar Amaro de Silva (1985–86)
Bobby McLachlan (1995)
Karim Bencherifa (2003–04)
Amir Alagić (2005)
Kwon Oh-Son (2008) Kwon Oh-Son (2012–13) Kwon Oh-Son (2016) Kwon Oh-Son (2018)
Mario Rivera (2022–2024)The following 20 players were called up for the friendlies against on 8 and 11 June 2024.[32]
Information correct as of 11 June 2024, after the second match against .
The following players have also been called up to the Brunei squad in the last twelve months.
Players in bold are still active with Brunei.
| width=30px | Rank | Name | width=50px | Caps | width=50px | Goals | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Azwan Saleh | 34 | 3 | 2006–present | |||
| 2 | Adi Said | 28 | 7 | 2012–2023 | |||
| Najib Tarif | 1 | 2008–present | |||||
| 4 | Fakharrazi Hassan | 25 | 2 | 2011–present | |||
| 5 | Shah Razen Said | 24 | 8 | 2008–2019 | |||
| 6 | Azwan Ali Rahman | 23 | 7 | 2012–present | |||
| Wardun Yussof | 0 | 2001–2022 | |||||
| 8 | Hendra Azam Idris | 21 | 0 | 2009–present | |||
| Yura Indera Putera Yunos | 0 | 2014–present | |||||
| 10 | Haimie Abdullah Nyaring | 20 | 0 | 2016–present | |||
| Sallehuddin Damit | 2 | 1999–2008 |
| Rank | Name | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shah Razen Said | 8 | 24 | 2008–2019 | |
| 2 | Azwan Ali Rahman | 7 | 23 | 2012–present | |
| Adi Said | 7 | 28 | 2012–2023 | ||
| 3 | Razimie Ramlli | 6 | 18 | 2016–present | |
| 4 | Said Abdullah | 5 | 14 | 1993–2001 | |
| 6 | Jamhari Lani | 3 | 9 | 1985–1987 | |
| Adie Arsham Salleh | 3 | 10 | 2006–2009 | ||
| Hardi Bujang | 3 | 12 | 2006–2008 | ||
| Zainuddin Kassim | 3 | 16 | 1982–1989 | ||
| Abdul Azizi Ali Rahman | 3 | 19 | 2015–2023 | ||
| Fakharrazi Hassan | 3 | 25 | 2011–present | ||
| Azwan Saleh | 3 | 34 | 2006–present | ||
| FIFA World Cup | Qualification | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | ||||||||||||||
| 1930 to 1950 | Part of | Part of | ||||||||||||||
| 1954 to 1970 | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | ||||||||||||||
| 1974 to 1982 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
 1986 | Did not qualify | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 29 | |||||||||
| 1990 to 1998 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
| 2002 | Did not qualify | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 28 | |||||||||
| 2006 and 2010 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Suspended | Suspended | ||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Did not qualify | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
 2022 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||
  2026 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||
 2030 | To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
 2034 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 18 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 5 | 80 | ||||||||||
| AFC Asian Cup record | width=1% rowspan=39 | AFC Asian Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | Position | ||||||||||||||
| Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||
| 1960 | ||||||||||||||||
 1964 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1968 | ||||||||||||||||
 1972 | Did not qualify | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 27 | |||||||||
| 1976 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 19 | ||||||||||
 1980 | Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
 1984 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1988 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
| 1992 | ||||||||||||||||
 1996 | ||||||||||||||||
 2000 | Did not qualify | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | |||||||||
 2004 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||
 2007 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Did not qualify | AFC Challenge Cup | ||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Did not qualify | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
| 2023 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 2027 | To be determined | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | |||||||||
| Total | – | 0/18 | − | − | − | − | − | − | 18 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 80 | ||
| Asian Games Record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | M | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
| 1951–1998 | did not enter | |||||||
| 2002–present | See Brunei national under-23 football team | |||||||
| Total | 0/13 | did not enter | ||||||
| AFC Challenge Cup | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
| Group stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| did not qualify | ||||||||
 2010 | ||||||||
| Suspended | ||||||||
| Withdrew | ||||||||
| Total | Best: Group stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| AFC Solidarity Cup | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
| Fourth place | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | ||
| Total | Best: Fourth place | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | |
This competition was formerly known as the Tiger Cup and afterwards the AFF Championship
| AFF Championship | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | ||||||||||||||
| Group stage | 8th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 15 | No qualification | ||||||||
| 1998 | did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |||||||||
| 2000 | Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
| 2002 | did not enter | did not enter | ||||||||||||||
| 2004 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 11 | |||||||||
| 2008 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | ||||||||||
| 2010 | Suspended | Suspended | ||||||||||||||
| 2012 | did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | |||||||||
| 2014 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 12 | ||||||||||
  2016 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 | ||||||||||
| 2018 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 2020 | Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
| Group stage | 10th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | |||
| 2024 | TBD | TBD | ||||||||||||||
| Total | Group stage | 2/14 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 37 | 25 | 7 | 2 | 16 | 40 | 57 | ||
As of 11 June 2024 after match against
| 1981 | 1981 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | −7 | AFC | ||
| 2024 | 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | CONCACAF | ||
| 2006 | 2008 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | AFC | ||
| 1980 | 1985 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 22 | −21 | AFC | ||
| 2009 | 2015 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | −6 | AFC | ||
| 1975 | 2023 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 26 | −25 | AFC | ||
| 2001 | 2001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | −6 | AFC | ||
| 1977 | 2023 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 52 | −46 | AFC | ||
| 1981 | 2000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 18 | −16 | AFC | ||
| 1993 | 2022 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 17 | 32 | −15 | AFC | ||
| 1985 | 2026 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | −4 | AFC | ||
| 1971 | 2022 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 48 | −45 | AFC | ||
| 2022 | 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | −3 | AFC | ||
| 2019 | 2019 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | AFC | ||
| 1993 | 2014 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 28 | −23 | AFC | ||
| 2006 | 2016 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | −2 | AFC | ||
| 2009 | 2009 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | −6 | AFC | ||
| 1977 | 2022 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 15 | 20 | −5 | AFC | ||
| 1975 | 2015 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 44 | −39 | AFC | ||
| 2006 | 2024 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 | AFC | ||
| 2008 | 2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | −4 | AFC | ||
| 1980 | 2022 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 37 | −33 | AFC | ||
| 2006 | 2022 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 25 | 15 | 10 | AFC | ||
| 2001 | 2001 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | −16 | AFC | ||
| 2024 | 2024 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | OFC | ||
| 2001 | 2001 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | −6 | AFC |