ASD’s U19 Boys Football Team Capture NESAC Championship

American School Dhahran boys U19 football team delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 NESAC tournament in Bahrain, on Feb. 11-15 the boys team finished the weekend as champions after a thrilling final and an impressive run through the competition.

Seven NESAC schools attended the tournament, with teams traveling from Kuwait, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. The event followed a demanding round-robin format that required consistency and resilience over three days of play.

ASD opened the tournament in dominant fashion, recording three wins on the first day, including convincing victories over AISK Lions, 3-1 and ACS-B, 3-0. The team maintained its strong form throughout the competition, finishing the pool stage as the No. 1 seed with four wins, one draw and one loss.

The championship match tested the team’s composure and determination. ASD fell behind early, trailing 1-0, but responded with an equalizer just before halftime. Early in the second half, the Scorpions took a 2-1 lead. IC-B continued to battle, however and the match ultimately went to a penalty shootout.

With the pressure at its highest, ASD held its nerve. After IC-B missed its final penalty attempt, the Scorpions converted the decisive kick to secure a dramatic 5-4 victory and the NESAC championship.

The team’s success reflects the strength of the athletics program at ASD and the dedication of its student-athletes and coaches.

The boys team was led by head coach Ms. Sarah McAulay and assistant coach Ms. Chona Panuela. Mr. Orion Cervio served as the team chaperone.