The stage is set for a thrilling finale to the 53rd edition of the Amir Cup, as Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa secured their spots in the final after decisive victories over Al Ahli and Umm Salal, respectively. The two Qatari giants will meet in the title clash on Saturday at Khalifa International Stadium, each aiming to lift one of the country's most prestigious football trophies.
Al Rayyan booked their place in the final for the 19th time in club history with a commanding 3-0 win over Al Ahli. Paraguayan striker Adam Bareiro led the charge with a brace, while Brazilian forward Roger Guedes - top scorer of the Qatar Stars League - added the third, bringing his tournament tally to four goals and securing the top spot in the current scoring chart.
Notably, Al Ahli were the first-ever champions of the Amir Cup, having defeated Al Rayyan 6-1 in the inaugural final - a record for the highest-scoring final that still stands.
Meanwhile, Al Gharafa secured their 13th final appearance, beating Umm Salal 4-2. Despite trailing 0-2 just 23 minutes in, Pedro Martins' side responded emphatically, with goals from Spaniard Joselu, Mohammed Muntari, and Yacine Brahimi flipping the match on its head before halftime.
Muntari added his second after the break to seal the win and confirm Al Gharafa's shot at an eighth Amir Cup title. The club's first title came in 1995, and they remain the only team to have won the tournament four times in a row (1995-1998), ahead of Al Arabi's three consecutive titles between 1978 and 1980.
Across 18 matches played in this year's competition, the 20 participating teams combined for 60 goals - an average of 3.3 per match. Four games were decided via penalty shootouts, with all nine penalties awarded during regulation time successfully converted. Referees handed out 85 yellow cards and four red cards throughout the tournament.
Saturday's match will mark the seventh Amir Cup final meeting between Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa. Their first showdown came in 1996, when Al Gharafa (then Al Ittihad) triumphed 5-2 at Khalifa International Stadium. They met again in 1997, with Al Gharafa winning on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
Al Rayyan responded in 1999 with a 2-1 victory at the same venue, and repeated the feat in 2006 via a shootout after another 1-1 draw. Al Gharafa reclaimed the title in 2009 with a 2-1 win, while Al Rayyan had the final word in their most recent final encounter, taking the 39th edition 2-1.