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When the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™ kicks off later this year, it will mark another milestone in the tournament's status as a premier celebration of Arab football.Yet for Qatar-based fan leaders, the tournament's significance extends beyond the competition. It serves as an opportunity to showcase the unity and passion that define Arab culture.Set to take place from 1-18 December, this marks the second time Qatar will host the FIFA Arab Cup™ following the successful 2021 edition. Qatar will also host the next two editions in 2029 and 2033. Sixteen teams will compete across six stadiums that previously hosted matches during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.**media[371573]**Athmane Abbassi, Algerian Fan LeaderAlgeria enters the tournament as defending champions having beat Tunisia in the 2021 Final. For Athmane Abbassi, a programmes manager who has lived in Qatar since 2013, the expectations are sky-high."Our team's mission won't be easy, especially with the noticeable improvement in many Arab teams in recent years. However, we are aiming to win the title for the second time in a row," says Abbassi, who has been a fan leader since the previous edition.The timing is particularly meaningful for Algerian fans, following their national team's qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026™."Football in Algeria is more than a game, it unites people, strengthens our pride, and reflects our national spirit. The Arab Cup is even more special because it brings together countries that share the same language, culture, and passion for football. It's more than competition – it's a celebration of Arab unity, pride, and brotherhood, on and off the pitch," explains Abbassi.**media[371574]**Fikria El Kaouakibi, Moroccan Fan LeaderFor Morocco's Fikria El Kaouakibi, who has been working in academia and living in Qatar for the past 15 years, football is woven into the fabric of her Moroccan identity."As a Moroccan, football has always been part of my life. It's everywhere. It’s a sport that we play in the streets, schools, and neighbourhoods. It really is a part of our DNA," says El Kaouakibi, who has previously volunteered at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, where the Lions of Atlas secured a historic 4th place finish.She adds that Morocco's recent successes across various competitions, including their historic FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025™ win—a first for the Arab world—have elevated national pride and put the country on the global stage. The Arab Cup represents another opportunity to showcase that excellence, with added significance as Morocco prepares to play in the FIFA World Cup 2026™."Every young Arab dreams of playing in tournaments like this one. Seeing their heroes on the field gives them motivation to work harder and believe that anything is possible. Whether at the stadium or watching from home, fans are able to connect deeply with the sport and their national identity," said El Kaouakibi.**media[371572]**Ali Kotash, Lebanese Fan LeaderAli Kotash, founder of the Lebanese community football team in Qatar, has built many connections through sport over his fifteen years of work with the community. For him, the Arab Cup represents something deeper than competition.“On the pitch, we're not just representing our own country, we're one community. I'll never forget last year's match between Lebanon and Egypt: my kids were waving Egyptian flags while Egyptian families proudly held Lebanese flags.That's what football does, it brings everyone together and creates a sense of unity.”Kotash also believes that hosting the tournament in the region will raise the standard of football across the Arab world: “This tournament gives Arab nations the opportunity to compete at the highest level, helping us develop our sports and reach world-class standards. Through the Arab Cup, we're developing the future of Arab football and nurturing the next generation of talent and passion."For Egyptian fan leader Hossam Abu Al Ola, who has been a legal professional in Qatar for 25 years, the tournament carries profound meaning."As an Egyptian, football for us means life. Now having an Arab tournament under the auspices of FIFA puts us on the map. This makes our participation in this tournament very valuable. This is our tournament. It's for the entire Arab world. Its success is our success."Abu Al Ola believes that Qatar's delivery of the FIFA World Cup™ established a blueprint for Arab sporting ambition. "After Qatar delivered what many call the best World Cup ever, we know what's possible," he said. "Qatar has proven to the whole world that it can host and organise the biggest events in sport."Fans can purchase FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™ tickets exclusively on: www.roadtoqatar.qa, with prices starting from QAR 25. Supporters can also purchase a Follow My Team ticket, which will enable them to attend all matches of their team of choice during the group stage. All tickets are digital and include accessible seating options for disabled fans.For the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025™ official match schedule, visit www.roadtoqatar.qa.For all tournament-related information, follow @arabcupqa and @roadtoqatar on all major social media platforms.

Al Arabi handed Al Duhail a crushing 4-0 defeat in the fifth round match of the QSL Cup 2025-26 season at the Grand Hamad Stadium Sunday.The victory, Al Arabi’s third of the tournament, Sunday kept them in third place in the standings with 10 points – behind on goal difference with leaders Al Kharaitiyat and second-placed Umm Salal.Al Rayyan, also with 10 points, are in fourth spot.Al Duhail with a second loss and 4 points have slipped to 15th place.Al Arabi were on the attack against Al Duhail from the word go with Isaac Lihadji scoring in the 2nd minute of the match. Jordan Veretout scored the team’s second goal in the 40th minute.In the second half Aladin Hasan (67th minute) and Pablo Sarabia (72nd minute) added more to the tally.Umm Salal thrash Al Sadd 5-0 Earlier, Umm Salal blanked Al Sadd 5-0 at the Al Shamal Stadium.It was Umm Salal’s third win of the tournament while Al Sadd, who suffered their third defeat, remain on 1 point and in 19th place in the 20-team tournament.Umm Salal led 1-0 at half time only to come back steamrolling in the second session to score four more goals.Antonio Mance (38th minute), Cristo Gonzalez (48th minute), Jean Quaisi (70 & 82 minutes) and Ahmed Sayed (90+1 minute) got the goals for Umm Salal.Qatar SC beat Al Ahli 6-1Qatar SC yesterday beat Al Ahli 6-1 at Al Khor Stadium.The game was clearly beyond Al Ahli’s reach by the blast of the whistle for the closing of the first half, with Qatar SC leading 4-0, benefiting from two own goals from Al Ahli’s Khaled Hassan (second and 39th minutes), while Raoul Sanda (14th minute) and Saeed Brahmi (44th minute) added one each.The Brigadiers got their consolation goal in the 49th minute via a penalty kick through Talal Ali, but Joao Pedro (75th minute) and Yan Matheus (88th minute) added two more for Qatar SC to ensure the emphatic victory, which secured them their first 3 points (their only points so far) of the competition, while Al Ahli remained on 1 point.

Al Shahania secured a thrilling 3-2 win over Al Khor in their Round 5 clash of the QSL Cup at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Saturday. Ali al-Muhannadi scored the winner for Shahania in the 77th minute after both sides were locked 2-2 at half time. Shahania had opening the scoring in the 19th minute through Jawad El Jemili while Pelle van Amersfoort put the side 2-0 ahead scoring off a penalty kick in the 27th minute. Al Khor hit back through Abdulrahman al-Harazi in the 42nd minute, and a minute later Sofiane Hanni got the equaliser. But al-Muhannadi struck to help Al Shahania gain the three valuable points. The second win of the tournament took Al Shahania’s tally to 7 points while Al Khor also remain at 7 points. Al Shamal thrash MarkhiyaAl Shamal thumped Al Markhiya 5-0 at the Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium. Shamal got their opening goal in the eighth minute through Naim Sliti. They doubled their lead in the 23rd minute as Younes El Hannach scored. Alex Collado added a third in the 45th minute. An own goal from Markhiya’s Ahmad Ismal (75th minute) added to Shamal’s scoreline. Mohamad Omar hit one home in added time (90+1 minute) to make it 5-0 for the winners. This was Al Shamal’s first win of the tournament and took their tally to 5 points while Al Markhiya remain on 4 points. Mesaimeer, Lusail draw Mesaimeer and Lusail played out a 1-1 draw at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Mesaimeer’s Abdulkader Zoukh scored in the 12th minute, capitalising on some defensive errors by Lusail. The goal was the only difference between the sides for quite a while until Tamim al-Jabri secured the equaliser for Lusail in the 72nd minute to push them to four points in the standings, while Mesaimeer advanced to five points. Al Rayyan, Al Waab share points Al Rayyan and Al Waab played out a 2-2 draw at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium. Al Waab took an early lead through Abdulrahman Sheikh Khan, who struck in the fifth minute to give his side a 1-0 advantage at halftime. Al Rayyan turned the game around early in the second half, with Brazilian forward Wesley Da Silva scoring twice in quick succession — in the 54th and 58th minutes — to put the Lions ahead. However, Al Waab snatched a dramatic equaliser deep into stoppage time when Mohammed Abu Shanab capitalised on a goalkeeping error to make it 2-2. With the result, Al Rayyan moved to 10 points, while Al Waab reached 6 points in the group standings.

Kuwait, Pakistan, Jordan, Kazakhstan and Lebanon won their respective group matches in the men’s section while Thailand, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and UAE did likewise in the women’s section to keep their hopes alive for qualifying for the next stage of the FIP Asia Padel Cup organised by the International Padel Federation (FIP) together with the Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) and Padel Asia at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on Saturday.In the men’s section, Kuwait and Bahrain match was a keenly contested one with Kuwait winning it 2-1 to open their campaign on an emphatic note.Bahrain which had won the first match against Indonesia have lost one and won one, while Indonesia the third team in the group have lost the only match they have played so far.On Sunday, Kuwait take on Indonesia which will decide which of the team will make it to the last eight stage by virtue of being the group leader.In Group B, Pakistan got the better of China 2-1 and will face Thailand in their second match, which will also decide the group qualifier. Earlier on Friday China had defeated Thailand in the same group. In Group C, Jordan defeated Saudi Arabia 2-1 to start their campaign on a winning note and will face South Korea, who had earlier lost to Saudi Arabia.Jordan has one win from one match, while Saudi Arabia has lost one and won another, while South Korea has lost the lone match they have played so far. The group leader will be decided on Sunday.In Group D, the Lebanon and Kazakhstan clash will decide the group leader, both the teams have won two of their matches in the group while Japan and Philippines have lost both their matches. The four group winners will join the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Australia, and Iran in the Final 8, scheduled from October 20 to 24. In the women’s section in Group A, Thailand were given a tight fight by the hosts Qatar but managed to overcome the spirited challenge 2-1.In the three-team group, Thailand and Lebanon have both won their first-round matches of the group and the group leader will be decided on Sunday when Thailand and Lebanon meet in the crucial tie which will decide which of the two teams qualifies for the quarter-final stage of the championship.In Group B, Indonesia registered their second successive win to remain on top of the group with an all-win record. On Saturday they defeated Bahrain 3-0 while on Friday they had defeated Kuwait 3-0.On Sunday, Kuwait take on Bahrain in the Group B.In the Group C matches, Saudi Arabia defeated Pakistan 3-0 while UAE edged past China 2-1. For Saudi Arabia this was their second successive win having won against China on Friday. UAE also won their second match of the group and the group leader will be decided after the match between Saudi Arabi and UAE.The two clash on Sunday, while China meet Pakistan in the other match of the group.The four group qualifiers from the three groups will be joined by Japan, Australia, the Philippines and Iran have already qualified for the last-eight stage by virtue of their FIP Rankings.Seventeen teams Bahrain, China, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Thailand, UAE, Qatar, Australia, and Iran competing in the men’s section in the week-long championship, while fourteen teams Bahrain, China, Indonesia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, UAE, Qatar, Japan, Australia, Philippines, and Iran compete in the women’s section.ResultsMen's sectionGroup A: Kuwait bt Bahrain 2-1Group B: Pakistan bt China 2-1Group C: Jordan bt Saudi Arabia 2-1Group D: Kazakhstan bt Japan 2-1Group D: Lebanon bt Philippines 3-0Women's sectionGroup A: Thailand bt Qatar 2-1Group B: Indonesia bt Bahrain 3-0Group C: UAE bt China 2-1Group C: Saudi Arabia bt Pakistan 3-0Order of play (Sunday 19th October)Men’s matchesGroup A: Indonesia vs KuwaitGroup B: Thailand vs PakistanGroup C: Jordan vs South KoreaGroup D: Lebanon vs KazakhstanGroup D: Japan vs Philippines Women’s matchesGroup A: Lebanon vs ThailandGroup B: Kuwait vs BahrainGroup C: Saudi Arabia vs UAE Group C: China vs PakistanAll matches start at 3.00pmVenue: Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex

Former Real Madrid centre-back Alvaro Mejia moved to Qatar in 2014 to play for Al Shahania SC. Six years later, he became assistant coach at the same club, and then took over as head coach in February 2022.It was less than nine months ago, in January 2025, that Mejia signed a contract with the Qatar Football Association, and for the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup, he will coach the nation’s U-17 squad on home soil.With preparations well underway, Mejia spoke to FIFA about his decade-long career in the nation, his experiences in Qatar and what is to come in Group A against Italy, South Africa and Bolivia in Qatar's eighth appearance in the competition.Excerpts from his interview fifa.com:Q: What was it like going from club football to coaching Qatar's U-17 team? Did the call come as a surprise?Mejia: Yes, it was a surprise. I'd been at Al Shahania for ten seasons. It's where I call home, and I felt really settled there. I wasn't expecting the call, but when the challenge presented itself, it was a wonderful opportunity personally and for the country.This is a valuable experience for the Qatari players, who I think can gain a lot from it because it's challenging on every level. I jumped at the chance and was really excited about it. These last few months have been a whirlwind of non-stop work to get in the best possible shape for an international tournament featuring the best teams and promising young stars.Q: What was your experience of Qatar's footballing growth leading up to the FIFA World Cup 2022?Mejia: It was a beautiful process. We went through all the changes, from the facilities and stadiums to urban development, hotels and sports complexes. All the work that went into hosting such a major tournament took a gigantic effort.The country now occasionally hosts the Asian Cup, the Gulf Cup, and many other sporting events. The city changed so much with all that infrastructure being built for the World Cup 2022, but it was really beautiful once the construction was over. It was a special World Cup for everyone, and even more so because it was held in a single city. Everything took place within a few kilometres, with a metro system that worked beautifully. The 2022 World Cup was an outstanding event for all the football-loving fans who came along.Q: Does the same apply to this U-17 World Cup?Mejia: The facilities are second to none. For instance, the Aspire Zone grounds are within walking distance of each other, making for a festival-like atmosphere around the FIFA U-17 World Cup. It's a wonderful experience for young, talented players to compete in a World Cup, as well as the fans who get to see the whole thing within a 50-metre radius. Anyone who loves football will enjoy this kind of event. It will also bring benefits to the country as a whole. We're looking forward to getting started.Q: You'll be up against Italy, South Africa, and Bolivia in the group stage. Do you have a target in mind for Qatar?Mejia: We're just excited. This U-17 World Cup is a massive challenge. We are aware of Qatar's position, how strong the opposition will be, and what a huge challenge this is. We're going into it full of excitement, and our target is to get as far as we possibly can, bearing in mind that we'll be up against Italy, one of the best teams in the last European Championship. It's lovely to feel excited about doing the right thing and giving players this kind of experience. These types of matches at such a young age will help them grow. We're putting in the hard work to make sure we're as motivated and prepared as possible.Q: How do you work with the players?Mejia: We've tried to put into practice our original idea, but we've had to make some changes. The demands of the competition force you to adapt in certain circumstances, but we've been working with them over the last few months to get them tournament ready. Our aim is to feel comfortable on the ball. We know our opponents will try to put us in different situations, so we need to be prepared and try to get used to them. We want to be able to deal with whatever each match throws at us and adapt our style of play to the tournament itself.

Al Sailiya defeated Al Gharafa 3-0 in the fifth round of the QSL Cup at the Grand Hamad Stadium. Abdulrahman Mohammed opened the scoring in the third minute, before Khaled Ali doubled the lead in the 11th. Hadi Ali sealed the victory with a third goal deep into stoppage time (90+2). At Al Khor Stadium, Al Bidda were held to a 2-2 draw by Muaither. Amen Allah Meherzi gave Al Bidda an early lead in the sixth minute, but Etyan Morales levelled for Muaither in the 28th. Albert Luque put Muaither ahead in the 47th minute, only for Cristian Del Bello to equalise from the penalty spot in stoppage time after a foul in the box. Elsewhere, Al Kharaitiyat drew 1-1 with Al Wakrah at Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium. Raul de Tomas opened the scoring for Al Wakrah in the 44th minute, but after Al Mahdi Ali was sent off early in the second half, Al Kharaitiyat took advantage, with Jordan Yuli Jele netting a late equaliser.

Bahrain, China, Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan won their Group matches in the men's section of the FIP Asia Padel Cup while Lebanon, Indonesia, UAE and Saudi Arabia won their respective group matches in the women's section on the first day of the seven-day championship which kicked off at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha on Friday evening. In the men's section, Bahrain playing on Grandstand 1 overcame a spirited challenge of Indonesia in Group A to start off their campaign on an emphatic note and keep themselves ahead in the race to qualify for the last-eight stage of the championship. Kuwait is the third team in Group A. In the other results of the men's section, in Group B, China defeated Thailand 3-0 to keep them ahead of the qualifying race, Pakistan is the third team in the group and will start their campaign on Saturday. In Group C, Saudi Arabia overcame South Korea 3-0 to make a successful start to their campaign, Jordan is the third team in the group, while in Group D, Kazakhstan defeated Philippines 3-0 to make a strong start to the campaign while in the same group, Lebanon defeated Japan 2-1. Only one team from each of the four men's groups will qualify for the last-eight stage where they join four other countries UAE, Qatar, Australia, and Iran, having qualified for the last-eight based on the FIP Ranking. Women's Section In the women's section, Lebanon, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and UAE were off to winning starts in their respective group matches. Hosts Qatar gave a spirited fight but went down fighting 3-0 to Lebanon in the Group A match. The other team in Group A is Thailand. In the other results, in Group B Indonesia defeated Kuwait 3-0, the other team in Group B is Bahrain. In Group C, UAE got the better of Pakistan 2-1 and in Group C, Saudi Arabia overcame China 2-1. The group leaders from each of the groups will qualify for the last-eight stage where they will be joined by Australia, Japan, Iran, and the Philippines who have already qualified for the Final 8 on virtue of their FIP rankings. Saturday's Matches (Start at 1.30pm) Men's Section Group A: Kuwait vs Bahrain Group B: Pakistan vs China Group C: Jordan vs Saudi Arabia Group D: Japan vs Kazakhstan Group D: Philippines vs Lebanon Women's Section Group A: Thailand vs Qatar Group B: Bahrain vs Indonesia Group C: UAE vs China Group C: Saudi Arabia vs Pakistan Venue: Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex Teams Participation Seventeen teams compete in the men’s tournament: Bahrain, China, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Thailand, UAE, Qatar, Australia, and Iran. In the women’s category, there are 14 teams: Bahrain, China, Indonesia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, UAE, Qatar, Japan, Australia, Philippines, and Iran. The initial phase runs from October 17–19, with the top teams from each group advancing to the Final 8, scheduled for October 20–24. Results Men's Results Group A: Bahrain bt Indonesia 3-0 Group B: China bt Thailand 3-0 Group C: Saudi Arabia bt South Korea 3-0 Group D: Kazakhstan bt Philippines 3-0 Group D: Lebanon bt Japan 2-1 Women's Results Group A: Lebanon bt Qatar 3-0 Group B: Indonesia bt Kuwait 3-0 Group C: UAE bt Pakistan 2-1 Group C: Saudi Arabia bt China 2-1

Qatar's star striker Akram Afif expressed his delight at the team’s historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, saying that reaching the tournament through the qualifiers marks a new milestone for Qatari football.Afif, who was among the three finalists for the AFC Player of the Year award at the annual awards ceremony in Riyadh and lost out to Saudi Arabia’s Salem al-Dawsari. said he felt proud to be nominated once again for Asia’s top individual honour.“I congratulate the Qatari fans on qualifying for the World Cup, which is a significant achievement for Qatari football after our participation in the last edition as host,” the Al Sadd forward said.The two-time AFC Player of the Year winner, who helped lead Qatar to a 2-1 victory over the United Arab Emirates in Tuesday’s Asian play-off, added that the national team’s qualification reflected the hard work and spirit of the players. “I feel proud to be among the nominees for the award, and more importantly, to have qualified for the World Cup,” he said, expressing his gratitude to the fans for their strong support throughout the campaign.Afif has been in exceptional form, contributing decisively to both club and country. Last season, he registered 45 goal involvements for Al Sadd — scoring 23 goals and providing 22 assists in 36 matches — while leading the club to a second consecutive league title and the Qatar Cup. He was also the league’s top assist provider and guided Al Sadd to the AFC Champions League quarter-finals.During the AFC Awards ceremony, Afif drew attention for comments made in a televised interview regarding the closing moments of Qatar’s win over the UAE, in which he was seen gesturing toward supporters. Responding to questions about the incident, Afif said with a smile that he had encouraged fans to throw objects onto the pitch “just to waste time,” before quickly adding that he also asked them to stop so the referee would not extend the stoppage period.The tense finish in Doha saw Qatar secure a vital 2-1 win to top Group A of the Asian playoffs and confirm their place at the 2026 World Cup—the country’s second appearance at the global showpiece, and the first achieved through qualification.

The unique experience of Spanish coaching was marked successfully by the Qatari national football team, demonstrating its competence, excellence, and ability to achieve historic accomplishments with Qatari football, the latest of which was qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Qatar secured qualification for the World Cup, which will be held next year in the US, Canada, and Mexico, after defeating the UAE 2-1 in the final round of Group A of the Asian play-offs. Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui led the Qatari team to make history by successfully qualifying for the World Cup, adding a new chapter to Spain's record of success with Qatari football. Lopetegui took over the Qatari national team at the beginning of May, succeeding his compatriot, Luis Garcia. Despite the short period he spent in charge before the decisive matches, he was able to prepare the team in the necessary manner and gave the opportunity to many of them to participate in the starting lineup for the first time, despite the difficulty of the task. The team proved their worth and earned the coach's trust, contributing together to successfully qualify for the World Cup. This secured Qatar's second consecutive participation in the World Cup, and its first through the qualifiers after qualifying for the last FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2022, as the host nation. The Spanish coach's achievements with Qatari football are not a recent development, but extend over the past decade, which has witnessed the presence of Spanish coaches who have left a clear mark and achieved historic accomplishments with Qatar's national teams. Spain's success with the Qatari national team began in gradual stages, beginning with coach Felix Sanchez, who successfully led Qatar to the 2014 AFC U-20 Championship title. Sanchez joined Aspire Academy in 2006, coming from Barcelona's renowned La Masia academy, to work on developing football in Qatar. In 2013, he took over as coach of the U-19 national team, and just one year after taking over, he succeeded in winning the AFC U-19 Championship, the team's first continental title in this age group. In line with Qatar's vision, Sanchez assumed responsibility for the youth teams, both U-20 and U-23, until he was chosen in 2017 to take over the first team, the majority of which was composed of members of the generation he had coached in previous youth groups. Just two years after taking charge of the national team, the Spanish coach led Qatar to win the AFC Asian Cup 2019 title in the UAE, marking the country's first continental title in an unprecedented historic achievement. He then went on to become the first coach to lead Al-Annabi to its historic appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. After a period during which Portuguese Carlos Queiroz took over as coach of the national team, Qatar returned to the Spanish footballing sphere with the appointment of Bartolome Marquez Lopez as coach shortly before the start of the 2023 Asian Cup in Doha. Lopez lived up to expectations, continuing the journey of achievements after successfully defending the title, leading Al-Annabi to win the continental cup for the second time in a row, which was also a historic achievement. Spain's successes with the Qatari national team continued when Julen Lopetegui led the Qatari national team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026, a historic achievement as it marked the first time the Qatari national team had qualified for the World Cup through the qualifiers. The Spanish coach's unique achievements confirm his outstanding success with Qatari football, writing a distinguished history, and his aspirations for further success.

Al Rayyan emerged as champions of the inaugural basketball Qatar Super Cup as they beat Al Sadd 97-72 in the final held at the Lusail Multi-Purpose Sports Arena Wednesday. Mohammed bin Saad al-Mughaiseeb, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation, crowned the champions. Al Rayyan dominated from the tip-off, imposing their style with organised offence built on quick transitions and stout defence to claim the first quarter 36-23. Al Rayyan extended their lead in the second quarter, outscoring Al Sadd 27-18 thanks to standout performances from their imports. They maintained control in the third, winning 20-12 with near-total command of the game. Al Sadd mounted a late rally in the fourth, taking it 19-14, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap, sealing Al Rayyan’s 97-72 win and inaugural Super Cup title. Rolands Freimanis shone for Al Rayyan with 27 points, while Ding Ding Adel led Al Sadd with 20 points. Al Rayyan advanced to the final with a commanding 101-74 semi-final win over Al Ahli, while Al Sadd progressed after edging Al Arabi 87-82.

Julen Lopetegui paid tribute to his players and the fans after Qatar booked their ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday.A 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates confirmed the two-time Asian Cup winners' first ever FIFA World Cup appearance through the qualifiers with Lopetegui expressing his pride in his players' never-say-die attitude."I congratulate everyone on qualifying in a match we managed well with the players and the team. Yes, this is the first time the team has qualified through the qualifiers. This is a great thing for us, and we are happy to qualify and participate in the 2026 World Cup," said the Spanish tactician.Having drawn with Oman in their opener, Qatar had to defeat UAE to advance, resulting in a tight match at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium. UAE, who beat Oman 2-1, also had the psychological advantage of having defeated Qatar twice in the previous round but fell to strikes from Boualem Khouki and Pedro Miguel, with Sultan Adil netting a consolation after the hosts were reduced to 10 men."The match was extremely difficult. We faced a strong and well-prepared team in the UAE. The first half was evenly matched. We wanted to score, and we achieved what we wanted at the beginning of the second half. I thank the players and the fans. Everyone did what was necessary. We overcame a difficult stage and qualified, delighting our fans," said Lopetegui.As a player, Lopetegui was part of Spain's squad at the 1994 World Cup squad but was third-choice goalkeeper and did not play. He was denied the chance to coach his national team at the 2018 World Cup. After taking Qatar to, the Real Madrid coach said "life owed me a World Cup""It seems like life owed me a World Cup, and fortunately, today I got it," the 59-year-old said. "It's a reward that I'm grateful for."For Lopetegui, the qualification carried personal significance. As a player, he was part of Spain’s 1994 World Cup squad but did not feature, and as coach, he was infamously dismissed just days before the 2018 tournament despite leading Spain through an unbeaten qualifying campaign.“It seems like life owed me a World Cup, and fortunately, today I got it,” the 59-year-old said with a smile. “It’s a reward I’m very grateful for. I’m excited to be back on the World Cup stage after what happened years ago — now it’s time to experience it with Qatar. There was a desire to be able to reach another World Cup, and that was an important factor in my decision to come here."Qatar’s performance in the 2022 World Cup, where they lost all three group games as hosts, is a reminder of the work ahead. Lopetegui acknowledged the task of rejuvenating the squad before 2026. “We have an older group,” he said. “We played with a 41-year-old in Sebastian Soria. We need to refine the team we’ll take to the World Cup.”Soria, making a surprise return to the national team after an eight-year absence, was emotional after the final whistle. “I’m happy and proud to have qualified,” the veteran striker said. “This generation deserves this achievement. Honestly, I feel lucky to be back with the team at this time. The fans were incredible.”Forward Almoez Ali echoed that sentiment. “Qualifying for the World Cup finals has a special flavor and came after a difficult match,” he said. “All the players were heroes today. This is a credit to the Qatari football system, and we want to make our next World Cup participation memorable.”Goalkeeper Abunada, whose early saves kept Qatar in the game, described the win as “a joy for the people.” He added: “The match was tough, but everyone fought to achieve this historic victory. The large crowd that came to support us made all the difference.”While Qatar can look forward to rubbing shoulders with the world's best next summer, UAE will now have to navigate a two-leg playoff against Iraq in November, with the winners to advance to the FIFA Playoff Tournament in March, where an additional two spots will be available.Head coach Cosmin Olariu did not hide his disappointment, with the Romanian feeling that his side did not maximise their chances."This is a disappointing result. We controlled the match and put pressure on our opponents. In the second half, we conceded an early goal. Football is sometimes unfair, and we must now enter a new phase and strive to return to the top of our game to secure our chances. It's unfortunate that this is where we've come to. We have to fight for our chance, and we have to learn from our mistakes going forward," said Olariu.

Nano Toro delivered a thrilling performance to land the Al Ghariyah Cup over 1200m, surging powerfully in the final strides to snatch victory and kick off the 2025-26 racing season in style at Al Rayyan Racecourse Wednesday. The five-year-old chestnut mare showed tremendous determination and late speed, showcasing both her class and grit under pressure. Trained by Debbie Mountain and ridden confidently by jockey Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik, Nano Toro's win marked the first feature success of the new season and completed a swift double on the card for the team. The back-to-back victories were a rewarding start for owner Eng. Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik, underlining his strong presence in the early stages of the campaign. The winning connections were presented with the Al Ghariyah Cup trophies by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi alongside Head of QREC Racing Operations Section Rashid Saed Adiba. Mountain and Alabdulmalik enjoyed their first victory when Cei Connah edged out opponents in the Thoroughbred Handicap (75-95) – the penultimate event on the opening day of the hectic 70-meeting season. There was also double delight for trainer Maayouf bin Hashim al-Shamari and jockey Salman Fahad al-Hajri, with Khaled Al Shahania (Purebred Arabian Handicap) and Nemr (Purebred Arabian Novice Plate) both landing victories. Prominent jockey Soufiane Saadi also walked away with a brace of titles, guiding Jassim Hamad al-Atteya-trained Al Theeba and Mohammed al-Ghazali-trained Aeon's Aegis to perfection in Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate and Thoroughbred Maiden Plate respectively. Jockey Jefferson Smith opened the action guiding Damaah, trained by Hadi al-Ramzani, to land the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Fillies & Mares). He also completed a pair of wins when he rode Ahmed Kobeissi-trained Roman Number to a massive six-length win in the 1700m Thoroughbred Handicap (50-70). Thursday’s second meeting at Al Rayyan also features eight races culminating with the Al Hamla Cup. RESULTS WINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey) 1 - Al Ghariyah Cup - Thoroughbred (Fillies & Mares) (Class 2) Nano Toro, Debbie Mountain, Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik 2 - Thoroughbred Handicap (75-95) Cei Connah, Debbie Mountain, Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik 3 - Purebred Arabian Handicap (70-90) Khaled Al Shahania, Maayouf bin Hashim al-Shamari, Salman Fahad al-Hajri 4 - Purebred Arabian Novice Plate Nemr, Maayouf bin Hashim al-Shamari, Salman Fahad al-Hajri 5 - Thoroughbred Handicap (50-70) Roman Number, Ahmed Kobeissi, Jefferson Smith 6 - Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate Al Theeba, Jassim Hamad al-Atteya, Soufiane Saadi 7 - Thoroughbred Maiden Plate Aeon’s Aegis, Mohammed al-Ghazali, Soufiane Saadi 8 - Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Fillies & Mares) Damaah, Hadi al-Ramzani, Jefferson Smith