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Qatar’s Abdulaziz al-Kuwari and Polish rider Konrad Dabrowski topped the times in the car and motorcycle categories on the afternoon’s Prologue stage before the 2025 Qatar International Baja was officially flagged away at the ‘Way to the World Cup’ landmark on Doha Corniche in the evening. Forty-three cars, 53 motorcycles and four quads graced the official start lists for the penultimate rounds of the FIA World and Middle East Cups and the FIM Bajas World Cup. While the afternoon’s Prologue to the north-west of Lusail sorted the starting order for today’s opening desert stage, the highlight of the day was the ceremonial start at the ‘Way to the World Cup’ landmark with the stunning backdrop of Doha’s spectacular hi-rise West Bay skyline. Cars were flagged away by Abdulrahman al-Mannai, President of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), and the QMMF’s general secretary Abdulrazzaq al-Kuwari in the presence of distinguished guests and senior officials from both the FIA and FIM. Czech duo of Martin Prokop and Viktor Chytka were initially fastest in the FIA category with a run of 6min 46.0sec. That enabled the Ford Raptor driver to win the Prologue by just four-tenths of a second from last year’s event winners Denis Krotov and Konstantin Zhiltsov (X-Raid Mini). But both drivers were later handed time penalties that dropped them down to 18th and sixth positions, respectively. The QMMF Team’s Abdulaziz al-Kuwari and Khalifa Saleh al-Attiyah eventually finished first and second in the car category after numerous time penalties were imposed on their rivals. Sweden’s Mattias Ekstrom was third in a Can-Am and the current FIA World Baja Cup leader Juan Cruz Yacopini finished fourth in his Toyota Hilux with his championship rival Miroslav Zapletal in fifth. **media[378368]** Yacopini said: “We were the first car on the road. It was a tricky Prologue between the flags. We made it properly. We have the chance of a good starting position for this race. We will have a clear road and some lines (to follow). Let’s see what happens.” Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah had been the fastest driver at the mid-stage split before losing time late on with a fuel pump issue on his Taurus T3 Max. The Qatari finished the Prologue down in 25th position. Al-Attiyah said: “We had a good run and then we had a small issue with the fuel pump and we stopped for one minute. We will try to do our best tomorrow. It will be a long day.” A dominant Dabrowski clocked a time of 7min 02.8sec on the Prologue on his KTM 450 Rally to beat British Husqvarna rider Alex McInnes to the win by 39.3 seconds in the motorcycle category. Frenchman Jean Loup Lepan (KTM), Slovenian Simon Marcic (Kove) and regular Indian factory Sherco rider Harith Noah rounded off the top five. The FIM Bajas World Cup’s front-running Mohammed al-Balooshi and Rafic Eid were classified in sixth and ninth. Emirati Abdulaziz al-Ahli was the quickest of the quad riders and faster than all but four of the bikers. **media[378369]** Al-Balooshi said: “Not a good result for us. This is not the way we wanted to start the race. Tomorrow is a new day. I am happy that we are here safe. Hopefully we make the most of tomorrow.” Title rival Eid added: “It was super hot and super rocky. It was a tricky ride with tight corners. Now I am position 10 (including leading quad) and that means I will open the road for everybody. With Qatar’s difficult navigation this will be a good training for me for Dakar 2026!” Qatar’s Mohammed al-Kubaisi and Abdulrahman al-Sheeb finished the Prologue in 43rd and 49th positions in the two-wheel contingent, the latter suffering niggling electrical issues on his Fantic XEF. Jordan’s Eyad Salmirza (Yamaha) was a non-starter and received a 30-minute penalty. On Friday, competitors face a revised opening stage of 220.31km. This will be split into three shorter timed sections. The first bike is scheduled to get the action underway at 07.45hrs. Prologue result: Cars (top 20 only) 1. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Stéphane Duplé (FRA) Taurus T3 Max 6min 50.3sec+ 2. Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Bruno Jacomy (ARG) Taurus T3 Max 6min 51.8sec+ 3. Mattias Ekström (SWE)/Emil Bergkvist (SWE) Can-Am Maverick R 6min 53.6sec 4. Juan Cruz Yacopini (ARG)/Dani Oliveras (ESP) Toyota Hilux IMT Evo 6min 58.7sec* 5. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Marek Sykora (SVK) Ford F-150 Evo 6min 59.8sec* 6. Denis Krotov (KGZ)/Konstantin Zhiltsov (KGZ) Mini John Cooper Works Rally 3.0i 7min 01.4sec 7. Mitchel van den Brink (NED)/Bart van Heun (NED) Can-Am Maverick R 7min 02.8sec* 8. Hamed Al-Wahaibi (OMA)/Ilka Minor (AUT) Can-Am Maverick R 7min 06.3sec* 9. Lionel Baud (FRA)/Lucie Baud (FRA) Mini John Cooper Works Rally 3.0D 7min 09.1sec 10. Eugenio Amos (ITA)/Paolo Ceci (ITA) Can-Am Maverick R 7min 12.5sec* 11. Nouef Al-Suwaidi (QAT)/Aisvydas Paliukenas (LTU) Taurus T3 Max 7min 17.5sec+ 12. Sergei Remennik (UAE)/Aleksei Ignatov (KGZ) Taurus T3 Max 7min 17.9sec* 13. Hamza Bakhashab (KSA)/Marcin Pasek (POL) Can-Am Maverick R 7min 20.4sec+ 14. Dania Akeel (KSA)/Sébastien Delaunay (FRA) Toyota Hilux 7min 21.0sec+ 15. Amerigo Ventura (ITA)/Erika Mingozzi (ITA) Yamaha YXZ 1000R Short Shift 7min 21.7sec* 16. Erik van Loon (NED)/Martin van den Brink (NED) Can-Am Maverick R 7min 23.6sec* 17. Ronan Chabot (FRA)/Xavier Panseri (FRA) Toyota Hilux 7min 28.9sec 18. Martin Prokop (CZE)/Viktor Chytka (CZE) Ford Raptor 7min 31.0sec 19. Paul Severn (GBR)/Delphine Denfino (FRA) Polaris RZR Pro R Sport 7min 34.7sec* 20. Khalid Al-Feraihi (KSA)/Candido Carrera (ESP) Toyota Hilux IMT Evo 7min 35.6sec *denotes registered for the FIA World Baja Cup + denotes registered for the FIA Middle East Baja Cup Bikes (Top 20 only) 1. Konrad Dabrowski (POL) KTM 450 Rally 7min 02.8sec 2. Alex McInnes (GBR) Husqvarna Rally Replica 7min 42.1sec 3. Jean Loup Lepan (FRA) KTM 450 Rally 7min 50.6sec 4. Simon Marcic (SLO) Kove Rally EX 7min 53.0sec 5. Harith Noah (IND) Sherco 450 SEF 7min 55.2sec 6. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (UAE) KTM 450 RR 8min 19.5sec 7. Abdullah Lanjawi (UAE) Kove 450 Rally 8min 20.0sec 8. Michael Anderson (POR) KTM Rally Replica 8min 23.0sec 9. Rafic Eid (LBN) KTM 450 Rally 8min 25.3sec 10. Abdullah Abu Aisheh (JOR) Yamaha WR 450F 8min 26.2sec 11. Leoncio Sosa (MEX) KTM 350 ECX 8min 29.3sec 12. Andrew Houlihan (AUS) Husqvarna FR450 Rally 8min 30.1sec 13. Ehab Al-Hakeem (LBN) Yamaha WR450 8min 30.6sec 14. Robbie Wallace (GBR) Honda CRF 450R 8min 30.7sec 15. Mauricio Sosa (MEX) Kove 450 Rally 8min 37.8sec 16. Makis Rees-Stavros (GBR) KTM EXC 450 8min 39.3sec 17. Oran O’Kelly (IRL) KTM Rally 450 8min 46.6sec 18. Philip Horlemann (GER) KTM Rally Replica 450 8min 50.1sec 19. Hans Christian Dovland (NOR) Husqvarna FR450 8min 51.1sec 20. Frederic Fontarosa (FRA) Husqvarna FE450 8min 57.0sec Quads 1. Abdulaziz Ahli (UAE) Yamaha Raptor 700R 7min 50.9sec 2. Hani Al-Noumesi (KSA) Yamaha Raptor 8min 52.8sec 3. Yaghoob Azadi (QAT) Yamaha Raptor 700R 45min 00.0sec 4. Abdulaziz Al-Atawi (KSA) Yamaha Raptor 700 45min 00.0sec

The Second World Summit for Social Development opened its second day on Wednesday with a plenary session focused on the main global challenges and opportunities related to social development. During the session, participants emphasized the importance of strengthening international solidarity and placing humans at the center of social policies to achieve sustainable well-being among communities.They called for enhanced cooperation between countries and international institutions to develop comprehensive social policies, with a focus on investing in youth, women, and vulnerable groups to ensure sustainable social development and promote equality and justice.In this context, Minister of Family and Social Services of Turkiye Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas said that development is not measured solely by economic growth indicators, but also by social cohesion, citizens' quality of life, and human dignity.She added that Turkiye is working to achieve a balance between work, education, health, and social life, ensuring women's empowerment, protecting children, promoting active and healthy lives for youth and the elderly, and transforming social assistance from temporary support into a sustainable environment that encourages citizens' active participation in social development.Meanwhile, Minister of Social Development of Oman Dr. Laila bint Ahmed Al Najjar emphasized that true development begins and ends with humans, and that justice and equality are fundamental pillars for building a modern state.She explained that the Sultanate of Oman follows a comprehensive social strategy that includes combating poverty, promoting social integration, and distributing social benefits fairly, with a focus on supporting families, improving the professional environment for persons with disabilities and the elderly, and using data-driven assessments to enhance social policies.In turn, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Sanni Grahn-Laasonen stressed her country's full support for United Nations reform and its commitment to human rights and gender equality, with an emphasis on sexual and reproductive health and rights.She noted that Finland is a leader in social innovation, and that its investments in parental care, free education, school meals, and public childcare have contributed to improving quality of life and empowering women to participate in the labor market. She also emphasized the importance of youth and ensuring the rights of future generations to a dignified life and a sustainable future.

At least three people were killed, and 11 others were injured when a UPS cargo plane crashed near Louisville International Airport in Kentucky. The US Federal Aviation Administration explained that the aircraft, an MD-11 model, crashed after taking off from Louisville en route to Honolulu, noting that the aircraft was carrying three crew members.Emergency services in Louisville reported that they issued an order to stay indoors within a five-mile radius of the airport, due to fires breaking out in industrial buildings adjacent to the crash site and the closure of several roads, while local reports indicated the formation of a large fire and the rising of thick columns of smoke.The airspace at Louisville airport was temporarily closed following the incident, amid expectations of impacts on cargo operations, given that the airport houses UPS's Worldport Center, the company's largest parcel processing facility.

The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) has put the finishing touches to this weekend’s Qatar International Baja and competitors have now set up their equipment in the expansive Baja service park, adjacent to the Lusail International Circuit, north of Doha.Forty-three cars, 54 motorcycles and four quads are expected to tackle the penultimate rounds of the FIA World and Middle East Baja Cups and the FIM Bajas World Cup.Rally officials have also made minor tweaks to the route in the days building up to the event. The Prologue to determine the starting order for the first stage will now run for 10.59km Thursday afternoon. This precedes a slightly revised opening stage of 220.31km on Friday and the final run through the dunes of southern Qatar on Saturday that has been slightly lengthened to 234.19km.Five-time Dakar Rally winner Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah proved last December that it is possible to beat the Ultimate category cars and take an outright victory in a round of the FIA World Baja Cup (he and Pablo Moreno won the Dubai round in a Taurus T3 Max) in a Challenger class machine.The Qatari has a busy weekend ahead offering support vehicles to the QMMF Team. As he explained in the service park Tuesday: “We tried hard in Dubai last year and we won. It was really nice. Now, we have made a lot of development with the car (Taurus) in South Africa also. We have worked on the cooling and the power of the engine.”He added: “It is very nice to have the Nasser Racing and QMMF teams for our region and to help the people. It is amazing. We try to improve every time. It’s also a good chance for me to keep focused before the Dakar with Dacia. That’s another reason we are here. I am also with Fabian (Lurquin), my co-driver for Dakar, and we are here to learn more together. I didn’t want to miss this race.”One of the entrants in the SSV category at the wheel of an RX-Sport-supplied Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR is Nora Al-Jassasi. The first Emirati female to be licenced by the FIA as a driver is teaming up with navigator Egor Okhotnikov. After starting out in equestrian endurance racing, Nora switched to motorcycling and has also taken part in the Jameel Rally in Saudi Arabia on a couple of occasions.“I’m excited to be a part of the Qatar Baja,” said Nora. “I know Qatar’s terrain will be challenging but that’s what pushes you to improve. I will also compete in Dubai as preparation for the 2026 FIA Middle East Baja Cup. I took part in the Abu Dhabi Baja Challenge at the end of October and was third in T4 and second in the Ladies Cup.”Rashid al-Ketbi is a former rally driver himself and would often give Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Abdullah Bakhashab a run for their money on rounds of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship. He is now running Dubai-based RX-Sport and overseeing the exploits of Oman’s Hamed al-Wahaibi in this year’s FIA World Baja Cup.Al-Wahaibi is currently tied third in the SSV standings with Briton Paul Severn and behind runaway series leader Mitchel van den Brink and Italy’s Amerigo Ventura. Al-Ketbi said: “I am very excited to be here and to see so many old friends again. We have been managing Hamed all season in the World Championship and we are aiming for the podium. We reach a certain time in our motorsport careers as we get older and we decide to support each other as best we can. It is becoming a motorsport family more than just a motorsport challenge.”Al-Attiyah’s brother Khalifa Saleh is in pole position to win the FIA Middle East Baja Cup outright. The QMMF Team Taurus driver takes an 11-point lead over Saudi Arabia’s Dania Akeel into the weekend in the overall Drivers’ Championship. He leads team-mate Abdulaziz al-Kuwari by 32 points in the SSV standings. “I need to be cautious, not take risks, find a fast pace and make sure that I score points,” said Khalifa Saleh.Rival Akeel kept in match practice last weekend by finishing second overall at the Qassim Rally in Saudi Arabia. She will run an Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux this weekend.Last year, Akeel was on the verge of history by becoming the first woman ever to win a Baja-type event in the Middle East. She led at the start of the final stage in Qatar and then stopped shortly before the finish with a broken steering arm. Desperate emergency repairs enabled her to reach the finish in fifth place.Juan Cruz Yacopini arrives in Doha trying to defend a 22-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship in the FIA World Bajas Cup. The Argentine’s closest rival is Czech veteran Miroslav Zapletal. Yacopini has only scored points on four rounds so far this year. He finished second to Yazeed al-Rajhi at the Saudi Baja and scored maximum points in Jordan, Italy and Spain.Mohammed al-Balooshi starts as the favourite in the FIM Bajas World Cup category and is also the leader of the local Qatar Baja series. Michael Anderson has a growing reputation in the area for his speed, while this year’s Saudi Baja winner Alex McInnes has changed the engine on his bike in the bivouac after last weekend’s Qassim Rally.Both Barry Howe and Hamdan al-Ali will be absent from the start list because of injury but Qatari riders Mohammed al-Kubaisi and Abdulrahman al-Sheeb will be raring to go. Meanwhile, Briton Ben Harvey-Grounds will line-up full of confidence after his win on a Kove in the prestigious 24-hour Dawn to Dusk Enduro in Wales.On Wednesday, competitors go through their administration and scrutineering checks at the Lusail International Circuit before a dozen of the leading drivers and riders attend the pre-event press conference in the circuit’s media centre 6pm.

His Excellency Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met Tuesday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Francophonie of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development currently held in Doha.During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation and discussed ways to support and enhance it.

The Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the International Disability Alliance (IDA). The MoU aims to enhance collaboration in the field of supporting and empowering persons with disabilities.The signing took place on the margins of the preparatory events for the Global Disability Summit 2028, held at Multaqa (Education City Student Center) of Qatar Foundation, under the theme: from commitments to change: the journey toward Doha. HE Minister of Social Development and Family Buthaina bint Ali al-Jabr al-Nuaimi said the signing of the MoU comes as part of the State of Qatar's enduring commitment to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities and enabling their full participation across all spheres of life.The memorandum intends to support persons with disabilities, hone their skills, and safeguard their dignity and autonomy, in addition to strengthening programs and initiatives that foster their access to employment opportunities, healthcare, and community participation, al-Nuaimi highlighted.Al-Nuaimi explained that the move aligns with the MSDF's vision of building an inclusive society founded on dynamic national and international partnerships.She announced that the State of Qatar will host the fourth Global Disability Summit 2028 in Doha, noting that this hosting will build upon the achievements realized through cooperation with regional and global partners. For his part, President of IDA and President of the Arab Organization of Persons with Disabilities (AOPD), Dr Nawaf Kabbara, affirmed that this partnership represents a phenomenal model of international cooperation that can contribute to advancing the rights and empowerment of persons with disabilities worldwide.He commended the leading role assumed by Qatar in this domain, noting that his visits to several institutions concerned with persons with disabilities in Qatar revealed advanced experiences and exemplary practices that reaffirm the nation's steadfast commitment to promoting inclusion and meaningful participation of this group, emphasizing that Qatar has emerged as a regional and global role model.He added that the national efforts in Qatar embody dynamic leadership and a genuine desire to ensure that persons with disabilities are partners in development and prosperity, noting that this approach serves as an inspiring model for many countries and international organizations.Dr. Kabbara, in his capacity as President of AOPD, touted the progress materialized across the Arab region in empowering persons with disabilities, emphasizing that such strides reinforce the prospects for achieving inclusive and sustainable development on both the national and regional stages.The program of the event, which brought together international and regional officials and experts, featured a series of panel discussions and specialized workshops, most notably a session on global horizons: from Berlin to Amman 2025, a session on innovation in inclusion, and a workshop on the invisible majority: bridging the disability data gap. The program also included specialized workshops titled: from disability to participation and integrating children with disabilities, organized in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Unicef program.

In the lead-up to the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2025, Lusail International Circuit (LIC) is set to bring the thrill of the race beyond the track with mall activations designed to engage fans of all ages. Motorsport enthusiasts across Doha will have the chance to experience the excitement of Formula 1 first hand through interactive and visually stunning installations.At Place Vendome Mall, ground floor by Paul Cafe, the Qatar GP Village will welcome visitors, from November 2 to 30, during mall operating hours with a variety of interactive experiences free of charge for kids and adults. Fans can test their racing skills in the VR Pit Stop Challenge, compete on F1 simulators, explore hologram boxes, solve racing-themed puzzles, design their own helmets via the “Build Your Helmet” app, and capture memories at dedicated photo booths. The Cheer Wall will allow visitors to celebrate the passion of Formula 1, creating a truly participatory fan experience.Fatima al-Qaedi, Marketing and Communications Manager at Lusail International Circuit, commented, “Our off-track activations are designed to bring the excitement of Formula 1 closer to fans across Doha. We aim to tap into different segments in our activation: education, art, technology, and fun as this is what F1 is all about, and we want to make sure that Doha, and everyone coming to Doha, celebrates this with us. With interactive and immersive racing experiences, these initiatives celebrate the passion for motorsport, making the countdown to the Grand Prix an unforgettable experience for everyone.”Tickets for the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix 2025 continue to sell rapidly. Fans can still secure limited grandstand and hospitality packages in addition to single day tickets for Friday and Saturday. Friday tickets offer a chance to enjoy opening festivities and the vibrant Fan Zone starred by the iconic British singer, Seal’s performance, while Saturday provides the exclusive Sprint Race with the F2 as support races, and the full 3-day experience promises nonstop racing, entertainment, and fan activities. Tickets can be purchased via Lusail International Circuit’s website at tickets.lcsc.qa.With city and mall activations even running through race weekend, LIC has invited fans to immerse themselves in the world of Formula 1 and experience the thrill, technology, and culture that defines the Qatar Grand Prix.

The prosecutor's office at the International Criminal Court warned Monday that atrocities committed in the Sudanese city of El-Fasher could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.The ICC prosecutor's office (OTP) voiced "profound alarm and deepest concern" over reports from El-Fasher about mass killings, rapes, and other crimes allegedly committed.After 18 months of siege, bombardment and starvation, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control of El-Fasher on October 26, dislodging the army's last stronghold in Sudan's western Darfur region."These atrocities are part of a broader pattern of violence that has afflicted the entire Darfur region since April 2023," said the OTP in a statement."Such acts, if substantiated, may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute," the founding text of the ICC.The UN said more than 65,000 people have fled El-Fasher, including around 5,000 to nearby Tawila, but tens of thousands remain trapped.Before the final assault, roughly 260,000 people lived in the city.Since the RSF takeover, reports have emerged of executions, sexual violence, looting, attacks on aid workers and abductions in and around El-Fasher, where communications remain largely cut off.The RSF traces its origins to the Janjaweed, a predominantly Arab militia accused of genocide in Darfur two decades ago.Reports since El-Fasher's fall have raised fears of a return to similar atrocities.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met in Cairo on Sunday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty to discuss the latest regional developments, foremost among them the situation in the Gaza Strip.During the meeting, Abdelatty highlighted Egypt’s efforts, in coordination with regional and international partners, to uphold the Sharm el-Sheikh peace agreement and ensure its full implementation as a prelude to initiating reconstruction and fostering stability in the Gaza Strip, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.The statement added that Abdelatty referred to the ongoing preparations to convene the Cairo Conference on Early Recovery, Reconstruction, and Development in Gaza, with broad Arab and international participation.On the bilateral front, Abdelatty emphasized the importance of convening the 10th Session of the Egypt-Lebanon Joint Higher Committee to further strengthen relations and enhance consultations on various issues of mutual concern.He also underscored Egypt’s keenness to advance economic and trade relations with Lebanon across all sectors, as well as to activate existing agreements and memoranda of understanding to give fresh momentum to the path of bilateral cooperation.

His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met on Sunday with Her Excellency Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Francophonie of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who is currently visiting the country.The meeting discussed aspects of cooperation between the two countries and ways to enhance and expand them. It also touched on the latest developments in the Great Lakes region and efforts to promote dialogue and achieve peace.His Excellency Dr. Al Khulaifi reaffirmed Qatar’s belief in the importance of dialogue as a means of resolving conflicts and its commitment to supporting peaceful efforts aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Congo.

The 20th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 will kick off in Doha on Monday, running until November 27, with the participation of 48 national teams — the largest number in the tournament's history.This edition marks the first of five consecutive tournaments that Doha will host through 2029. Matches will take place across eight stadiums within Aspire Academy over 25 days, featuring a total of 104 matches, with eight games played daily throughout the various stages of the competition.The final match will carry special significance, as it will be held at Khalifa International Stadium, one of the iconic venues of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.The Qatar national team will officially open the tournament, facing Italy at 6:45 pm tomorrow (Monday) on Pitch No. 7 at Aspire, in Group A, which also includes South Africa and Bolivia.Al-Annabi is aiming for a strong start and a successful campaign, hoping to surpass its best-ever result — fourth place in the 1991 edition in Italy. That remains Qatar's standout achievement from its seven previous appearances in 1985, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999, and 2005.Under the leadership of Spanish coach Alvaro Mejia, the Qatari squad has undergone a thorough preparation period, including participation in several tournaments and friendly matches.In the final stage of preparations, the Qatari U-17 team held an overseas training camp, where they played a series of friendly matches — losing 2–1 to Belgium, 3–0 to Croatia, and defeating Ukraine 2–1. The technical staff also utilized last month’s GCC U-17 Cup in Doha to give all players opportunities across different lineups in preparation for the World Cup.The opening day of the tournament will feature eight matches ahead of the official opening ceremony.The first match will see Bolivia, making its third appearance in the tournament, face South Africa, which is participating for the second time, at 3:30 pm on Aspire Field No. 3, as part of Group A fixtures.In the second match, Costa Rica, taking part for the 11th time, will meet the United Arab Emirates, marking the first Arab appearance in this year's edition and the UAE’s fourth participation overall. This match will kick off at 3:30 pm on Aspire Field No. 8, within Group C, which also features a clash between Senegal, making its third appearance, and Croatia, appearing for the fourth time, scheduled for 4:00 pm on Aspire Field No. 1.Meanwhile, Morocco, competing in the tournament for the third time, will start its campaign with a tough match against Japan, a team with a strong record of ten previous appearances, at 4:30 pm on Aspire Field No. 5, as part of Group B. In the same group, Portugal, the 2025 European champion, will take on New Caledonia at 6:15 pm on Aspire Field No. 4.Also on the schedule, Tunisia, which has appeared in three previous World Cups, will open its Group D campaign against Fiji, making its debut appearance in the tournament, at 6:45 pm on Aspire Field No. 8. The same group will also see a high-profile encounter between Argentina, third-place finisher in the 2003 edition, and Belgium, which finished third in 2015, set for 5:45 pm on Aspire Field No. 2.**media[376395]**The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 is being held in a single location, designed to create a football carnival atmosphere, as the areas surrounding the eight stadiums within Aspire Zone will serve as fan zones throughout the tournament.This year’s edition marks the beginning of a major transformation introduced by FIFA to its youth tournaments. The Doha U-17 World Cup is the first FIFA competition ever to feature an expanded lineup of 48 teams. It also introduces another significant change: the tournament will now be held annually instead of every two years, as was the case under the previous system.According to the new tournament format, the 48 teams have been divided into 12 groups of four. Each group will compete in a round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, advancing to the Round of 32 — for a total of 32 teams moving on to the knockout stage.The knockout rounds will follow a structured elimination format, beginning with the Round of 32, followed by the Round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals, culminating in the final match, which will take place on November 27 at Khalifa International Stadium.Prior to the draw, held in Doha at the end of May, FIFA allocated the 48 participating teams into four seeding pots based on their performances in the last five U-17 World Cups, with 12 teams in each pot. As the host nation, Qatar was placed in Pot 1 and seeded at the top of Group A.According to the draw, the teams were divided as follows:Group A: Qatar (hosts), Italy, South Africa, BoliviaGroup B: Japan, Morocco, New Caledonia, PortugalGroup C: Senegal, Croatia, Costa Rica, United Arab EmiratesGroup D: Argentina, Belgium, Tunisia, FijiGroup E: England, Venezuela, Haiti, EgyptGroup F: Mexico, South Korea, Côte d’Ivoire, SwitzerlandGroup G: Germany, Colombia, North Korea, El SalvadorGroup H: Brazil, Honduras, Indonesia, ZambiaGroup I: United States, Burkina Faso, Tajikistan, Czech RepublicGroup J: Paraguay, Uzbekistan, Panama, IrelandGroup K: France, Chile, Canada, UgandaGroup L: Mali, New Zealand, Austria, Saudi ArabiaThe Local Organizing Committee has made all necessary arrangements to ensure the tournament is presented in the best possible manner, with expectations that it will be highly successful, given Qatar’s extensive experience in hosting major international events.

President of the Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports (ACBS), Mohamed Salem Al Nuaimi, praised Qatar's outstanding organization of the Qatar World Cup 10-Ball Championship 2025, describing the event as a clear demonstration of the country's exceptional ability to host major global tournaments at the highest international standards.In a press statement, Al Nuaimi said this edition of the championship ranks among the best in the history of World 10-Ball events — both in terms of the number and caliber of participants, and the high technical level displayed throughout the competitions up to the semifinals.He stressed that Qatar, represented by the Qatar Billiard Sports Federation (QBSF), continues to deliver world-class organization of international tournaments, adding that the success of this championship reflects Qatar's strategic vision and long-term commitment to hosting major sporting events.Al Nuaimi emphasized that the championship's success was no coincidence, but rather the result of tireless work by all organizing committees and highly skilled Qatari professionals, whose vast experience in managing international competitions has earned praise from players and global officials alike. He underlined that such professionalism has firmly established Doha as a global hub for billiards and snooker.He pointed out that the tournament witnessed intense and exceptional competition from start to finish — from the preliminary rounds to the main draw and knockout stages — which saw several world champions and top-ranked players exit early, further underscoring the exceptional standard of play.The ACBS President affirmed that this year's edition of the World 10-Ball Championship has made a significant contribution to the global growth of the sport, commending the QBSF's pivotal role in advancing billiards and snooker regionally and internationally.He noted that Doha has once again proven itself as the sporting capital of the world, thanks to its world-class infrastructure and highly professional organization across all sports, particularly billiards and snooker. He also highlighted that Doha holds the rights to host the World 10-Ball Championship for five consecutive editions, through 2028.Al Nuaimi praised the progress of Qatari players, noting their strong performances in both the preliminary and main rounds. He commended Ali Al Obaidli for his impressive showing, reaching the Round of 64 before being eliminated by top-ranked and former world champions.He revealed that, following the conclusion of the World 10-Ball Championship, Doha will host the World Snooker Championship from November 3 to 13, with the preliminary rounds to be held at the Federation's hall before moving to the newly refurbished Ezdan Palace Hotel from November 8 for the main stages.Expressing confidence in Qatar's national team, Al Nuaimi — who also serves as Secretary-General of the QBSF — said he expects strong performances from the Qatari players, led by world champion Ali Al Obaidli, who possesses the experience and determination to make another deep run following his 2023 world title.In conclusion, Al Nuaimi reaffirmed that the Asian and Qatari federations continue to work closely to develop the sport both locally and continentally, stressing that Qatar will always remain at the forefront of nations hosting world-class sporting events that go beyond organization to deliver inspiring, exceptional experiences for the global sporting community.