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The Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) held the official draw ceremony for the 2025-2026 Men's General League on Tuesday evening at the Al Wasil Hall in the Qatar Olympic Committee headquarters. The event was attended by key figures from the Qatari basketball community and representatives of the nine participating clubs.The ceremony was graced by the presence of Saadoun Sabah al-Kuwari, General Secretary of the QBF and National Teams Director, Ahmed Youssef al-Darwish, Assistant General Secretary and Head of the Competitions Committee, and Mr. Essam Lotfy, Technical Expert at the QBF.A New Era: The Qatar Basketball Super CupIn a significant development for the sport, al-Kuwari announced the launch of the inaugural Qatar Basketball Super Cup. This new competition will kick off the 2025-2026 season and will feature four top clubs: Al Arabi and Al Rayyan (last season's league and His Highness the Amir Cup finalists), along with Al Sadd and Al Ahli (the third and fourth-placed teams in the previous league).The Super Cup semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday, October 11, 2025, pitting Al Arabi against Al Sadd, and Al Rayyan against Al Ahli. The final will be held on Monday, October 13, 2025.Tributes and Arab AchievementsAl-Kuwari commenced the event with a heartfelt tribute, eulogizing the late Dr. Mustafa Diab, a technical expert at the QBF, praising his immense contributions to developing Qatari basketball. He also expressed the Federation's pride in Al Arabi Club's achievement of winning the bronze medal and securing third place in the 37th Arab Clubs Basketball Championship, recently held in Dubai. He also commended Al Rayyan Club for their strong and competitive performance, stating that these results reflect the growing stature of Qatari basketball on the Arab stage.League Reforms and World Cup PreparationsAl-Kuwari detailed a modified league system for the new season, designed to enhance the technical level and increase the number of matches to 15 per team. This reform aims to provide more competitive experience and is part of a broader strategy to optimally prepare the national team for its upcoming commitments, most notably the Asian Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, which Qatar will host.Echoing this vision, Ahmed al-Darwish emphasized the Federation's commitment to introducing new organizational and technical initiatives."We are facing an exceptional season with many milestones, including Al Arabi's participation in the Asian Super League, which is an honorable representation for Qatari basketball," al-Darwish stated. "We are consistently working in the best interest of the clubs and to prepare our players for the most significant event in the country's basketball history: hosting the 2027 World Cup."League Draw Results and Season ScheduleThe draw set the stage for intense early competition. The first round, starting on October 18, 2025, will feature strong matchups: Al Wakrah vs. Al Sadd, Al Shamal vs. Al Khor, Al Rayyan vs. Qatar Club, and Al Ahli vs. Al Gharafa. Al Arabi will have a bye in the opening round.The league will proceed at an intensive pace until the sixth round on November 5, 2025, before pausing to allow the national team to participate in the first window of the Asian World Cup Qualifiers. The first half of the league concludes on December 13, 2025, with the second half running from December 20, 2025, to January 17, 2026.The semi-final playoffs are scheduled for January 22-31, 2026, culminating in the final between February 2 and 7, 2026. The season will also feature a "Play-In" tournament for teams ranked third to sixth, adding a dynamic layer of competition to determine the final playoff contenders.

The Organizing Committee of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 has taken a major step toward strengthening the cultural and heritage dimension of the tournament by signing a landmark cooperation and cultural partnership agreement with the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, the Qatar Basketball Federation, and the FIBA Foundation (the social and legacy arm of the International Basketball Federation).At the outset of the signing ceremony, Mohammed Saad al-Rumaihi, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Museums, and Mohammed Saad al-Mughaseeb, Director General of the Organizing Committee of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 and President of the Qatar Basketball Federation, expressed their profound gratitude to His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Organizing Committee of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027, and Her Excellency HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums' Board of Trustees, for their unwavering support in advancing both the sporting and cultural sectors through the integration of culture and sport.The cooperation and cultural partnership agreement was then signed by Mr. Mohammed Saad Al-Rumaihi and Mr. Mohammed Saad Al-Mughaseeb, in the presence of Mr. Abdullah Yousuf Al-Mulla, Director of the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and Mr. Fahad Ibrahim Gumaa, Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Integration at the Organizing Committee, alongside guests and representatives of media outlets.This agreement seeks to create a comprehensive framework for collaboration and coordination, paving the way for educational, awareness, marketing, and documentation initiatives that showcase the legacy of basketball at both the local and international levels. It also reinforces Qatar’s standing as a premier global hub for sport and culture.Under the agreement, the partners will host joint exhibitions and showcases on basketball heritage at the 3-2-1 Museum, organize community and interactive fan events both inside and outside the museum, and deliver educational programs, school visits, and workshops exploring the history of the game and its leadership. The initiative will also document the history of basketball in Qatar through collections, digitization, and oral history, while granting access to FIBA’s historical archive for research purposes.On the promotional front, the partners will launch joint digital campaigns, develop commemorative merchandise, and create retail opportunities tied to the World Cup. As part of the legacy and artistic development strand, plans include building community courts decorated with art inspired by the 2027 World Cup, launching joint initiatives to develop coaches, and collecting and preserving memorabilia for future generations.On this occasion, Mr. Mohammed Saad Al-Rumaihi said: We believe that sport and culture are powerful tools for encouraging community engagement and strengthening national identity. Through them, creativity flourishes, social cohesion is reinforced, and innovation grows , all of which are fundamental pillars for building a diverse, knowledge-based society.He added: “In this context, I wish to express my appreciation to our partners at the Qatar Basketball Federation and the Organizing Committee of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 for this constructive collaboration. Together, we look forward to achieving great successes that will leave a lasting legacy for Qatar’s hosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027.”Mr. Mohammed Saad Al-Mughaisib said: “This partnership connects our proud sporting history with our thriving present and bright future. The museum preserves our achievements and showcases our sporting heritage, while the tournament opens doors to a global legacy, highlighting Qatar as a leading sports destination. Through this collaboration, we aim to offer fans and visitors a one-of-a-kind experience that goes beyond the court—blending the excitement of sports with culture and knowledge, while inspiring future generations through events that celebrate basketball’s legacy.”At a press conference held on the sidelines of signing ceremony, Abdullah Yousuf al-Mulla, Director of the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum told the media that the agreement plays a vital promotional, cultural, and educational role in introducing the world to Qatar’s rich culture and its proven ability to host major sporting events. He added that the museum serves as a strategic partner in advancing Qatar National Vision 2030 through programs, workshops, cultural sports exhibitions, and school visits that allow students to engage directly with global basketball stars.For his side, Fahad Ibrahim Gumaa, Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Integration at LOC, noted that this partnership aims to promote basketball and the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027, while continuing to build collaboration and investment to connect people across the region and the world with Qatar’s sporting legacy. He highlighted that the initiative will also educate fans and showcase the memorabilia of legendary basketball players, as part of Qatar’s ongoing cooperation with FIBA.

Today marks two years to go for the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 in Qatar. The most prestigious Basketball tournament in the world will begin with the opening game on 27 August 2027 and will conclude with the final at Lusail Multipurpose Hall, in Lusail on 12 September 2027.On this occasion of this milestone the Local Organizing Committee confirms the four World Cup venues that will host the 92 games. The four venues are Lusail Multipurpose Hall, Duhail Sports Hall, Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, Al Janoub, they will be renamed to Lusail Arena, Duhail Arena, Al Attiyah Arena and Al Janoub Arena respectively -just for the tournament- to ensure homogeneity.It will be the first time in the history of the Basketball World Cup that games will be played in a Football World Cup Stadium. Al Janoub will be converted to a Basketball Arena with its capacity exceeding the 8.000 spectators’ seats, honoring Qatar’s dedication to sustainability and continuing its legacy, connecting the two great sporting events.FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 Director General, President of Qatar Basketball Federation and Member of the FIBA Foundation, Mohammed Saad Al-Meghaiseeb said: “Two years ago, Qatar won the bid to host the Fiba Basketball World Cup in 2027. It is a great honor and responsibility to deliver the best World Cup in the history, as well as to continue the legacy of our country in organizing successful sporting events.Three of our venues are ready and we are working on one of the most distinguished projects in the history of our sport to transform a Football Stadium into a Basketball Arena. Al Janoub Arena will be the pinnacle of our efforts. Our main goal for the next two years is to continue to raise awareness and to leave a legacy for the game of Basketball both in Qatar and the whole Mena region. Exactly in two years, Qatar will welcome fans from all over the world. I can assure you that the members of the Local Organizing Committee, all our stakeholders and with the continuous support of the government Qatar will be ready to deliver an unforgettable experience to the Basketball world”.To celebrate this 2 Years to Go milestone FIBA with the support of the FBWC Qatar 2027 LOC has launched a fans registration website, to declare their interest and stay connected with all tournament updates, including early ticketing information.