tag

Since its inaugural edition in China in 1985, the FIFA U-17 World Cup has featured 84 national teams. The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, marking the tournament’s 20th edition, will kick off this Monday at Aspire Zone and run until November 27, culminating with the final at Khalifa International Stadium.The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 will be the seventh time the tournament is staged in Asia. Previous Asian editions were held in China (1985), Japan (1993), South Korea (2007), the UAE (2013), India (2017), and Indonesia (2023).Thirteen Arab nations have reached the finals throughout the tournament’s history: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Oman, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Algeria, Sudan, and the UAE.Arab teams from Asia have delivered standout performances, including four major successes. Saudi Arabia won the title in 1989 in Scotland, while Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain each reached the semi-finals once.The Qatari national team, winners of the 1990 AFC U-17 Championship, has qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup seven times, with its last appearance in 2005. The team now returns for its eighth appearance on home soil, opening the tournament against Italy this Monday at Aspire Zone’s Pitch 7.Qatar participated in the inaugural edition alongside Saudi Arabia, with its best performance coming in the fourth edition, when it reached the semi-finals and contested third place against Argentina, ultimately losing 4–1 on penalties.While Qatar has appeared in the finals more often than any other Arab nation, the greatest achievement for Arab teams came in 1989 when Saudi Arabia captured the FIFA U-17 World Cup title. After edging Bahrain 1–0 in the semi-finals, Saudi Arabia triumphed over hosts Scotland in a dramatic final, winning 5–4 on penalties following a 2–2 draw in regular time. This historic victory made Saudi Arabia the first Arab and Asian team to win a FIFA-organized tournament.Saudi Arabia advanced from the group stage with four points, drawing twice (2–2 vs. Portugal and Guinea) and defeating Colombia 1–0. The team then overcame Nigeria in the quarter-finals on penalties after a goalless draw.Bahrain finished fourth after losing the third-place match to Portugal 3–0. The Bahraini national team topped its group with five points from two wins against Cuba (3–0) and Ghana (1–0), and a draw against Scotland (1–1). Bahrain also achieved a historic quarter-final victory over Brazil, winning 4–1 on penalties after a goalless draw, before falling to Saudi Arabia 1–0 in the semi-finals.Oman also had a remarkable run in the 1995 edition hosted by Ecuador, finishing fourth after losing the third-place match to Argentina 2–0.In total, Arab teams have played 112 matches across previous editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, recording 35 wins, 25 draws, and 52 losses. They have collectively scored 137 goals. In the 2009 edition hosted by Nigeria, Algeria was the only Arab team that failed to score, exiting after three defeats.Tunisia has won six matches and lost five in its three appearances at the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals, reaching the Round of 16 twice and exiting in the group stage once.The 20th edition of the tournament, FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, will feature six Arab teams: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt.According to the draw, hosts Qatar — fourth-place finishers in the 1991 edition — are in Group A alongside Italy, South Africa, and Bolivia. Morocco, quarter-finalists in 2023 in Indonesia, are in Group B with Japan, New Caledonia, and Portugal. The UAE, whose best achievement was reaching the Round of 16 in 2009 in Nigeria, will compete in Group C with Senegal, Croatia, and Costa Rica.Tunisia joins Group D along with Argentina, Belgium, and Fiji. Egypt, hosts in 1997 and quarter-finalists in their last appearance, are in Group E with England, Venezuela, and Haiti. Saudi Arabia, champions in 1989, are placed in Group L with Mali, New Zealand, and Austria.The teams participating in the FIFA U-17 World Cup will play 104 matches over 25 days at eight stadiums within Aspire Zone, with the final taking place at Khalifa International Stadium.This edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, hosted by Qatar, marks the first time the tournament will feature 48 teams. They are divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group — along with the eight best third-placed teams — advancing to the Round of 32.The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 is the first of five consecutive editions scheduled to be held in Qatar.

The second edition of the Gulf Padel Championship, organized by the Qatar Padel Federation, concluded today at the Padel In courts in Aspire Zone with great success.The tournament featured teams from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. It was held in a round-robin format, with each team playing three matches in the men's, women's, and junior categories.The Qatari men's team finished second and won the silver medal after defeating Bahrain 2-1 in the final match.The UAE team finished first and won the gold medal, while the Kuwaiti team finished third and won the bronze medal.In the women's category, the Kuwaiti team won first place and won the gold medal, followed by the UAE team in second place and silver medal, and the Saudi team in third place and bronze medal.In the junior category, the Kuwaiti team finished first and won the gold medal, followed by the UAE team in second place and silver medal, and the Saudi team in third place and bronze medal.The coronation ceremony took place amidst a special atmosphere at the main court.Sultan Khalfan, the tournament director, praised the success achieved. Talking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), he stated that they were pleased with the tournament's success on all levels.He mentioned that the national team secured second place and earned silver medals following a strong performance throughout the tournament. The competition was incredibly intense, serving as a motivation to continue pushing for further growth and advancement in Padel in the future.He continued by saying that this tournament precedes Qatar's hosting of the Asian Padel Championship next month, looking forward to continuing their efforts to further emphasize Qatar's distinguished organizational capabilities and its constant endeavor to organize tournaments in the best possible manner.For his part, Mohammed Sadoun Al Kuwari, a Qatari padel player, emphasized that Qatar succeeded in organizing the Gulf Championship in an honorable manner.

Qatar men’s team will start their Arab Gulf Padel Championship campaign against Oman at the Padel In - Aspire Zone Monday. The draw ceremony of the championship, which is being organized by the Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel and Badminton Federation (QTSPBF), was held Sunday in the presence of the participating teams representatives. Saudi Arabia will take on the UAE while Bahrain will meet Kuwait. The five-day tournament will be held in three categories – men’s, women’s and juniors and conclude on September 19.In the women’s section, Bahraini will start against Oman Monday. The Saudi Arabia women will meet Kuwait, while in the third match of the opening day, Qatar women will play against the UAE.In a statement issued Sunday, QTSPBF Secretary General Tariq Zainal said the tournament will be a platform for strong competition and will reflect the significant development witnessed by padel in the region.Qatar teamsMen’s: Mohammed Saadoun al-Kuwari, Khaled Saadoun al-Kuwari, Mohammed al-Khenji, Hassan Wali, Rashid Nawaf, Meshari Nawaf, Rayan al-Jafari and Ali al-Saadi.Women’s: Hanan al-Abdulrahman, Maha Farmarzi, Salma Wali, Rawda al-Abdullah, Maryam al-Sulaiti, Hessa al-Mutawa, Atlal al-Abdulrahman, and Dana al-Mudhahka.