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His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), paid an inspection visit to the Athletics Training Center Project at Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence.The project, which is being implemented through an integrated partnership between Aspire Academy, the Qatar Athletics Federation and Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital – aims to develop Qatari athletics and elevate it to new levels.During the visit, Sheikh Joaan toured the project's administrative building and reviewed the ongoing work and coordination between the three entities in training, medical preparation, and administrative support. The collaboration is designed to enhance athletes’ performance and support their aspirations for a successful season.He also met with members of the national athletics team, reviewed their training programs, and encouraged them to give their best and prepare thoroughly for upcoming competitions. His Excellency reaffirmed the Qatar Olympic Committee’s commitment to providing the best development environment for athletes.Accompanying the QOC President on the visit were high jump legend Mutaz Barshim, Ivan Bravo, Director General of Aspire Academy; Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid al-Thani, Director of the QOC Sports Sector, Mohammed Issa al-Fadala, President of the Qatar Athletics Federation; as well as several members of the federation’s board of directors. 

More than 2,000 people attended the opening day and the second day of the Aspire Academy Fan Zone, launched as part of the festivities surrounding the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025.**media[380440]**The Aspire Academy Fan Zone, based in Aspire Park, was officially opened by the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 mascot Boma, alongside legendary coach Bora Milutinovic, the man who inspired the tournament's owl symbol.The Serbian coach is not only the only man in history to lead five different national teams at five consecutive FIFA World Cups; he has also played a significant role in Qatar’s football development and continues to serve in an advisory role at Aspire Academy.**media[380434]**That legacy as a talent scout and mentor is reflected in Boma’s character, a wise desert owl always on the lookout for emerging talent.The Aspire Academy Fan Zone will be open daily from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. until the day of the Under-17 World Cup final on 27 November.**media[380436]**The area will offer a fun and interactive experience for all and a chance to win prizes.Visitors will be able to put their footballing skills to the test across six exciting challenges designed to measure their power, accuracy, agility, and jumping ability—and win prizes.Aspire Academy’s Acting Marketing and Communication Director, Muneera Mohammed Hammam, said it was important for the Academy to mark such a landmark event.**media[380438]**“This FIFA Under-17 World Cup is a moment of history for Aspire Academy, as we are hosting 103 of the 104 matches at the finals,” she said.“This is the first time a single venue like ours has hosted an entire World Cup football tournament.”**media[380444]**“We are proud that all the matches are being played on Aspire Academy pitches, except November 27th’s final, which will be held at the neighbouring Khalifa International Stadium.”“Not only are we hosting this newly expanded event, but we are incredibly proud and excited that the entire Qatar squad for the tournament have been trained at Aspire Academy.”**media[380435]**“Eleven of the players are current student-athletes at the Academy, another six graduated in June, and four more are Aspire Academy-trained players.”“We want everyone coming to watch the matches to enjoy their time at Aspire Academy watching the tournament, and we want them to have some fun as they test their own footballing skills.”**media[380437]**“This Fan Zone promises to be fun for fans of all ages and offers them the chance to walk away with a prize if they can successfully complete all the challenges.”**media[380442]**The 2025 FIFA Under-17 World Cup is the first of five that Qatar will host as the event becomes annual rather than biennial.

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.

The Aspire Academy Global Summit 2025 officially commenced Wednesday at Subaru Park, home of Philadelphia Union, marking the first time the prestigious gathering has been held in the United States.Hosted in collaboration with Philadelphia Union and in partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS), among the first days' highlights was a Masterclass by former Liverpool and Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez and a Star Chat with ex-England boss Sir Gareth Southgate.More than 400 people attended the opening, including members of the Aspire Academy leadership team, international guests, and members of the Aspire in the World Fellows community. They were joined by coaches from MLS and local clubs, as well as student-athletes from the YSC academy, the educational partner of the Philadelphia Union MLS Club. The young players later participated in the practical clinics; a new segment added to the Global Summit program this year.The attendees were welcomed by Richie Graham, Founder of YSC Academy and Investor of the Philadelphia Union. He emphasised the importance of education and football. “Football’s future is very bright, and it’s inspiring to see everyone come together to contribute to the progress of the game. The commitment to education, development, and collaboration is what will shape the next generation of players and leaders in the game,” he said.Abdullah Nasser al-Nuaimi, Acting CEO of the Aspire Zone Foundation, welcomed the delegates and echoed the sentiments of Richie Graham: “At Aspire Academy, our purpose has always been to develop, not only exceptional athletes, but well-rounded individuals who understand the game, its values, and their role within it. Education is at the heart of everything we do, because lasting success in football depends as much on knowledge and character as it does on talent. The Aspire Global Summit embodies this vision; it’s a platform where learning, collaboration, and innovation come together to advance the game for future generations.” Abdullah concluded.Building on that message, Aspire Academy Director General Ivan Bravo spoke about the Aspire Academy Global Summit’s mission to foster open dialogue and cross-cultural learning within the global football community. "We are about sharing and about knowledge exchange. We love to visit new countries and understand the challenges that coaches face. What is the approach to player development? That exchange of ideas and understanding of coaches’ approach in different countries is what makes the Aspire in the World Fellows program so special.”“It's crucial to be able to become a successful coach and provide a clear pathway for players. The program is designed for coaches and technical staff to maximize their understanding, allowing them to continue learning, adapting, and sharing. We hope that by opening it up to all the US soccer coaches, we can expand our horizons even further,” Ivan concluded.The guest of honour for the evening’s Gala Dinner was MLS Commissioner, Don Garber, who talked to the former US international footballer John Harkes. He explained some of the challenges he faced launching professional football in the USA following the 1994 FIFA World Cup and what lies ahead for MLS.“Events like the Aspire Academy Global Summit play a vital role in the progress of football as a sport. They connect ideas, people, and purpose, reminding us that the game’s progress depends on collaboration as much as competition.”The Commissioner was presented with a gift from Aspire Academy to thank him for his contribution. The Summit also took the chance to recognize some of its key partners with presentations made to Jay Sugarman, the Owner of the Philadelphia Union, Richie Graham, Alfonso Mondelo, Senior Technical Director of Competitions at MLS and Essa al Sulaiti, TV Director at Alkass Sports Channel.Earlier in the day the program began with a Masterclass with Rafa Benitez, former manager of Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Chelsea, along with his long-time assistant coach Francisco ‘Paco’ de Miguel Moreno. Rafa Benitez highlighted three areas where the game has changed in recent years: an increased use of video analysis of player performance, more statistics available to coaches and improved GPS capability. For his part, Francisco ‘Paco’ de Miguel Moreno stressed the need for techniques used for senior players to be made suitable for the elite youth teams to ensure continuity.This was followed by the first Star Chat of the 2025 Summit with Sir Gareth Southgate, former England National Team Manager. He reflected on the challenges he faced during his coaching career and how he approached and overcame them. He added that events like the Global Summit play a crucial role in advancing football. “The most important thing for developing football is developing coaches. We are all constantly learning, regardless of how long we have been in the field. Bringing people together to share experiences and ideas helps us all grow, especially as we look ahead to the World Cup and the continued evolution of the sport. Having an amalgamation of clubs and federations together at initiatives like the Aspire Academy Global Summit, working and cheering for 11 years now, helps develop them further and gives them more confidence.”The day’s second Star Chat was with Columbus Crew coach Wilfried Nancy Star Chat, who spoke to former professional player Bradley Wright-Phillips, who played over 200 matches for MLS side New York Red Bulls. Frenchman Wilfried Nancy offered an insight into his football philosophy, spoke about innovation and authenticity in coaching: “Coaching is about clarity, resilience, and connection; helping players fail, learn, and grow within structure and freedom. You have to fail; everyone fails. Life is about failure, and we have to learn to bounce back from it. It’s normal to face adversity, and if you don’t, it’s because you’re not trying. Coaching is about empowering players to read the game, adapt, and find solutions, while as a coach staying clear, open-minded, and true to yourself.”Following his Star Chat, Wilfried Nancy and Bradley Carnell led an on-field practical clinic with the YSC Academy, offering young players a chance to see coaching philosophies come to life in practice for the first time ever, with top coaches and football leaders.A series of shared workshops also provided the clubs and participants with practical, hands-on learning experiences led by Aspire Academy’s technical experts and international partners. The sessions focused on applied performance science, data-driven coaching, and youth development frameworks, allowing attendees to translate theory into actionable strategies.Day One also featured two expert-led roundtables tackling the topics of “Fixed tactical philosophy versus contextual adjustments” and “From injury to peak performance.” The day’s roundtables featured representatives from world-renowned clubs and federations — including AFC Ajax, Tottenham Hotspur, Sporting Club de Portugal, and Philadelphia Union.The Global Summit will continue with three more Star Chats featuring former Italian World Cup Winner Alessandro Nesta, two-time FIFA Women's World Cup winner Carli Lloyd and Ron Jaworski, former professional American football quarterback and workshops focused on performance innovation and player development.

Aspire Academy’s burgeoning padel programme has been further boosted with the opening of four world-class courts inside the iconic Aspire Academy dome.The new courts are an important step in the development of Aspire Academy’s padel programme, which was launched in 2023. A third intake of six new student-athletes will begin their journey at Aspire Academy in September when the new academic year begins.Following a training camp and tournament in Alicante, Spain, in July, many student-athletes and pre-academy players are utilising the state-of-the-art facilities to prepare for the upcoming season. The regular training timetable will resume in September.Aspire Academy’s Padel Head Coach, Mariano Amat, emphasised the importance of the new courts not just for the Academy but also beyond.“Having our own padel courts at Aspire Academy means much more than just a new facility – it consolidates a global development project that aims to become a world reference in training young padel players,” he explained.“These courts allow us to apply our methodology with consistency, give our athletes a true high-performance environment, and open the door to hosting official and international competitions in the future.”“The players’ reaction has been fantastic: they feel these courts are their home, which multiplies both their motivation and their sense of belonging.”Several Aspire Academy student-athletes have been selected to represent Qatar at the GCC Team Championships, which will take place in Doha from September 15 to 19.The players are also aiming to impress and be selected to play for Qatar at the Junior Padel World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, from September 29 to October 4.Having the courts on site means the padel players and coaches no longer need to spend time travelling to and from the nearby facilities provided at Padel In.The use of the Padel In courts was part of a two-year agreement signed in 2023, as one of the initial steps the Academy took in establishing its own padel programme, and to help lead the way in developing the sport in Qatar.In addition to the training opportunities, the collaboration resulted in the first-ever International Padel Federation (FIP)- recognised youth event in Qatar: the FIP Promises Aspire Academy Tournament.The highly successful tournament was part of the FIP’s global tour for youth padel players and was part of Aspire Academy's 20th-anniversary celebrations.Plans are already underway for Aspire Academy to organise and host another FIP event, as well as other tournaments to help develop the sport in Qatar.