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Aspire Academy, in cooperation with the Referees Department of the Qatar Football Association (QFA), launched on Monday, 9 February 2026, the “Qatar Player App for Referees” at the Academy’s headquarters.The launch was attended by Hani Taleb Ballan, Chairman of the QFA Referees Committee; Ivan Bravo, Director General of Aspire Academy; and Professor Valter Di Salvo, Director of Football Performance and Science at the Academy. They were joined by several elite referees, coaches, assessors, experts, and Aspire Academy officials. This new step aims to support and enhance the physical and technical performance of elite referees through advanced technology.**media[414750]**Hani Taleb Ballan, Chairman of the QFA Referees Committee, confirmed that this initiative represents an important milestone in the development of refereeing in Qatar. He noted that the application delivers real added value for referees and reflects a strong belief in leveraging technology to serve the game. He expressed his gratitude for the ongoing cooperation with Aspire Academy and praised its significant efforts in developing all aspects of football. He added that he is confident the application will make a significant difference, both technically and in performance, particularly because it provides all the necessary tools to support referees throughout their careers. He emphasised that believing in this technology and investing in it properly is a key factor in ensuring the success of the application.**media[414753]**For his part, Ivan Bravo, Director General of Aspire Academy, praised the efforts of the QFA Referees Committee and Ballan in developing referees’ performance. He expressed his appreciation to the Referees Department for its partnership with the Academy, affirming that referees are among the most important partners within the football ecosystem. Bravo explained that the nature of referees’ work and the significant pressures they face on the field require continuous support, noting that the application will be highly beneficial to them. He added that Aspire Academy is building a comprehensive archive of data, knowledge, and scientific expertise to transfer this experience to future generations and ensure sustainable development.Professor Valter Di Salvo, Director of Football Performance and Science at the Academy, explained how the application's features work.**media[414751]**The “Qatar Player App for Referees” was developed by the Football Performance and Science Department and the Information Technology Department at Aspire Academy to meet the individual needs of each referee. The application provides referees with immediate access to their personal performance data, along with analytical video clips of matches and training sessions, enhancing technical evaluation and decision-making.**media[414752]**The application includes several features, most notably the ability to view video clips of referee-specific incidents from past games, as well as monitoring physical performance data during matches. These indicators help assess a referee’s ability to meet match demands and maintain game flow. The app also allows access to daily training data and enables referees to provide feedback on their physical condition, helping fitness coaches design training sessions tailored to each referee’s individual needs. In addition, it integrates results from specialised performance tests and body composition assessments conducted at Aspire Academy, enabling referees to track their individual, continuous development over the long term using precise scientific principles.The launch of the “Qatar Player App for Referees” reflects the commitment of Aspire Academy and the Qatar Football Association to harness the latest technologies and sports sciences to support the refereeing system, elevate its standards in line with global best practices, and strengthen the position of Qatari football at all levels.

As part of its efforts to make football truly global and enable more clubs, leagues and players from all around the world to compete at the highest level, FIFA has renewed its partnership with the Qatar Stars League (QSL) and the Qatar Football Association (QFA).FIFA President Gianni Infantino has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jassim bin Rashid al-Buainain, President of the QSL and QFA, to continue their drive to raise standards of professional club management and administration across all first- and second-division clubs in the QSL.Infantino said: “I was delighted to sign a renewed Memorandum of Understanding with the Qatar Stars League and the Qatar Football Association, further strengthening a strategic partnership that continues to raise professional standards in club football. My sincere thanks to Jassim bin Rashid al-Buainain and his teams for their outstanding support, organisation and hosting of major FIFA events this year, including the FIFA Arab Cup, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and, most recently, the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.”The FIFA President continued: “Through education programmes, knowledge exchange and enhanced support for player well-being, we are working together to help talented individuals and ambitious clubs thrive in a more competitive and sustainable global football ecosystem.”Qatar’s leadership in hosting major tournaments and its commitment to innovation continue to make it a key contributor to the golden new era of global club football. Al-Buainain said: “We are pleased with the extension of the agreement between FIFA and the Qatar Stars League, as it represents an important step that reflects the strength of cooperation between both sides. This partnership covers several areas, including the strategic development of football across its technical and administrative aspects, as well as leveraging the region’s passion for the game to promote peace and highlight the noble values of football worldwide.”The next stage of the collaboration between FIFA, the QFA and the QSL will focus on the Educational Programmes Project. Through this agreement, FIFA will provide bespoke support in a wide range of fields, including exchange and educational programmes for club managers and agents, as well as mental health and overall well-being support systems for players. These will focus not only on theoretical aspects, but also on their application from a practical perspective.The signing, which extends an MoU first signed in 2022, took place on Qatar National Day at the Lusail Stadium ahead of the final of the FIFA Arab Cup between Jordan and Morocco. It also marked three years to the day since Argentina won their third FIFA World Cup title after their enthralling win over France in the final of the 2022 tournament at the same venue.The QFA has consistently driven the growth and popularity of football in the region, from the establishment of the QSL to the successful hosting of major tournaments, including the 2011 and 2023 editions of the AFC Asian Cup and the FIFA World Cup 2022. As well as hosting the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Arab Cup in December 2025, Qatar also hosted the expanded FIFA U-17 World Cup in November 2025 with 48 teams, and it will also stage the next four editions of the annual tournament.

The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has announced the schedule for the preliminary round of the Amir Cup, with the matches taking place on January 10 across four venues.The preliminary stage will be played in a knockout format, with four teams advancing to the Round of 16. Al Sailiya will face Al Muaither at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Al Markhiya will take on Muaither at Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Al Kharaitiyat will meet Al Bidda at Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium, while Al Waab will play Lusail at the same venue.All matches will be decided on a knockout basis. In the event of a draw at the end of regulation time, teams will contest 30 minutes of extra time, split into two 15-minute halves. If the tie remains unresolved, the winner will be determined by a penalty shootout.Amir Cup is one of the oldest and most prestigious tournaments in Qatar football, which continues to attract strong interest from the sporting community and fans ahead of the latter stages of the competition.The match-ups are based on the final standings of the Second Division at the conclusion of the 2024–2025 season, with the first-placed team facing the eighth, the second playing the seventh, the third meeting the sixth, and the fourth taking on the fifth. The format was confirmed following the completion of the 14th and final round of the Second Division league.Al Sailiya finished top of the standings with 28 points, followed by Al Markhiya (25), Al Kharaitiyat (23), Al Waab (19), Lusail (18), Al Bidda (15), Muaither (12) and Al Muaither, who placed eighth with 11 points. 

Director of the Development Department at the Qatar Football Association (QFA), Fahad Thani Al Zarraa praised the Qatari national team's achievement after qualifying for the 2026 World Cup finals, following its victory over the UAE in the third round of Group A of the Asian qualifiers. In remarks today, he said that reaching the finals of the upcoming World Cup confirms that Qatari football is on the right track, and that what was achieved was not a coincidence. He added that this achievement was the result of meticulous work and planning by the system as a whole, adding that it culminates in the tireless efforts of those responsible for Qatari football, ensuring its continued advancement and brilliance. Al Zarraa pointed out that participating in the World Cup finals for the second consecutive time confirms that we have a comprehensive sports project, led efficiently by the Qatar Football Association, with the support of our wise leadership, which has provided all means of success for all members of the sports system in Qatar. He explained that the QFA's Development Department is committed to achieving its desired goals, providing an environment conducive to achieving them. The most important of these is the graduation of successive batches of high-caliber players, who will be important contributors to the national teams and the club first teams, through ongoing coordination with the various departments of the Association and the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence. He added that the Qatar Football Association provides the necessary financial support to implement the development strategy developed and implemented by the Development Department, noting that what was achieved against the UAE national team is not just a sporting victory, but rather a new historic moment added to the record of achievements of Qatari football. The Director of the Development Department concluded by emphasizing the importance of continuing to provide opportunities for talent and studying the path to player development to reach professional levels. He also emphasized the need to focus on honing coaches through various training courses, noting that the Qatar Football Association is one of the most advanced Asian federations in the field of coach development.