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FIFA has confirmed that the FIFA Series 2026 will take place during the international match window in March and April next year, offering national teams from different continents a unique platform to compete and connect beyond their traditional confederation boundaries.Building on the success of the pilot edition held in March 2024, the FIFA Series 2026 marks the first full-scale implementation of this initiative, featuring more Participating Member Associations (PMAs), more hosts and, for the first time, a dedicated women's iteration. The expanded format is designed to facilitate more meaningful international matches and contribute directly to global football development.The FIFA Series is aligned with FIFA's Strategic Objectives for the Global Game: 2023-2027, which focus on creating more opportunities for competitive balance, technical growth and cross-continental exchange.The format provides a pathway for national teams that rarely face opponents from other continents."The FIFA Series is about unlocking development potential for players, coaches and fans, while promoting football's universality and diversity through meaningful matches. The 2026 edition will further enhance that impact for men's and women's football alike," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino."By connecting nations through competition, the FIFA Series aims to strengthen the game at every level, bringing local communities to the global stage," he added.While interest in participating is growing across the globe, FIFA can already announce the broad structure of the competition and the growing number of confirmed hosts.The men's FIFA Series will feature a series of meaningful matches be hosted in Australia, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Puerto Rico, Rwanda and Uzbekistan.Discussions are also advancing with other FIFA Member Associations (MAs), which may join as additional host nations in the coming months. The women's FIFA Series will debut with events in Brazil, Cote d'Ivoire and Thailand.The full line-up will be announced in early 2026. Each group in the series will bring together national teams from different confederations in a friendly-match format, designed to create valuable footballing interaction without adding fixtures to the international match calendar.By providing PMAs with the chance to play against teams from other regions, the FIFA Series offers benefits that go beyond the pitch: Technical growth through exposure to new playing styles and tactical identities, Commercial opportunities thanks to increased visibility for emerging football nations and untapped markets in new event locations, and Cultural exchange by fostering global connections through the shared language of football.  

Khalil bin Ahmed al-Mohannadi, President of the Qatar, Arab and Asian Table Tennis Federations and First Vice-President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), has officially filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, to contest the ITTF presidential elections.Al-Mohannadi described the case as one of “fraud and violation of democratic legitimacy”, echoing media reports that labelled the election outcome the “steal of the century”.The elections, held in Doha in May, ended with al-Mohannadi leading 98–87 in votes cast by national federation representatives present in the hall. However, Swedish candidate Petra Sorling gained an unexpected 17-4 advantage through remote electronic voting, tipping the final result. Al-Mohannadi rejected the validity of the 21 electronic ballots, noting that the number had originally been set at 16. The sudden increase, he said, shocked the General Assembly.In a statement released by the Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) Tuesday, al-Mohannadi emphasised that the 2022 General Assembly in Doha — where 185 federations voted in person — reflected the true will of the membership. He stressed that administrative decisions or internal ITTF procedures should not override the democratic mandate, calling any such move “a violation of the essence of the electoral process and its credibility before the international sports community.”Responding to ITTF President Sorling’s recent remarks that “the file has been closed” and “the elections have been decided”, al-Mohannadi called the statements “misleading and inaccurate”. He pointed out that the ITTF’s internal arbitration decision is not final and remains under review by CAS.Al-Mohannadi underlined that the legal process will remain open until the ITTF General Assembly in London in 2026, where federations will again have the chance to vote. He pledged to pursue all available legal avenues “to defend transparency and protect the rights of member federations”, stressing that the dispute is not personal but “a legal and moral duty toward the global table tennis family”.He also warned against attempts to mislead federations into believing the case is settled, calling such claims a “deliberate distortion of legal reality”. He reaffirmed that the QTTA, alongside allied federations, will continue efforts until CAS delivers its final ruling.“Table tennis is bigger than any administrative or political dispute,” al-Mohannadi concluded, adding that safeguarding democratic legitimacy within the ITTF is “a collective responsibility to protect the future of the sport and its global reputation”.

The Social & Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM) has signed a funding agreement with the Katara Cultural Village Foundation to sponsor the ninth edition of the Katara International Hunting and Falconry Exhibition "S'hail 2025."This marks the eighth consecutive year of the partnership, underscoring the vital role of the fund and companies listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange in supporting cultural and community activities. This aligns with the broader goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030.The exhibition is scheduled to take place from September 10 to 14, with the participation of 260 companies from 21 countries. Exhibitors will showcase a diverse range of products, including the latest innovations in hunting vehicle outfitting, hunting weapons, safari gear, and specialized falconry equipment.DAAM's consistent support for the exhibition since its second edition has been a cornerstone of its success. The event has grown beyond its local scope to become one of the most prominent cultural and heritage events in the region, serving as a leading platform for preserving the heritage of falconry on the global stage.Since its establishment in 2010, the DAAM Fund has launched numerous vital projects and initiatives across cultural, social, sports, and charitable sectors. Contributions from public shareholding companies listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange are a primary source of the fund's financial resources, making them essential partners in achieving community development.

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, at the centre of a row at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has turned to sport’s top court to attempt to overturn the introduction of a gender test, the court said Monday.The Court of Arbitration for Sport said in a statement that Khelif was challenging the global boxing federation’s decision “that disallows the athlete’s participation in upcoming World Boxing events without a preliminary genetic test”.Khelif was one of two boxers who sparked a gender eligibility furore at the Paris Games. The other was Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-ting, who has been entered to compete at the world championships that start this week in Liverpool.Both fighters won Olympic gold medals, but Khelif’s opening bout, when she left her Italian opponent in tears, sparked criticism from a range of commentators including now-US Vice-President J D Vance and “Harry Potter” author JK Rowling.Khelif last month denied claims made by her former manager that she was putting her career on hold. “I would like to make it clear to the public that the reports of my retirement from boxing are false,” the 26-year-old wrote on Facebook.She accused her former manager, Nasser Yesfah, of “betraying (her) trust and (her) country with his false and malicious statements”. “This person no longer represents me in any way,” she said.Former heavyweight Bugner, who fought Ali twice, dies at 75Three-time European heavyweight champion boxer Joe Bugner, who fought Muhammad Ali in a world title bout, has died at the age of 75, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) said Monday.Bugner, who won the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles twice, fought Ali and Joe Frazier in back-to-back fights in 1973, and faced Ali again for his WBA and WBC world championships in 1975.“Joe Bugner has passed away at his care home in Brisbane, Australia,” the BBBoC said in a statement. “The British Boxing Board of Control passes on its condolences to Joe’s family.”Bugner’s professional boxing career spanned 32 years and 83 bouts, of which he won 69, including 41 by knockout. He turned professional in 1967, and won the European, British and Commonwealth titles by beating Henry Cooper in 1971.Hungary-born Bugner lost his titles six months later but won eight fights straight in 1972 before facing Ali and Frazier the next year, who both won decisions against him.Ali again beat him by unanimous decision in their rematch for the world championship in Malaysia.Bugner moved to Australia in the 1980s and won the Australian heavyweight title in 1995, before retiring in 1999.

The College of Sport Sciences at Qatar University (QU) has welcomed its first batch of male and female students since its launch in March 2024. This marks a new achievement that reflects Qatar's commitment to developing sports education and research and supporting its National Vision 2030 for a healthier and more active society. During the fall 2025 semester, 210 male and female students applied for admission to the college, and 103 were accepted. The majority of these students, representing 80% of the total, were Qatari nationals (54 female students and 49 male students). This reflects the community's confidence in the importance of the programmes offered by the college. On this occasion, Dean of the College of Sport Sciences at QU Dr Khalid W Bibi, stated in an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) that through its four-year academic programmes, the college supports the human and social development pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030. It is committed to remaining flexible and proactive in responding to the needs of the local and regional labour market, as well as to the rapid developments in sports science globally. Prof. Bibi noted that this ensures the provision of quality programmes that keep pace with international academic best practices and standards. Furthermore, its establishment is in itself a reinforcement of the legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as this tournament was not just a passing sporting event, but a historic turning point in Qatari sports. He emphasised that the establishment of the college came to meet the national need for qualified personnel in the fields of sport management and sports training, indicating that Qatar is investing in sports today not only with the aim to organise events and enhance athletic performance in competitive sports or as an investment vehicle, but also as a means to encourage physical activity and sports for all. Regarding the motivations behind establishing the College of Sport Sciences at QU and its mission, the college aims to prepare future leaders in the fields of organisation, marketing, governance, training, and sports development through advanced academic programmes (120 credit hours) that combine theoretical knowledge with practical application. Prof. Bibi indicated that the college supports the human and social development pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030 through sport management by qualifying cadres capable of managing facilities, organising events, sports marketing, and sports development. He added that the college supports sports training by preparing coaches who lead community physical activity programmes and develop elite athletes. Furthermore, the college emphasises the values ​​of integrity, innovation, and social responsibility as the foundation of all its programmes, enhancing the position of sports as a strategic sector in Qatar. Regarding the main academic programmes offered to students, the college provides a bachelor's degree in both Sport Management and Sport Coaching, each comprising 120 credit hours. In this context, the college offers four sub-specialisations related to each, including, Event and Facility Management, Sports Marketing and Sponsorship under Sport Management, as well as coaching for people with special needs and UEFA-standard coaching under Sport Coaching. He pointed out that the college's programmes are not limited to theoretical study alone. Students apply what they have learned through field training in sports institutions, in addition to studying cases such as major facility management, sports marketing, sports economics, and sports and international relations. In the field of sports training, students apply theoretical knowledge practically in sports performance laboratories, where they train in designing strength and conditioning programms, studying exercise physiology, sports injury management, and movement analysis, in addition to practical training with sports clubs. Prof. Bibi underscored that the establishment of the college comes within the framework of enhancing the legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, adding that the college is one of the key legacy projects, providing an academic and institutional framework that ensures that the expertise, infrastructure, and knowledge accumulated during the tournament are not limited to that moment, but rather serve as a foundation for building the future of sports in Qatar. He further explained that the college is working to transform the sports legacy into a sustainable project led by national cadres. Academically and practically qualified, they will contribute to the management of the world-class stadiums and sports facilities left by the World Cup, the development of training programmes for elite athletes, and the promotion of the concept of 'Sports for All' as a strategic choice for a healthy and active lifestyle. Prof. Bibi highlighted that the College of Sport Sciences contributes to sharing Qatar's experience to the world through scientific research and international partnerships, transforming the legacy of the World Cup into a platform for knowledge production and competencies development in sports sciences, ensuring that the legacy becomes not just a sporting memory, but an ongoing educational, social, and economic driver for future generations. Prof. Bibi revealed plans to launch postgraduate programmes and new academic programmes, in alignment with the university's strategy and in partnership with the academic affairs, quality assurance, and accreditation offices. He emphasised the college's commitment to being flexible and proactive in responding to the needs of the local and regional labour market, as well as to the rapid global developments in sport sciences. This ensures high-quality programmes that align with international academic standards and best practices, he said, adding that the college's top ranking in the Arab region is a testament to the quality of its faculty and educational research. He also addressed the college's research collaborations with other colleges at Qatar University, national sports institutions, the Ministry of Sports and Youth, and the Qatar Olympic Committee, in addition to local and international academic and research institutions, aiming to develop a data-driven strategy to combat physical inactivity and its impact on public health. Regarding career opportunities for graduates, he explained that graduates of sports management have opportunities in club and federation management, facility operations, marketing and sponsorship, international sports relations, and sports for development. On the other hand, graduates of sports training can work in competitive and community training, physical conditioning, movement analysis, and various physical activity programmes. He added that the career opportunities were identified in consultation with partners over a two-year period, and that co-operation will continue in order to provide training and professional opportunities both before and after graduation, while encouraging students to benefit from the training and volunteer programmes offered by the Student Affairs. He pointed out that the college supports talented student-athletes through flexible schedules, high-level training facilities, and academic support, enabling them to develop their sports careers while gaining practical and managerial experience. The college also offers competitive scholarships to attract outstanding athletes. He added that being a talented athlete is not a requirement for admission to the college, but the college does provide a comprehensive environment for students who wish to combine education with athletic excellence. Regarding women's sports, Prof. Bibi affirmed that the college serves as a leading platform for supporting and developing women's sports in Qatar. He noted that the number of female applicants exceeds that of male applicants, and the college is actively preparing qualified female specialists with both scientific and practical competencies to train girls and women in competitive sports and physical activity. The college also aims to empower its female graduates to take on leadership roles in areas such as sports management, marketing, and sports media.