Team Qatar bow out of FIFA World Cup after defeat to Bosnia Herzegovina

Seattle: A successful strike from veteran Hassan Al Haydos just before half time raised hopes of a spirited Qatar comeback but later fortune failed to favour Al Annabi as a second-goal attempt from Pedro Miguel ended up in the ball getting deflected of the bottom left post before Bosnia and Herzegovina went on to win 3-1 in the final game in Group B of FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Seattle Stadium on Wednesday.Qatar bowed out in the group stage while Bosnia, who sit third and have high hopes of reaching the next round with four points.Co-hosts Canada qualified for knock-out stages for the first time but lost out on top spot and a Vancouver last-32 game to Switzerland after a 2-1 defeat.Second-half goals from Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi meant the Swiss finished top of Group B on seven points and the Canadians ended up in second spot on four, above Bosnia and Herzegovina on goal difference, despite Promise David’s goal.The best eight out of the 12 third-placed teams go through to the first knock-out round in the expanded 48-nation tournament. The third-placed rankings will only be confirmed at the end of the group stage.Goals from Bosnia’s youngest ever World Cup player, 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic, and an own goal by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada looked to have put the Bosnia in the box seat.However, Qatar made a game of it when Al Haydos pulled one back late in the first-half.Ermin Mahmic then put the game beyond Qatar when he scored for the second successive match in the 80th minute.Bosnia flew out of the blocks as soon as the whistle went, testing Abunada twice inside the first four minutes.First Abunada denied Ermedin Demirovic’s fierce drive and then he tipped away Ivan Sunjic’s shot.Bosnia’s dominance finally paid off but it was not to be 40-year-old talisman Edin Dzeko who broke the deadlock but the sublimely-talented teenage left wing.Abunada was unable to do anything about Alajbegovic’s screamer from outside the area, after he had beaten two players.The youngster was mobbed by his team-mates and once they had trotted back to the halfway line he stood and milked the moment, putting a finger to his lips.Dzeko, winning his 150th cap, came more and more into the game and not wishing to have his thunder stolen by the new kid on the block he played an integral role in their second five minutes later.His shot took a wicked deflection off Al Brake and then Abunada on its way into the net.Dzeko was well into his stride now and he broke clear a few minutes later, his shot beating Abunada but rebounding off the post.Bosnia’s earlier sprightliness dipped in the heat and it was the doyen of Qatari football al- Haydos who repaid coach Julen Lopetegui’s faith in slotting home in the 42nd minute.The Bosnian defence failed to learn from that and in time added on they had the far post to thank for keeping their noses in front as Pedro Miguel’s shot came back off it.Al Haydos’s World Cup, and perhaps his distinguished international career, ended in tears as he trudged disconsolately off the pitch injured in the 55th minute.Chances were few and far between until Esmir stole in from the right wing and came close to emulating Alajbegovic’s effort but Abunada turned it away for a corner.Bosnian frustration gave way to ecstasy when Mahmic prodded the ball home and ripped off his shirt in celebration and the 21-year-old was booked for doing so.In Vancouver, Breel Embolo missed a gilt-edged chance on 10 minutes for the Swiss but the first half was largely scrappy, which suited the sides given a draw put them both through.But right at the start of the second half, Vargas found space at the far post to control a cross and finish into the bottom corner.Freiburg’s much-hyped playmaker Manzambi then fired in on 57 minutes with a shot Maxime Crepeau should have saved.“We had a lot of fun, I scored a goal, I saw a good set-up today in the team,” Manzambi said.BC Place had suddenly fell silent but the hosts still have reasons to be pleased, especially with David’s superb finish on 76 soon after coming off the bench. They pushed for a leveller, but it was all too late.Canada, watched again in the stadium by Prime Minister Mark Carney, racked up their maiden World Cup point in the opening 1-1 draw with the Bosnia.Now they are celebrating a first knock-out qualification in their third men’s World Cup, even if top spot would have been extra important given it would have meant staying in Vancouver against a third-placed team from Group E, F, G, I or J on July 2.Instead Switzerland stay in Vancouver and Canada will go to Inglewood in Los Angeles County to play the second side in Group A on Sunday.Canada’s progression guarantees that all three co-hosts are in the last 32, with Mexico and the United States already having qualified.

Qatar Olympic Committee Celebrates Olympic Day Through Boxing

DOHA – The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) celebrated Olympic Day 2026 on Tuesday by organizing a boxing championship for junior, youth, and senior categories (Knockout) at Oasis of  Mall of Qatar. The event formed part of the QOC’s ongoing commitment to promoting Olympic values and principles, encouraging physical activity and healthy lifestyles, and raising awareness of sport as a powerful tool for human development and community building.Held in cooperation with the Qatar Boxing and Wrestling Federation, the championship featured competitions across three age categories. Junior boxers competed in the 46kg, 50kg, 57kg, and over-80kg divisions, while youth athletes contested the 55kg, 56kg, 70kg, 80kg, and over-90kg categories. Senior boxers competed in the 55kg, 60kg, 65kg, and 70kg weight classes.The event also included an interactive segment featuring sports and entertainment quizzes for children and young people, adding excitement and engagement to the celebration. The championship was attended by QOC staff members, representatives of the Qatar Boxing and Wrestling Federation, and visitors and shoppers at Mall of Qatar, who enjoyed the vibrant sporting atmosphere.Olympic Day was first introduced in 1948 by the International Olympic Committee to commemorate the founding of the modern Olympic Movement by Baron Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894.Celebrated annually on 23 June, Olympic Day aims to promote sport and physical activity for all while highlighting the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship, and Respect. It also seeks to strengthen solidarity and mutual understanding among peoples through sport and to emphasize the educational and social role of the Olympic Movement.On this occasion, H.E. Sheikh Fahad bin Khalid Al Thani, President of the Qatar Boxing and Wrestling Federation, said that the boxing event reflects the federation’s strong belief in creating a lasting sporting legacy through meaningful initiatives that leave a positive impact on society and support the continued development of sport in Qatar.He added that the event serves as a platform to inspire young people and strengthen their connection with the noble art of boxing, highlighting its important role in improving physical fitness, developing life skills, and instilling values such as strength, discipline, and mental balance among future generations.Sheikh Fahad concluded by emphasizing that the championship provides an important preparation opportunity for club and national team athletes by enhancing self-confidence, improving focus, and developing physical fitness and combat skills ahead of major upcoming events, including the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games and the Doha 2030 Asian Games.For his part, Abdulla Faraj Al Sultan, Event Director, stressed that the QOC uses Olympic Day celebrations to strengthen a sustainable sporting foundation that helps identify and nurture promising talent, particularly in boxing. He noted that such events play a key role in developing the skills of young athletes and preparing them to compete at the highest levels, thereby enhancing Qatar’s representation in continental and international competitions.At the conclusion of the event, Sheikh Fahad bin Khalid Al Thani and Mr. Abdulaziz Ghanem, Head of Sport Activities section at the QOC crowned the winners and honored sponsors, partners, and volunteers for their valuable contributions. 

Diamond League Board Praises Successful Doha Meeting

Monaco: The Diamond League Board has praised the success of the Doha Meeting, which was held last Friday at Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium at Qatar Sports Club and featured many of the world’s leading Olympic and world medallists, as well as record holders across track and field events.In a statement published on its social media platforms, the Board highlighted the meeting’s strong technical standards and outstanding atmosphere, noting that the large crowd attendance added excitement to the competitions and helped inspire athletes to produce some of the season’s best performances.The Board pointed out that three world-leading marks were recorded in the men’s and women’s triple jump events, in addition to another world-leading performance in the women’s 400m, reflecting the organizers’ commitment to providing the best possible conditions for athletes to excel. The meeting also received high praise from the participating athletes.The statement further commended Doha’s professionalism in organizing the event despite the schedule change from May to June, describing it as further evidence of Qatar’s extensive experience and proven track record in hosting major international sporting events.This year’s Doha Meeting featured 14 Diamond League events for men and women, including seven field events and seven track events, in addition to national races and school competitions aimed at promoting athletics among younger generations.Earlier, Mohammed Issa Al Fadala, President of the Qatar Athletics Federation and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, had expressed confidence that the Doha Meeting would achieve outstanding success, citing the world-class lineup of Olympic and world champions participating in the event.

Qatar to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in FIFA World Cup

Seattle: Qatar's FIFA World Cup hopes will go on the line when they face Bosnia and Herzegovina in their final Group B match in Seattle tonight at 10pm, with victory the only realistic route to the Round of 32.Julen Lopetegui's side have collected one point from their opening two matches and sit level with Bosnia, leaving both teams locked in a direct battle to keep their campaigns alive. While Canada and Switzerland lead the group on four points each, the expanded tournament format means a win could still be enough for Qatar to progress as one of the competition's best third-placed teams.The two-time Asian champions began their campaign with an encouraging 1-1 draw against Switzerland, but their momentum was halted by a painful 6-0 defeat to Canada - a result that left Al Annabi with the second-worst goal difference in the group and facing renewed scrutiny over their defensive organisation.Despite the setback, Lopetegui insisted his players remain fully committed to fighting for qualification. "We achieved one big dream to be here," the Spanish coach said. "We are working really well despite many problems over the last month, and I think we have a very good spirit to be as competitive as possible. To qualify for round of 32 is going to be very difficult, but we have the right to compete and to fight for this incredible goal, to achieve qualification."The former Spain and Real Madrid coach urged his players to embrace the challenge rather than be weighed down by the pressure. "The message for the players is that they have to enjoy being competitive, to enjoy being in one strong group," Lopetegui said."Now we have one last crucial match against Bosnia. They are a big team too and have players competing at the top level in Europe. We have to try to compete and at least have this last dance, to be able to fight until the end," he added.Qatar will be forced into changes after the dismissals of Homam al-Amin and Assim Madibo against Canada. Lopetegui must reshuffle both defence and midfield, while also finding a way to provide better support for star forward Akram Afif, whose creativity remains central to Qatar's attacking hopes.Almoez Ali is also expected to play a key role as Qatar search for what would be their first-ever World Cup victory.Bosnia arrive in Seattle facing a similarly desperate situation. After drawing 1-1 with Canada in their opener, Sergej Barbarez's side suffered a 4-1 defeat to Switzerland, with a late collapse and a red card for defender Tarik Muharemovic compounding their problems.Barbarez remains confident his team can respond. "Of course, the loss against Switzerland was too heavy. We've always said Switzerland are a good team," he said. "This isn't over. We know which matches we're playing, and that's how we'll prepare and try to beat Qatar. There's no surrender."Veteran captain Edin Dzeko, who remains Bosnia's biggest attacking threat, expects a difficult contest. "It won't be easy against Qatar," Dzeko said. "We'll try to rest, prepare well and attempt to win. The defeat against Switzerland definitely hurts because goal difference can also be decisive."There is a small chance the winners of this match could progress to the next round as group runners-up, but it would require the winning team to overturn a significant goal differential against the loser of Canada vs Switzerland. Advancing as one of the best third-placed teams is therefore the likeliest outcome for the victors.With both teams knowing that a draw would almost certainly end their hopes of progression, an open contest is expected in Seattle. For Qatar, however, the equation is simple - recover from the disappointment of Vancouver, produce their best performance of the tournament and keep their World Cup dream alive.

Qatar Volleyball Team to Face South Korea in Asian Cup

Ahmedabad, India:  Qatar’s national volleyball team will face South Korea on Friday in its final preliminary-round match of the 2026 Asian Men’s Volleyball Cup, currently being held in Ahmedabad, India, and running until June 29.Qatar suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Indonesia on Wednesday in a closely contested match. The set scores were 25-14, 22-25, 30-32, 27-25 and 13-15.The Qatari side had opened its campaign with a 3-2 loss to Oman before recording its first victory of the tournament in the second round, defeating Thailand in straight sets (25-19, 25-21, 25-21).Qatar will now look to finish the preliminary stage on a positive note when it takes on South Korea as it continues its quest for a place in the knockout rounds of the competition.

Qatar Basketball Team to Face Tunisia in Friendly on Tuesday

Doha:  Qatar’s national basketball team will begin its series of friendly matches on Tuesday with a strong test against Tunisia at Al Gharafa Hall, as part of the preparation programme organized by the Qatar Basketball Federation ahead of the resumption of the Asian and Oceania Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027.The match holds significant importance for the national team’s technical staff, led by Turkish head coach Hakan Demir, who is looking to make the most of the two friendlies against Tunisia on June 23 and 25 to assess the players’ technical and physical readiness and test a number of tactical options ahead of upcoming official competitions.The fixture comes just days after Qatar concluded its overseas training camp in Antalya, Türkiye, which ran from June 11 to 20. The camp featured an intensive technical and physical programme focused on improving fitness levels, strengthening team cohesion and refining the tactical aspects that the coaching staff plans to rely on during the next phase of the qualifiers.The coaching staff hopes that the two matches against Tunisia will provide an ideal opportunity to evaluate the outcomes of the Turkish training camp, particularly given the importance of the upcoming stage, which requires the highest levels of concentration and readiness as competition for qualification places in Group D intensifies.Tunisia, meanwhile, is holding a training camp in Doha as part of its preparations for the third window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, scheduled to take place in Angola from July 2 to 5, 2026.The Tunisian delegation arrived in Doha on Sunday evening to begin its preparations ahead of the two friendly encounters against Team Qatar.