Qatar Set for Second FIFA World Cup Appearance as the World Awaits Historic FIFA World Cup 2026 Kick-Off

DOHA  – The countdown is over as the FIFA World Cup 2026 officially gets underway on Thursday, with the United States, Canada and Mexico hosting the tournament until July 19 in what promises to be the most ambitious edition in football history.For the first time, the FIFA World Cup will be staged across three nations and will feature an expanded field of 48 teams, marking a new era for the sport's premier event.Global attention will turn to Mexico City, where the opening match will signal the start of a tournament that represents a watershed moment in World Cup history. Beyond its unprecedented geographical scale, the competition introduces a significantly expanded format, with more teams, more matches and greater global representation than ever before, making it the largest World Cup since the tournament's inception in 1930.The iconic Azteca Stadium will host the opening fixture between Mexico and South Africa in Group A, becoming the first venue in history to stage World Cup matches across three separate editions, having previously welcomed the tournament in 1970 and 1986.Organisers are preparing a spectacular opening ceremony ahead of kick-off, celebrating the cultural diversity of the three host nations. The event is expected to attract record-breaking global audiences, reflecting the unprecedented scale and significance of the tournament.According to FIFA, the ceremony will begin approximately 90 minutes before the opening match and will feature a blend of musical performances, cultural showcases and cutting-edge visual productions inspired by Latin heritage and Mexican culture. Artists from diverse backgrounds will take part in a celebration centred on the tournament's themes of unity, diversity and inclusion.FIFA also confirmed that the festivities will continue in the days that follow, with opening celebrations moving to Toronto and Los Angeles to mark the first matches hosted in Canada and the United States, highlighting the unique cultural identity of each host nation through football, music and entertainment.Meanwhile, Qatar will make its second FIFA World Cup appearance and its first through qualification, having participated in the 2022 edition as hosts. The national team enters the tournament determined to make history by reaching the knockout stages for the first time.Qatar will begin its Group B campaign against Switzerland on June 13 at Levi's Stadium in San Francisco. The group also includes Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Qatari side aiming for a positive start that could lay the foundation for a memorable World Cup journey.The 2026 edition will feature 48 teams for the first time, an increase of 16 compared to the previous seven tournaments held between 1998 and 2022, further underlining the historic significance of this landmark World Cup. 

Qatar Drawn in Group E at 2027 Handball World Championship

Berlin - The Qatari national team has been drawn in Group E of the 2027 IHF Men's World Championship alongside Sweden men's national handball team, Norway men's national handball team, and Greece men's national handball team.The tournament, featuring 32 teams, will be held in Germany from January 13 to 31, 2027, with the top three teams from each group advancing to the main round.The championship marks Qatar's 11th appearance at the Men's World Championship, having competed in every edition since 2013. The team's best result came at the 2015 IHF Men's World Championship, where it finished as runner-up on home soil.Qatar secured qualification for the 2027 tournament after finishing runners-up at the 2025 Asian Men's Handball Championship. The Asian contingent also includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. 

Dr. Thani Al Kuwari Meets Cuban Ambassador

Doha: On behalf of H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, H.E. Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, met this morning at his office with H.E. Jose Enrique Enriquez Rodriguez, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to the State of Qatar.During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Cuba and discussed aspects of sports cooperation between the two countries, as well as ways to further strengthen and develop them in the coming period, contributing to the exchange of expertise and the enhancement of cooperation in the fields of sport and the Olympic Movement.The meeting comes as part of the Qatar Olympic Committee’s commitment to strengthening its international relations and expanding avenues of sports cooperation in a manner that supports sports development and promotes communication and understanding among peoples. 

280 Volunteers Celebrated as the Driving Force Behind the Success of the Doha 2026 GCC Games

Doha, Qatar – The Organizing Committee of the 4th GCC Games Doha 2026 paid tribute on Sunday to 280 volunteers whose dedication, passion, and professionalism helped deliver one of the most successful editions of the Gulf Games in recent history.The event hosted at the Qatar Olympic Committee headquarters, celebrated the volunteers who played a central role in the smooth delivery of the multi-sport event, held in Doha from 11 to 22 May. Their contribution helped create an exceptional experience for athletes, officials, and spectators while further demonstrating Qatar’s expertise in organizing major sporting events on the regional and global stage.Among those attending the event were Mr. Ahmed Al Jaber, Head of the Volunteers Committee, Ms. Hiba Ali Mohammed, Volunteers Committee Expert, and Mr. Salman Belmahdi, Volunteers Committee Coordinator.During his remarks, Mr. Ahmed Al Jaber paid tribute to the volunteer workforce, highlighting their commitment across all operational areas of the Games. From welcoming delegations and supporting athletes to assisting venue operations and spectator services, volunteers played a vital role in ensuring the event’s success.He described volunteers as the foundation of the Games’ achievements, emphasizing that their dedication, teamwork, and sense of responsibility reflected the true spirit of volunteerism and community service.Speaking on behalf of the volunteer workforce, Mr. Hassan Al Tamimi, a volunteer with a special needs , thanked the Organizing Committee for creating meaningful opportunities for participation and inclusion. He noted that the experience had strengthened the volunteers’ leadership, organizational, and technical capabilities while inspiring them to remain actively engaged in future sporting events hosted by Qatar.Volunteer Eman Mohammed Al Fawzai, a teacher at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, praised the experience as both rewarding and inspiring. She highlighted the exceptional organization of the Games and the unique opportunity to collaborate with people from different cultures and backgrounds, underscoring the power of volunteerism in fostering mutual understanding and social unity.The volunteer programme was managed through the Al Adaam Volunteer Platform, launched by the Qatar Olympic Committee as a comprehensive digital ecosystem for volunteer recruitment, workforce allocation, and event operations management.The platform forms a key pillar of Qatar’s long-term volunteer legacy strategy, supporting major sporting events including the 2026 Half Marathon, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship 2029, and the Doha 2030 Asian Games, while promoting sustainability, efficiency, and community engagement across the sporting sector. 

Bassem Mohammed Records Season’s Best in 400m Hurdles at Stockholm Diamond League

Stockholm:  Team Qatar athlete Bassem Mohammed recorded his fastest time of the season in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Stockholm Diamond League meeting, the fifth stop of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League series.Competing in his first Diamond League appearance of the season, Bassem finished fifth with a season-best time of 48.52 seconds, continuing his steady progress against a world-class field.Brazil’s Alison dos Santos won the race in 47.11 seconds, while his compatriot Matheus Lima finished second.Bassem has enjoyed a successful season so far, having helped Qatar qualify for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in the men’s 4x400m relay for the first time in the nation’s history after securing silver at the World Athletics Relays in Botswana last April.He also played a key role in Team Qatar’s gold medal-winning performance in the same event at the 4th GCC Games – Doha 2026 last month.According to the Qatar Athletics Federation’s competition programme, Bassem is scheduled to compete in several international meetings and championships throughout the season as he targets further success and improved performances ahead of the Asian Games in Japan next October.

Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Meets Saudi Ambassador

Doha: H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, met this morning at his office with H.R.H. Prince Saad bin Mansour bin Saad bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the State of Qatar.During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the close fraternal relations between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They also discussed aspects of sports cooperation between the two brotherly countries and explored ways to further strengthen and develop them in the coming period.