Hosts Qatar bow out of Arab Cup with big defeat to Tunisia

DOHA: Hosts Qatar made an early exit from the FIFA Arab Cup after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Tunisia in their final Group A match at Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday.Despite the convincing win, Tunisia were also eliminated, as Palestine and Syria advanced to the quarter-finals from the group after playing out a goalless draw at Education City Stadium in the concurrent fixture.Both sides finished on five points, while Tunisia ended their campaign with four.Julen Lopetegui’s Qatar concluded a disappointing tournament with just one point, scoring only once and conceding five. They had earlier lost to lower-ranked Palestine and drawn against Syria.Tunisia, who played the final half-hour with 10 men, were the superior team for most of the match, scoring through Mohamed Ben Romdhane and Yassine Meriah in the 16th and 62nd minutes respectively. Mohamed Ben Ali sealed the victory with a stoppage-time strike, leaving many of the more than 48,000 spectators at the venue disheartened.Both teams battled for ball possession in the early stages of the crucial fixture, but Tunisia looked the sharper side. Seifeddine Jaziri recorded the first attempt of the match, his effort blocked well by defender Lucas Mendes.Tunisia continued to press and broke the deadlock when Ben Romdhane struck from close range, pouncing on a rebound after goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham had denied Jaziri’s initial attempt.Qatar struggled to create openings and managed only a weak attempt from Sultan Al Brake before the half-hour mark. Tunisia came close to doubling their lead when Firas Chaouat advanced down the left side of the box, only to drag his shot wide of the far post.The hosts began finding pockets of space late in the half, winning a series of set-pieces, but they lacked precision in the final third. Ayoub Al Ouwi’s header - drifting wide from an Akram Afif delivery - summed up their frustrations, as Tunisia deservedly went into the break with a one-goal lead.Tarek Salman - replacing Al Brake - and Edmilson Junior, who came on for Ahmed Alaaeldin, were introduced at the start of the second half. Qatar opened aggressively, with Mendes seeing a shot blocked, Mohamed Manai hitting the crossbar from a corner, and Afif having his effort denied by goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen.Tunisia responded through Jaziri and Ben Romdhane, while Barsham tipped over an attempt from Hamza Jelassi. The North Africans doubled their advantage from the resulting corner, with Meriah heading in from close range after Ferjani Sassi failed to connect cleanly with the initial delivery.Tunisia’s rhythm was disrupted when Jaziri received a second yellow card and was sent off in the 66th minute. Qatar, however, could not capitalise on the numerical advantage. Substitute Mohammed Muntari headed over the bar, and Afif sent a set-piece well off target as the hosts continued to struggle.Ben Ali capped a disappointing night for the Asian champions, drilling in a powerful strike in the fourth minute of stoppage time to seal Tunisia’s win, though not their passage to the quarters.

Team Qatar target victory against Tunisia to keep hopes alive

Doha: Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui said he still believes in his team as the hosts take on Tunisia in a must-win clash at the Arab Cup at 8pm tonight at Al Bayt Stadium.Qatar have dropped points in both of their games so far, conceding late goals against Palestine and Syria as they stare at early exit from the tournament. Lopetegui said the team played well in their last match but admitted the result was hard to accept. “We were unhappy with how the game ended, but football can be cruel,” the Spaniard said Saturday. “But at the same time, we played really well against Syria. Football is like this sometimes. It’s not easy to accept that. We’ll now have to use all this frustration to push up in the next match.”Both Qatar and Tunisia are in precarious positions. Tunisia also failed to win their opening two games, and today’s match is a must-win for both. Their quarter-final hopes will also depend on the Syria–Palestine match being played at the same time today at the Education City Stadium. If Syria and Palestine draw, they will both qualify, regardless of the result at Al Bayt.Qatar need two things to advance: a win over Tunisia, and a Palestine victory over Syria. Tunisia’s path is the opposite: beat Qatar and hope Syria defeat Palestine.Lopetegui said his team can only focus on their own performance. “We have to compete well, stay concentrated, and do everything we can,” he said.Lopetegui described Tunisia as one of the strongest teams in the tournament, saying they have several high-quality players. But he insisted Qatar can still win if they stay sharp and give everything.Midfielder Ahmed Fathy said the team has struggled mentally after failing to close out games. “The last match was tough on us,” he said. “But we can’t think about the past. We must focus on Tunisia and take the positives from our last performance.”Fathy also called on Qatari fans to fill the stands. “We always need their support. Monday is a big game, and we want to make them proud,” he said.Tunisia coach Sami Trabelsi said neither team controls its own destiny, but both must fight until the end. He said Tunisia expect strong backing from their fans in Doha. “We must forget what happened earlier in the tournament and focus only on winning,” he said. “This is our last chance.”Tunisian striker Seif Jaziri said the team will approach the match with full seriousness. He praised Qatar’s strengths but added that Tunisia will look to take advantage of any weaknesses.

ISSF Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun World Cup Finals begin in Doha

Doha: The ISSF Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun World Cup Finals Doha 2025 officially kicked off on Friday at the Lusail Shooting Complex, bringing together 144 of the world’s top shooting athletes for four days of elite competition.The event, hosted by Qatar for the second time, features Olympic and World Cup gold medalists, World Championship podium finishers, and the highest-ranked shooters from the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), representing 33 countries across all three disciplines: shotgun, rifle, and pistol.The opening ceremony was attended by Luciano Rossi, President of the ISSF; Kimberly Rod Harriman, ISSF Vice President; Alessandro Nicotra, ISSF Secretary General; Dr. Meshal Ibrahim Al Nasr, President of the Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation; Jassim Shaheen Al-Sulaiti, Tournament Director and Secretary General of the Federation; along with several senior officials from the national and international shooting bodies.In his opening remarks, Dr. Meshal Ibrahim Al Nasr welcomed the athletes who had gathered “from all corners of the globe in Qatar — a nation of sport, excellence, and innovation.”He emphasized that the World Cup Finals represent much more than a sporting event, describing them as “a global stage that unites the world’s best shooters and reflects the Olympic values of respect, excellence, and fair competition.”Dr. Al Nasr added that hosting the Finals underscores the ISSF’s confidence in Qatar’s exceptional organizational capabilities and in the Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation, operating under the vision of the Qatar Olympic Committee and the leadership of the State of Qatar.ISSF President Luciano Rossi also praised Qatar’s organization of the championship, noting that Doha has “set a new benchmark for hosting world-class shooting events—whether in organizational quality, world-leading facilities, or the safe and ideal competition environment provided for athletes.”The ISSF World Cup Finals will continue through Monday, with champions to be crowned in all rifle, pistol, and shotgun categories. 

Qatar hosts FIG Trampoline Technical Committee meeting

Doha: Further strengthening its position as a premier global sports destination, the Qatar Gymnastics Federation is hosting the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Trampoline Technical Committee meeting from 4–9 December, bringing together leading experts and officials responsible for shaping the future of trampoline gymnastics worldwide.The hosting of this meeting reflects the ongoing trust the FIG places in Qatar—trust built on the nation’s world-class sports infrastructure, advanced facilities that meet the highest international standards, and its proven track record in staging major global championships, training camps, technical courses, and specialized conferences. These strengths continue to establish Doha as a preferred and enduring headquarters for international sports bodies.Throughout the five-day meeting, the committee will address several pivotal topics aimed at advancing trampoline gymnastics. Discussions will cover the latest updates to judging regulations, assessments of organizational and technical performance at recent world events, and reviews of preparations for upcoming international competitions. The agenda also includes proposals designed to elevate technical and judging standards in the sport.The committee’s work spans three core disciplines within trampoline gymnastics: trampoline, double mini-trampoline, and tumbling.Members of the FIG Trampoline Technical Committee expressed deep gratitude for the exceptional support of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation, commending the high level of professionalism and the meticulous organization that helped create an optimal environment for productive and successful deliberations.Participants emphasized that Doha has become a trusted host for technical and leadership meetings across multiple sports, thanks to its professional ecosystem that supports global sports development and strengthens cooperation with international federations—aligning seamlessly with Qatar’s vision of using sport as a catalyst for development and a bridge between nations.

Strong start to the ISSF Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun World Cup Finals in Doha

Doha: The ISSF Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun World Cup Finals Doha 2025 kicked off today at the Lusail Shooting Range Complex, continuing through next Monday with the participation of elite shooters and world champions across shotgun, rifle, and pistol events. A total of 144 athletes representing 33 countries are competing.The opening day delivered high-level action and excitement, featuring Skeet and Trap (75 targets) as well as 10m Air Pistol and 10m Air Rifle competitions for both men and women.Sweden’s Victor Lindgren captured the gold medal, finishing first in the final round that featured eight shooters competing over 24 shots. Lindgren topped the standings with 253 points.China’s Lihao Ying secured the silver medal with 252.6 points, while Hungary’s Marton Bányai István claimed the bronze after scoring 231.1 points.China’s Wang Zifei won the gold medal, placing first in the final with 253.4 points. South Korea’s Hyojin Ban earned the silver with 253.1 points, and China’s Han Jiao took the bronze with a total of 231.9 points.China’s Hu Kai secured the gold medal, dominating the final round—also contested by eight shooters—with a total of 243 points.Germany’s Claristian Ritz finished second with 242 points, earning the silver medal, while India’s Samrat Rana took home the bronze, placing third with 221.5 points.

Qatar to face Switzerland, Canada and potentially Italy in FIFA World Cup 2026

Santa Clara: Qatar will open their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Switzerland at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on June 13. The Asian champions will then face co-hosts Canada in Vancouver before moving to Seattle to take on the winner of European Play-Off A, which features Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.At the draw ceremony in Washington on Friday night, Qatar avoided the big guns from Pot 1, though they could still face four-time winners Italy, who are favourites to emerge from European Play-Off A despite struggling in the qualification stage. Italy finished as Group I runners-up and have been forced into the qualifying play-offs for the third consecutive time. The Azzurri will play Northern Ireland in the semi-final on March 26, 2026, in Bergamo. If they progress, they will face the winner of Wales versus Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final.The 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar secured their first-ever qualification on merit in October, edging the United Arab Emirates 2-1 in Doha to top Group A of Asia’s fourth-round playoffs. Goals from Boualem Khoukhi and Pedro Miguel sent fans into raptures at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, marking a milestone for a team who had previously appeared only as hosts.The Qataris will aim to improve on their debut World Cup performance, where they lost all three group games and scored just one goal. Their prospects have been boosted by the arrival of Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui in May. The former Spain and Real Madrid coach replaced Luis Garcia after a poor start to Asian qualifying. Under Lopetegui, Qatar have enjoyed a fine run to secure a spot at the global finals.This will be Lopetegui’s first time coaching a team at the World Cup. He led Spain to Russia 2018 but was famously dismissed on the eve of the tournament after it emerged he had already signed a deal to take over at Real Madrid.Meanwhile, reigning champions Argentina will face Algeria, Austria and first-time qualifiers Jordan in group J. Five-time winners Brazil play 2022 semi-finalists Morocco as well as Scotland and Haiti in group C, while France are in Group I take on Senegal, Norway and a qualifier from the playoffs.