Qatar to face Australia in final match of International Friendly Tournament

alt
March 23, 2025
football
feed type icon
23-March-2025

Qatar to face Australia in final match of International Friendly Tournament

Doha: Qatar’s U-23 national football team will take on Australia tomorrow (Tuesday) at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, in the final round of the International Friendly Tournament currently being held in Doha. The tournament also features the national teams of Croatia, Egypt, Thailand, Australia, and the UAE.

Tomorrow’s fixtures will also include a match between Thailand and Croatia at Thani bin Jassim Stadium, while Egypt will face the UAE at Al-Khor Stadium.

Qatar currently leads the tournament standings with 4 points, following a 1-1 draw with Egypt in their opening match and a 2-1 victory over Thailand in their second game.

Australia also sits on 4 points, having defeated Croatia 2-1 in their opener and drawn 0-0 with the UAE, but trail Qatar on goal difference.

Under the leadership of Portuguese coach Ilidio Vale, Qatar will be looking to maintain their positive momentum and finish the tournament on a high note. The team has shown strong defensive organization and quick attacking transitions, which contributed to their solid performances in the first two matches.

With the tournament’s format not requiring all teams to play each other, Qatar will be aiming to secure back-to-back wins to boost their chances of lifting the title.

Coach Vale is expected to rely on standout performers from the previous matches, including Mubarak Shanan, Rashid Al Abdullah, Mohamed Khaled, Tahseen Mohamed, and goalkeeper Ali Mohamed, who played a key role in securing the draw against Egypt.

The International U-23 Friendly Tournament serves as an important step in Qatar’s preparations for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, set to take place in September 2025.