Doha: Qatar’s U17 volleyball team will conclude their preliminary-round campaign at the FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U17 World Championship – Doha 2026 on Sunday when they face Tunisia in their third and final Group A match at 5:00 PM at the Women’s Sports Hall in Aspire Zone.

France lead the group with six points, followed by Tunisia and Venezuela with three points each, while Qatar sit fourth without a point, adding significance to Sunday’s encounter in the race for qualification to the next round.

Saoud Al Kuwari, Team Qatar administrator, said the championship has featured a high technical standard, with several experienced teams that have previously reached international podiums, while also praising the organization of the tournament.

He explained that Qatar’s first appearance at the World Championship provides the players with an important opportunity to gain experience and compete against different volleyball schools, stressing that the team is determined to make the most of the experience and continue its development.

Looking ahead to the Tunisia match, Al Kuwari said the two teams are closely matched and confirmed that Qatar will enter the encounter determined to achieve a positive result and compete until the end.

He also highlighted the strong performances produced by several Asian teams, including Iran, Pakistan and India, noting that exposure to different styles of play helps develop the players’ abilities and provides valuable experience at the beginning of their international careers.

Elsewhere in Saturday’s second-round action, Brazil secured a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Poland (25–12, 23–25, 25–17, 23–25, 16–14), raising their tally to five points, one ahead of Poland.

In Group B, Romania recorded their first victory with a straight-sets win over Cuba (25–14, 26–24, 25–15), moving to three points alongside India, while defending champions Italy lead the group with six points.

Egypt also claimed their first win of the tournament after defeating Türkiye 3–2 (17–25, 25–22, 26–24, 20–25, 15–12) in Group D at Al Arabi Sports Club Hall. Bulgaria lead the group with a maximum six points, followed by Türkiye with four and Egypt with two, while Spain remain fourth without a point.

In Group E, Chinese Taipei defeated Algeria 3–2 to move to two points. Iran lead the standings with six points, followed by Pakistan with three, Chinese Taipei with two and Algeria with one.

The third and final round of preliminary matches begins on Sunday, with key fixtures including Qatar against Tunisia, Brazil against Argentina, Iran against Chinese Taipei, Italy against Cuba, and Egypt against Spain.

The top three teams from each group, along with the best fourth-placed team, will advance to the Round of 16. The tournament will then move into the knockout stages, culminating in the third-place match and final on August 29.