Team Qatar Set for Friendly Handball Test Against UAE

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January 6, 2026
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6-January-2026

Team Qatar Set for Friendly Handball Test Against UAE

Doha – The Qatari national handball team will face the UAE  on Wednesday, at Duhail Handball Sports Hall in a friendly match as part of its final preparations for the 22nd Asian Men’s Handball Championship, scheduled to take place in Kuwait from January 15 to 26 and serving as a qualifier for the 2027 IHF World Championship in Germany.

The two teams previously met in a friendly that ended in a 21–21 draw, with Qatar competing using its reserve squad. This time, the senior national team will be in action as the coaching staff looks to fine-tune performance and evaluate readiness ahead of the continental challenge.

Qatar has been drawn in Group A alongside South Korea and Oman. Group B includes Bahrain, Iraq, China, and Jordan, while Group C features Kuwait, the UAE, Hong Kong, and India. Group D brings together Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the main round, where eight teams will be split into two groups and compete in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each main-round group will qualify for the semifinals and secure direct qualification for the 2027 World Championship.

Team Qatar heads into the tournament aiming to retain its Asian crown after winning the title in the last six editions, and to reach the World Championship for the 11th time. The team’s best performance on the world stage remains a second-place finish at the Qatar 2015 World Championship.

Qatar is also the defending champion, having won the 21st Asian Men’s Handball Championship in Bahrain last year after defeating Japan 30–24 in the final.