Team Qatar to take on Oman in final Asian play-off stage of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Doha, Qatar: Asian champions Qatar will begin their campaign in the final Asian play-off stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday when they take on Oman at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Al Sadd.The six-team play-off, split into two groups of three, will decide Asia’s final direct qualifiers for the World Cup, while the second-placed teams in each group will play each other over two legs in November to determine which team advances to the inter-confederation play-offs.Doha will host the Group A fixtures of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, while Group B, hosted in Jeddah, includes Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Indonesia. The winners of each group will earn direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA extravaganza which will be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico.Ahead of the crucial stage, Lopetegui said that “preparations went in an ideal manner” and that “the team will seek to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 26 despite the challenge of having to face two strong opponents: Oman and the UAE”.Lopetegui added that it is imperative that all team members maintain their mental focus and put in their maximum effort in pursuit of the desired goal.Qatar, champions of the last two AFC Asian Cups in 2019 and 2023, are targeting their second appearance at the World Cup after hosting the highly successful 2022 edition, and are favourites to go through.However, Lopetegui added that what matters now is giving the utmost performance, being in the present moment, and being competitive to surpass Oman and the UAE despite the team’s illustrious pedigree.The Qatar coach pointed out that the team is facing minor issues with player injuries, with some key players remaining uncertain for tomorrow’s clash.Meanwhile, in an interview with the Qatar News Agency, former Qatar star Abdulaziz Hassan said the players have the experience to handle key matches and that playing in Doha before a big home crowd will help the team recover after a disappointing third round.“The squad has strong attacking options with Akram Afif, Almoez Ali, and Edmilson,” Hassan said, urging the players to give maximum effort and maintain top form to beat their rivals while not wasting valuable chances.“The three Group A teams are evenly matched and dropping points could prove costly,” Hassan added.

Team Qatar win West Asian Youth Athletics Champions in Beirut

Beirut: Team Qatar’s athletics delegation captured first place overall at the 3rd West Asian Youth Athletics Championships, which concluded in Beirut, Lebanon, with participation from 12 countries.Team Qatar’s athletes dominated the competition, winning a total of 23 medals — 11 gold, 8 silver, and 4 bronze — to top the overall standings. The UAE finished second with 19 medals (11 gold, 6 silver, 2 bronze), followed by Lebanon in third and Iraq in fourth place.President of the Qatar Athletics Federation, Mohammed Issa Al-Fadala, expressed his pride in the team’s achievement, emphasizing that the result reflects years of effort and investment in developing young Qatari athletes. Speaking upon the delegation’s arrival at Hamad International Airport, Al-Fadala praised the coaching and administrative teams for their dedication over the past four years, describing the victory as “a collective success for Qatari athletics.”He noted that Qatar’s continued excellence in athletics stems from the unwavering support of the country’s leadership for sports development. Al-Fadala reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to nurturing young talent, expanding the national pool of athletes, and raising Qatar’s profile across global athletics platforms.Team Qatar participated with 16 male and 2 female athletes, competing across track and field events. Among them were: Timo Jassim (100m), Ahmed Haroun (200m), Youssef Abdulaziz and Mohamed Kala (400m), Hatim Hameed (800m & 1500m), Mubarak Saeed (1500m & 3000m), Hussein Mohammed and Idris Abubakr (110m hurdles), Abdulrahman Mohammed and Abdulrazzaq Idris (400m hurdles), Younes Al-Balushi and Ibrahim Zakaria (pole vault), Mohamed Faisal (long jump & triple jump), Saleh Mahmoud and Mohamed Jimi (shot put & discus), and Abdulrahman Ibrahim (hammer throw).The women’s lineup featured Dana Salem (100m & 200m) and Maryam Al-Salik (800m & 1500m), both of whom contributed significantly to Qatar’s strong medal haul.With this triumph, Team Qatar reaffirmed its position as a regional powerhouse in athletics and highlighted the depth of emerging young talent capable of shining on the continental and international stages. 

FIVB Beach Volleyball U18 World Championships Kick Off in Doha Tomorrow

Doha: The FIVB Beach Volleyball Under-18 World Championships will get underway tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Al Gharrafa Beach Courts, running through October 11.Being hosted in the Middle East for the first time, the championship will feature 32 men’s teams and 32 women’s teams representing 55 countries, marking a historic milestone for the sport in the region.The tournament will begin with qualification rounds, where 24 teams will compete for four remaining spots in the main draw, joining 28 teams that have already earned direct qualification. The main round will feature eight groups of four teams each, with the top three from each group advancing to the knockout stage, leading up to the bronze and gold medal matches.As the host nation, Qatar will compete with two men’s teams—the first comprising Moussa Al Khair and Ahmed Ziyad, and the second featuring Jassim Al Tamimi and Saad Al Awad. In the women’s category, Qatar will also field two teams: Bandah Ibrahim and Maryam Mohoub in the first, and Lujain Mahmoud and Celine Mahmoud in the second.The Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) confirmed that preparations have been completed to ensure the successful organization of the event. The federation highlighted its commitment to delivering an exceptional championship experience for athletes and fans alike through world-class facilities, smooth logistics, and professional event management.Hosting the FIVB Beach Volleyball U18 World Championships further underscores Qatar’s status as a leading global hub for major sporting events, building on its long-standing record of excellence in hosting international competitions. 

Team Qatar win 16 medals at West Asian Championships

Beirut: Team Qatar’s athletics squad continued their dominant performance at the 3rd West Asian Youth Athletics Championships in Beirut, Lebanon, raising its total medal count to 16 — including 8 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze — among athletes from 12 participating countries.Hatim Hameed won gold in the 800m race, while Abdulrahman Mohammed topped the hammer throw. In the pole vault, Younes Al-Balushi and Zakaria Ibrahim shared the gold medal after agreeing to split the title without a jump-off.On the opening day, four Qatari athletes captured gold medals: Abdulrahman Mohammed (400m hurdles), Mubarak Saeed (3,000m), Maryam Al-Salik (women’s 3,000m), and Dana Salem (women’s 100m).Silver medals went to Abdulrazzaq Idris (400m hurdles), Saleh Mahmoud (shot put), Mohsen Faisal (long jump), the mixed relay team of Ahmed Haroun, Dana Salem, Samer Hassan, and Maryam Al-Salik, and Mohamed Kala (400m).The bronze medals were claimed by Youssef Abdulaziz (400m), Abubakr Idris (110m hurdles), and Mohsen Faisal (triple jump).With this impressive showing, Team Qatar has firmly established itself among the leading nations in the West Asian Championships, reflecting the depth of young Qatari talent and the success of the Qatar Athletics Federation’s ongoing investment in developing future champions. 

Team Qatar win time trial bronze at Arab Cycling Championship

Sulaimaniyah:  Team Qatar’s cycling squad claimed the bronze medal in the 48 km time trial at the Arab Cycling Championship, currently taking place in the Iraqi city of Sulaimaniyah with the participation of nine Arab national teams.The Qatari team delivered a strong performance throughout the race, finishing third in a highly competitive field. The UAE team secured the gold medal, while Iraq took the silver.The medal ceremony was attended by Dr. Yasser Omar Al-Doukhi, President of the Arab Cycling Federation, who presented the medals to the winners.The Arab Cycling Championship will continue in Sulaimaniyah until October 13, featuring various road and track events for men and women across different categories. 

Qatar women eye bounce-back against Saudi Arabia in West Asia Volleyball Championship

Amman: Qatar is set to take on Saudi Arabia Monday in the third round of the West Asia Women's Volleyball Championship, hosted in Amman, Jordan.After opening the tournament with defeats to Jordan and Iraq, Qatar is determined to secure their first win and regain momentum in the competition.Following the Saudi Arabia match, Qatar will face Lebanon on Tuesday before closing out their campaign against Syria on Thursday.The championship provides a key testing ground for the Qatari squad as they aim to gauge their progress, sharpen their skills, and build stronger performances in regional contests.