Doha: Qatar’s U-23 football team played to a 1-1 draw against Egypt in the opening match of the International Friendly Tournament at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium on Wednesday.
The tournament, hosted in Doha, features six teams, including Croatia, Thailand, Australia, and the UAE, and runs until March 25.
The match saw a balanced performance from both teams, with Qatar’s Portuguese coach Ildio Vale focusing on defensive organization and a pragmatic approach to the game.
Team Qatar is using this tournament as preparation for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, which are set to take place in September 2025.