Doha Set to Stage Gulf Qualifiers for FIBA U18 Asia Cup from July 25

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July 19, 2026
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19-July-2026

Doha Set to Stage Gulf Qualifiers for FIBA U18 Asia Cup from July 25

DOHA – The Organizing Committee of the Gulf Qualifiers for the FIBA U18 Asia Cup has officially approved the competition schedule for the tournament, which will now take place in Doha from July 25-30, 2026, following its postponement from the original dates of July 17-22.

The championship holds particular importance as the official Gulf qualifying event for the FIBA U18 Asia Cup, set to be hosted by India in August.

Five Gulf nations Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman will compete for three direct qualification places to the continental tournament in a single round-robin format, with the top three teams securing their tickets to Asia's premier youth basketball championship.

The tournament is expected to deliver a series of highly competitive encounters while showcasing the continued development and rising standard of youth basketball across the Gulf region.

Hosts Qatar will launch their qualification campaign against Saudi Arabia on Sunday, July 26, before facing Kuwait on Monday, July 27. They will then meet Oman on Wednesday, July 29, before concluding their campaign against Bahrain on Thursday, July 30.

Competition will officially tip off on Saturday, July 25, with Kuwait taking on Oman, followed by the clash between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Qualification to the FIBA U18 Asia Cup is only part of what is at stake. The continental tournament will also serve as the final qualifying event for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup, with the top four teams earning places at the global championship, scheduled to be held in the Czech Republic from June 26 to July 4, 2027.

Meanwhile, Qatar's U18 national team continues its preparations in Doha following the conclusion of an overseas training camp in Yalova, Türkiye, held from July 6 to 15, as the squad intensifies preparations for the crucial regional qualifier.

Qatar's roster features 11 players: Tamim Ashraf Abu Issa, Meshaal Khalid Al Mughni, Moaz Omar Mousa, Azzam Mohammed Yaken, Ziyad Tamer Al Johari, Mohammed Saeed Badri, Mahmoud Tamer Ibrahim, Amer Ibrahim Mousa, Owen Ikina, Youssef Walid Abdelqader, and Shahi Mohammed.