Qatar U17 face Venezuela in World Championship opener

Doha, Qatar: Qatar will open their campaign in the second edition of the FIVB U17 World Championship against Venezuela in Group A at the Aspire Zone's Women's Sports Hall today at 5pm. This will be followed by France on August 21 and Tunisia on August 23.

Yesterday, the Qatar 2026 Organizing Committee announced that preparations for the championship being hosted in Doha from Wednesday until August 28, are complete. mieszalniakolorado.pl

Secretary-General of the Qatar Volleyball Association and Executive Director of the tournament Yusuf Ahmed Kanoo described hosting the championship as a historic event for Qatari volleyball, stressing Qatar's readiness in terms of facilities and organizational expertise.

The matches will be held at the Women's Sports Hall in Aspire Zone and Al Arabi Sports Club.

Kanoo highlighted the tournament's importance in showcasing promising talent and the future of volleyball, noting that the Qatar U17 team is fully prepared after an extensive training program.

الأخبارالبحرين ترحب بقرار الوكالة الدولية للطاقة الذرية بشأن سورياأعربت البحرين عن ترحيبها باعتماد مجلس محافظي الوكالة الدولية للطاقة الذرية القرار المتعلق بالجمهورية العربية السورية ، وما ترتب عليه من إنهاء النظر في بند تنفيذ اتفاق الضمانات ف...فتح →

He also called on Qatari fans to attend and support the team.

For his part, Assistant QVA Secretary-General and Tournament Media Director Saeed Salem Al Nuaimi said all organizational and media arrangements had been completed, including a media center at Aspire Zone's Women's Sports Hall.

QVA Board Member and Competition Director Mohammed Salem Al Kuwari expressed confidence in Qatar's ability to host a successful edition, noting that the FIVB had praised the facilities and venues.

A total of 20 teams - France, Qatar, Tunisia, Venezuela (Group A), Cuba, India, Italy, Romania (Group B), Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Poland (Group C), Bulgaria, Egypt, Spain, Turkiye (Group D), Algeria, Iran, Pakistan and Chinese Taipei (Group E) are participating in the tournament.

Italy will begin their title defence in Pool B alongside Cuba, India and Romania.

The defending champions are among all four of the top finishers from 2024 returning to the World Championship, with runners-up Argentina, bronze medalists Chinese Taipei and fourth-placed Spain also back in the field.

The expanded 20-team field welcomes nine teams making their Boys’ U17 World Championship debut: hosts Qatar, France, Venezuela, India, Romania, Poland, Türkiye, Pakistan and Algeria.

Each team will play three preliminary round matches, with the top 16 teams in the combined ranking advancing to the Round of 16.

The remaining four teams will be eliminated.

The knockout stage will continue with the quarter-finals and semi-finals, followed by the bronze and gold medal matches.

The inaugural edition was held in Bulgaria in 2024 and won by Italy.

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s Al Sadd, Al Gharafa and Al Shamal have been handed challenging starts to their AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 campaigns after the League Stage draw was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday.

The three Qatari clubs will face some of the leading teams in West Asia, with Al Shamal hosting Al Ittihad, Al Sadd taking on Esteghlal and Al Gharafa travelling to Riyadh to face four-time champions Al Hilal in their opening matches.

The competition will feature 32 teams for the first time since its revamp under the current AFC Champions League Elite name in the 2024/25 season.

Al Shamal will be the first Qatari club in action when they host Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on September 14. The match will kick off at 7pm.It will be a tough opening test for Al Shamal against an Al Ittihad side with extensive continental experience. The Qatar club will look to use home advantage to make a positive start to their first League Stage campaign.

Al Sadd will also begin their campaign on September 14, when they face Iranian giants Esteghlal FC. The kick-off time and venue for the match are yet to be announced.

The 2011 Asian champions will be looking for a strong start against an experienced Esteghlal side as they begin their latest continental campaign.

Al Gharafa will face perhaps the toughest opening assignment among the three Qatari clubs when they travel to Riyadh to meet four-time Asian champions Al Hilal on September 15. The match is scheduled for 9.15pm at Kingdom Arena, where Al Gharafa will face a side that remains among the leading contenders for the continental title.

The West Region also features defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC, who are targeting a historic third consecutive ACL Elite title.

Their League Stage opponents include Al Ain FC, Al Sadd, Shabab Al Ahli, PFC Neftchi, Al Gharafa, Al Wasl, Pakhtakor and Al Shamal.

Al Hilal will also meet Al Ain, Al Sadd, Shabab Al Ahli, PFC Neftchi, Al Gharafa, Al Wasl, Pakhtakor and Al Shamal during the League Stage.

The West Region consists of 16 teams, with each club playing eight League Stage matches. The League Stage will begin on September 14 and run until February 2027.

The top eight teams from each region will advance to the Round of 16, which will be played from March 1 to 17, 2027.

The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will be held in Saudi Arabia as part of a centralised Finals from April 23 to May 1, 2027.

Doha, Qatar: Al Duhail are stepping up preparations for the 2026-27 Doha Bank Stars League as they look to improve on last season’s fifth-place finish and make a stronger challenge for honours.

The team, coached by Algerian Djamel Belmadi, began their preparations in Doha before travelling to the Netherlands for an intensive training camp. The programme has focused on fitness, tactical work and improving the understanding between the players.

Al Duhail collected 33 points from 22 matches last season, finishing fifth with nine wins, six draws and seven defeats. They also had the league’s best defensive record, conceding only 27 goals.

Striker Mobarak Shanan said the initial focus of the preparations was on reaching the required physical level before moving into tactical work.

“The training sessions started with fitness-focused drills. More focus was placed on the fitness aspect as we tried to reach our fitness limit. Then, of course, we moved into tactics and how we will play our style of play this season,” Shanan said.

The forward believes Al Duhail have the squad to compete for every title.

“We have one of the strongest squads in the Gulf. Our goal this season is to try and win all the championships. We will compete for all the championships and in every match, we will give 100 percent effort,” he said.

Defender Lucas Silva believes the team are progressing well after beginning their preparations in Doha before travelling to the Netherlands.

“We are in good shape. I think the physical aspect has reached a good level. We are trying to get fit quickly, and we know we have important factors ahead of us,” Silva said.

He added that the experience gained by the club’s international players will prove valuable during the season.

“We are on a good path and in good shape. International matches bring experience, and with this experience and our combined matches, I believe we can achieve our goal by the end of the year. It will not be easy, but we are trying,” he said.

Algerian international Adil Boulbina said the intensity of the camp has helped the players prepare across all areas of the game.

“The training was intense. We work on all aspects, from every angle. Every player is taking responsibility and we are preparing with total seriousness so we can be ready for the matches and enter the league strongly,” Boulbina said.

Goalkeeper Fahad Younis Baker highlighted the importance of the physical programme, with the squad also completing gym sessions before training.

“We have morning and evening training sessions. Before every session, we have a short workout in the gym, partly as preparation and partly for strengthening, so the team will be ready for the new season,” he said.

Baker also pointed to the strength of the squad, noting that Al Duhail have seven players from the Qatar senior national team alongside high-level foreign professionals.

Qatar international Bassam Al Rawi said the players understand the demands of the pre-season camp and the importance of following the programme closely.

“The hardest part is always the preparation period. Fitness and the physical factor make a difference when you return to the league. We are following a schedule and sticking to it,” Al Rawi said.

Al Duhail will begin their league campaign against Al Sailiya on August 22, with the team hoping their intensive preparations under Belmadi will translate into a strong start.

Doha, Qatar: Al Rayyan SC have been drawn alongside Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawoun FC, Jordan’s Al Faisaly and Oman’s Al Nahda Club in Group C of the AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 following yesterday’s Group Stage Draw in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The 32-team competition will begin on September 15, with the group stage to be played in a home-and-away round-robin format.

The group stage will run until December 9, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage.

In Group A, Al Wahda FC of the UAE will face PFC Nasaf of Uzbekistan, Kuwait SC and Bahrain’s Al Khaldiya SC.

Group B features UAE side Al Jazira Club, Iran’s Golgohar Sirjan SC, Bahrain’s Al Muharraq SC and Turkmenistan’s FC Arkadag.

Jordan’s Al Hussein, Iraq’s Al Shorta, Oman’s Al Seeb Club and India’s East Bengal FC make up Group D. Group E brings together FC Seoul of Republic of Korea, Australia’s Melbourne Victory, Vietnam’s The Cong-Viettel FC and either Indonesia’s Persib Bandung or Manila Digger of the Philippines.

Adelaide United, BG Pathum United of Thailand, Singapore’s Lion City Sailors and Hong Kong’s Tai Po FC form Group F.

Japan’s FC Machida Zelvia headline Group G, which also includes China’s Shanghai Shenhua, Cambodia’s Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng and Singapore’s Tampines Rovers.

Group H consists of Gangwon FC of Republic of Korea, Malaysia’s Kuching City FC, Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC and Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Crown FC.

The Round of 16 matches are scheduled for February 9-18, 2027, followed by the quarter-finals from March 2-18 and the semi-finals from April 6-14.

The final is scheduled for May 15, 2027.

حقق منتخبنا الوطني لكرة السلة تحت 18 عامًا فوزه الأول في بطولة كأس آسيا للشباب، بعدما تجاوز نظيره السريلانكي بنتيجة 90-43، في المباراة التي جمعتهما أمس، على صالة «فير سافاركار» المغلقة بمدينة أحمد آباد الهندية، ضمن الجولة الثالثة والأخيرة من منافسات المجموعة الثالثة، ليختتم المنتخب القطري مرحلة المجموعات بانتصار مستحق أبقى على آماله في مواصلة المشوار القاري. وقدم المنتخب القطري واحدة من أفضل مبارياته في البطولة، وفرض أفضليته على مجريات اللقاء تدريجيًا، بعدما بدأ المواجهة بتركيز هجومي واضح، قبل أن يرفع نسق الأداء في الفترتين الثالثة والرابعة ويوسع الفارق بصورة كبيرة، مستفيدًا من التحسن اللافت في الجانب الدفاعي والفاعلية الهجومية. وبدأ المنتخب القطري المباراة بصورة متوازنة، وحسم الفترة الأولى لمصلحته بنتيجة 20-17، قبل أن ينجح في تعزيز تفوقه خلال الفترة الثانية التي أنهاها متقدمًا 18-9، ليدخل إلى الاستراحة متفوقًا بفارق 12 نقطة، وبأفضلية أكدت قدرته على التحكم في إيقاع المواجهة.
وكانت الفترة الثالثة نقطة التحول الحقيقية في اللقاء، بعدما رفع المنتخب القطري مستوى الضغط الدفاعي، وتحرك بصورة أفضل في الجانب الهجومي، لينجح في تسجيل 29 نقطة مقابل 10 نقاط فقط للمنتخب السريلانكي، ليتسع الفارق بشكل كبير وتصبح مهمة المنافس أكثر صعوبة. ولم يتراجع المنتخب القطري في الفترة الرابعة، بل واصل سيطرته حتى صافرة النهاية، وحسمها بنتيجة 23-7، ليصل إجمالي نقاطه إلى 90 نقطة مقابل 43 لسريلانكا، ويحقق انتصارًا عريضًا بفارق 47 نقطة.