Al Annabi continue to train at camp in Austria
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Al Jazeera
13 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
FIFA 2026 World Cup draw set to be held in Las Vegas in December
Las Vegas is set to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw, with reports that the ceremony will be held on Friday, December 5. The city, based in Nevada, United States, was selected over cities in co-host nations Canada and Mexico. FIFA officials have not themselves confirmed the date or site but reports are now widespread for the December date in Vegas. For the first time, the competition will take place in three countries and has been expanded to feature 48 nations, as opposed to the traditional 32. Las Vegas's Allegiant Stadium was rejected as a host venue. Eleven US cities/venues were selected, along with three in Mexico (Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey) and two in Canada (Toronto and Vancouver). The US sites are divided into three regions. New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston, Miami and Atlanta are a part of the eastern region, Kansas City, Dallas and Houston comprise a part of the central region, while Los Angeles, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay area make up three of the four cities in the western region. The draw will reveal the dozen groups with four nations per group. Mexico (Group A), Canada (Group B) and the United States (Group D) have already been selected for their groups. MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will host the final match on July 19, 2026. Las Vegas hosted the draw in 1994, the last time the World Cup was held in the United States. The modern Sphere, which has a seating capacity of at least 17,000 people and opened in 2023, is the frontrunning venue to host the evening. Although hosting the draw for the 1994 edition, Vegas was not a host city for any matches, a situation that is also the case for next year's event. Qualifying for the tournament is set to be concluded by the end of March 2026, following an intercontinental playoff.
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
FIFA U-17 World Cup will inspire new generation of players: Almoez
Only 100 days remain until the kickoff of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar will be the first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 teams, ushering in a new generation of young players to shine at a global stage. The prestigious youth competition will be held at the renowned Competition Complex at Aspire Zone, from November 3-27 with the final match being held at the Khalifa International Stadium, one of eight stadiums that has hosted matches during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Almoez Ali, Qatar's top scorer of all time, having netted 60 goals in 123 caps is a graduate of the renowned Aspire Academy, a cornerstone of the Aspire Zone, where the tournament will be played. Ali was part of Qatar's U-20 team, made up entirely of Aspire Academy graduates, which lifted the Asian championship in 2014. Since then, Ali has also guided Qatar's senior national team to two back-to-back AFC Asian Cups in 2019 and 2023. 'The FIFA U-17 World Cup taking place at Aspire Zone will be a huge motivation for this next generation of players. They will all be looking to perform their best on the pitch. I'm sure they know how important this experience will be for their future,' said Ali. Since opening its doors in 2004, Aspire Academy has produced world and Olympic champions across multiple disciplines, including track and field athlete Mutaz Barsham, regarded as one of the best high jumpers of all time. For Ali, hosting the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 at the iconic venue will be a fitting tribute to the exemplary work done by the Academy in shaping Qatar's sports landscape. 'Being a part of the Aspire Academy as a young player and student in an environment that seamlessly merged academics with football really encouraged me to pursue the sport full time. We played against the best teams from Europe, Africa and South America. Competing against that type of pedigree was really important to us,' added Ali. Hosts Qatar have been drawn into Group A alongside Italy, South Africa and Bolivia. The young Maroons will kick off their campaign against Italy on 3 November. The team will look to improve on Qatar's highest achievement in the competition, when they finished in fourth place in 1991. 'For young players taking part in a competition with the magnitude of the World Cup, this will be a reminder of how hard work can enable you to play on the biggest stage, in the biggest tournaments. I am sure that this tournament will have huge benefit on the players, and that they will cherish the experience and learn and grow from it,' said Ali. A total of eight pitches from the Competition Complex at Aspire, built to the highest international standards, will host a total of 104 matches. Eight matches a day will be played during the group stage. Fans will also be able to enjoy several cultural activations in a vibrant fan zone that will be set up within Aspire Zone. The venue is connected seamlessly by public transport and will offer a barrier-free experience to disabled fans. Qatar is one of six Arab teams that have qualified to the tournament. They are joined by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. The best achievement historically by any Arab country in the competition was in 1989 when Saudi Arabia claimed the title. For the full match schedule, visit: For all tournament related information, follow @RoadtoQatar on all major social media platforms.
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
AFC honours Aspetar for advancing sports medicine
Tribune News Network Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Aspetar, Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, received a distinguished accolade at the conclusion of the 8th Medical Conference organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Recognised as a principal scientific partner, Aspetar was commended for its pivotal role and unwavering support, which were instrumental to the success of the region's premier medical event. Dr Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, chief executive officer of Aspetar, accepted the prestigious award from AFC Secretary General Dato' Windsor during the closing ceremony. Simultaneously, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was honoured as a key collaborator in hosting this global event. Dr Al-Kuwari expressed profound pride in this recognition, which validates Aspetar's leadership and excellence in the sports medicine. He underscored the exclusive scientific contributions made by over 20 leading international experts from Aspetar who participated throughout the three-day conference, featuring 54 specialised lectures and sessions, complemented by 13 intensive workshops covering diverse medical disciplines pertinent to sports during the two days preceding the conference. 'We take great pride in our foundational role in the advancement of sports medicine not only across Asia but globally,' Dr Al-Kuwari remarked. 'We remain committed to sustaining and enhancing our impactful contributions to this vital field. Today's honour epitomizes Aspetar's stature as a preeminent and influential institution within scientific, medical, and sports communities.' Dr Al-Kuwari further highlighted the exemplary contributions of Aspetar's experts, notably Dr Khalid Al-Khelaifi, recipient of the Medical Excellence Award, extending his warm congratulations. He also lauded Dr Mohammed Al-Saey for spearheading the issuance of the AFC's first specialised guideline on sports dentistry—an achievement that significantly elevates the profile of Qatar's medical professionals. The concluding day of the conference featured a series of distinguished presentations, including the integration of artificial intelligence in medical imaging and a comprehensive review of Aspetar's innovative approach to sports injury prevention. Researchers elaborated on data collection methodologies within the Qatar Stars League and the successful adaptation of these methodologies across Asian competitions. Novel research topics addressed challenges in women's sports, emergency medical protocols on the field, and the physiological effects of hot climates on female football athletes. Aspetar's participation culminated with an in-depth showcase of its extraordinary experience during the FIFA World Cup QATAR 2022, highlighting best practices in comprehensive medical coverage for major sporting events, thereby cementing Aspetar's status as a global exemplar in sports medicine. This distinguished involvement reaffirms Aspetar's strategic partnership with the AFC and its role as a leading authority actively shaping the future of sports medicine throughout the continent. The conference, now held biennially since the last edition in Doha, is slated to reconvene in 2027.
