Latest news with #QatarFootballAssociation
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
QFA camp for elite referees from July 31-Aug 11
Tribune News Network Doha Ahead of the launch of the new 2025-2026 sports season, the Qatar Football Association (QFA) will hold a special Elite Referees' Camp at the InterContinental Doha Hotel from July 31 to August 11. The camp includes 56 referees, assistant referees, video assistant referees (VAR), members of the Referees' Committee, and technical expert Valentin Ivanov. These referees successfully passed the physical fitness tests with a 100% success rate, a prerequisite for participation in this specialized camp. The physical fitness tests were held at the air-conditioned Aspire Stadiums, which are designated for measuring physical performance. The referees underwent rigorous and technically advanced tests. The results reflect their high physical and mental readiness for the upcoming season's competitions. The camp is being held under the supervision of Hani Ballan, Chairman of the Referees Committee at the Qatar Football Association, who emphasized the importance of technical and technical discipline during this gathering. The camp program includes theoretical lectures focusing on updating the laws of the game, reviewing refereeing decisions, the use of VAR technology, and video analysis exercises. Practical training, held at Al Duhail Club and Qatar University stadiums, includes exercises on decision-making, positioning, reaction speed, and the application of real match scenarios. Technical and tactical performance tests, conducted to assess referees' responses to advanced situations and their ability to manage high-tempo matches. The camp will conclude on August 11, just two days before the start of the Doha Bank Stars League, which kicks off on August 14. Through this program, the Qatar Football Association seeks to prepare refereeing teams to the highest levels of readiness to ensure a distinguished and fair refereeing season. Hani Ballan, Chairman of the Referees Committee at QFA, emphasized: 'This camp is not only a physical and technical milestone, but also a platform for building a strong and capable referee, capable of officiating matches efficiently and fairly. The 100% success rate in the fitness tests reflects our referees' commitment, and we are optimistic about delivering a distinguished season at all levels.' The Elite Referees' Camp is a strategic step to ensure the highest standards of refereeing in the new season. It features a balanced mix of practical training and theoretical lectures, under the close supervision of elite local and international experts, committee members, and technical expert Valentin Ivanov. It is part of Qatar Football Association's vision of enhancing refereeing efficiency as a pillar of the game's success.
Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
AFC honours Dr Al Khulaifi with Medical Excellence Award
AFC Kuala Lumpur In a new achievement for the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Aspetar, Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Dr. Khalid Abdulrahman Yousef Al Khulaifi, Consultant Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Surgeon and Director of the Visiting Surgeons Program at Aspetar, representing the QFA, received the prestigious Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Medical Excellence Award during a ceremony held on the sidelines of the 8th AFC Medical Conference 2025, currently being held inKuala Lumpur. The award ceremony was attended by AFC leaders, the Malaysian Minister of Youth and Sports, and a number of invited medical experts from the region. The annual award is given to young medical talents under the age of 45, in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the fields of scientific research, the development of medical services, and the enhancement of professional training programs in football. This award is one of the most prominent honors granted by the AFC, having been first launched at the AFC Congress in India in 2015. It continued to celebrate young medical talents in China (2019), and will continue until the eighth edition in Malaysia in 2025. It aims to highlight the pivotal role of young doctors in supporting and developing football in the medical and research fields. The international honour bestowed represents a high-level recognition of Dr. Khalid Al Khelaifi's distinguished career in the field of sports medicine, and consolidates the leadership of Qatari medical talents on the continental and global arenas. His continued research, innovation, and training reflect absolute dedication and continuous giving in the service of sports and medicine. Khalid Ali Al Mawlawi, Acting Director of Aspetar, said, 'We congratulate Dr. Khalid Al Khulaifi on the remarkable achievement, which fills us with pride here at Aspetar. This recognition confirms the pioneering role played by Aspetar's staff in reaching the highest levels and achieving excellence on the regional and global levels. 'Dr. Al Khelaifi's winning of this award consolidates the leadership of Qatari medical competencies on the continental and global levels. It reflects the efforts exerted in serving sports and medicine, and motivates us all to continue in line with the hospital's vision of leadership.' Dr. Khalid Al Khelaifi expressed his happiness at winning the award, saying: 'The honour is the result of blessed efforts, thanks first to God, and then to the support of Aspetar Hospital, which provided me with the ideal environment for development and innovation, and the Qatar Football Association, which was a strong supporter. This achievement confirms the true brilliance of Qatari medical personnel, who are now capable of competing and excelling at the international level. 'I do not consider this victory a final milestone, but rather a strong push to continue the path of development and excellence in the field of sports medicine, and to serve sports not only in our beloved region, but also on the global level.' Dr. Khalid Al Khelaifi has previously served as Medical Director for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, in addition to heading a number of medical committees as Sports Director, such as the 2023 Asian Cup and the Asian Youth Cup, in addition to numerous sports tournaments held in Qatar.
Observer
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Oman hunting for historic maiden Fifa WC appearance
MUSCAT: As the highly anticipated draw for the Playoff Round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26 approaches, the Oman national football team are preparing for a monumental opportunity to secure their first-ever qualification to the Fifa World Cup. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), in a recent update on its official website, highlighted that Oman and Indonesia are the only two teams among the playoff contenders aiming to book a historic debut appearance at the Fifa World Cup. Meanwhile, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates will seek their second-ever qualification, and Qatar and Saudi Arabia will aim to make back-to-back appearances in the prestigious global event. The draw for the decisive stage of the Asian qualifiers for Fifa World Cup 2026 will take place on Thursday at 11:00 am (Oman time). Based on the latest Fifa Men's World Rankings published on June 13, Oman will be placed in Pot 3, alongside Indonesia. Qatar and Saudi Arabia, designated as host nations for the two playoff groups will occupy Pot 1 while Iraq and UAE teams are positioned in Pot 2. The playoff format will see the six teams split into two groups of three, with only the group winners progressing directly to the Fifa World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Each group will compete in a single round-robin format, hosted in centralised venues by the Qatar Football Association and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, both of whom were confirmed as Host Member Associations last month. These Playoffs represent the final pathway for six Asian teams after they secured third or fourth place in their respective groups during the third round of AFC qualifiers. Oman, Indonesia, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE will now battle for Asia's remaining two direct berths. The journey does not end for group runners-up, as they will face off in a two-legged knockout round scheduled for November 13 and 18. The winner of that matchup will advance to the Fifa Intercontinental Play-Off Tournament, where one final qualification spot will be contested globally. A separate draw will be held after the group stage to determine the home team for each leg of this knockout encounter. Oman's national team, led by head coach Rasheed Jaber, will head into the Playoffs with determination and national pride. By end of August, Oman team will take part in the CAFA (Central Asian Football Association) Nations League 2025, a friendly international tournament which is scheduled from August 26 to September 9, co-hosted by Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Oman has been drawn into Group A alongside hosts Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan, while Group B featured Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Malaysia. Attendance in this friendly event is part of the team's ahead of the main assignment in Asian qualifiers – Roard to 26.
Qatar Tribune
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Hassan Al Haydos to rejoin national team: QFA
DOHA: Qatar Football Association (QFA) has announced the return of Hassan Al Haydos to the national team. He had earlier announced his retirement from international football. In a statement, the QFA said that Al Haydos will join the squad for the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for next October. The Qatari team is preparing for the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers, with Qatar hosting one of the two groups. The draw will be held on July 17. Al Haydos retired from international football following the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, which Qatar won for the second time after beating Jordan 3-1 in the final. The Al Sadd player is considered one of the key players in the history of the Qatari team, having played 184 international matches, scoring 42 goals in various tournaments.
Qatar Tribune
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Haydos recalled from retirement for Qatar's 2026 World Cup Qualification Playoffs
Tribune News Network Doha Hassan Al Haydos, who led Qatar at FIFA World Cup 2022 following their fairytale Asian Cup triumph in 2019, has come back from his retirement from the national team to lead Al Annabi through the 2026 World Cup Qualification Playoffs. The Qatar Football Association (QFA) in a statement on Saturday said that Al Haydos will be rejoining the squad for the 2026 World Cup Qualification Playoffs at the request of coach Julen Lopetegui. It stated: 'Hassan Al Haydos is at the forefront of the national team squad for the 2026 World Cup qualification playoffs, in a positive move responding to coach Julen Lopetegui's request to strengthen the team with experienced players. 'His presence is expected to bring both technical and emotional value, providing leadership and support in the pursuit of the big dream that will delight Al Annabi's fans the dream of securing a place at the World Cup.' A cool forward, Al Haydos has so far made 183 appearances for Qatar since his debut in 2008 scoring 41 goals. He had also been a part of Qatar U23 and U20 squads. The 33-year-old had announced his retirement from the national team on 16th March 2024. Last week, Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd had announced the renewal of their captain Al Haydos' contract. One of the best Qatari footballers over the years, Al Haydos has been with Al Sadd since 1998. Al Haydos has been at the heart of Al Sadd's success for more than two decades. He rose through the club's youth system before making his senior debut in the 2006–2007 season. Since then, he has played a vital role in guiding the team to numerous domestic and continental triumphs, including league titles and the AFC Champions League. The club had emphasized the desire to retain the veteran player in recognition of his immense contributions, leadership, and unwavering loyalty to the team. 'I thank the club for their trust and the renewal of the contract. I am very happy at Al Sadd, which is my home,' Al Haydos had said. 'Leadership is a responsibility, and the Al Sadd players are like my brothers. We have been playing together for a long time. Our goal as a family is one — to always keep Al Sadd at the top.' Qatar's hopes of qualifying for the 2026 tournament rests on the play-offs after the team finished fourth in their third-round qualifying group, missing out on an automatic berth. The teams that placed third and fourth in each of the three third-round groups will be regrouped into two new pools for the next stage. The stakes remain high - top teams from each group will go straight to the World Cup, while the second-placed sides will move on to the fifth and final round of qualification. The fourth-round draw is slated for July 17, with matches kicking off in October.
