The tenth edition of the Qatar Youth Football League 2026 kicks off this evening. The tournament is organized by the Qatar Sports for All Federation in affiliation with the Ministry of Sports and Youth, and in partnership with Aspire Zone. The current edition features 20 teams: Izghawa, Aspire, Isḥat, Al Khor, Al Shamal, Al Owaineh, Al Messila, Al Mayda, Al Nasr, Al Wakrah, Rumailah, Fereej Al Zaeem, Al Kass Channel, Katara, Ras Laffan, Lebsair, Khalifa City, Mesaieed, Msheireb, Al Hamla, and Sahamla.

The draw for the tenth edition was held yesterday afternoon, Sunday, at Barzan Hall at Aspire, in the presence of Abdullah Al-Dosari, Executive Director of the Qatar Sports for All Federation; Ahmed Al Hassan, Director of Facilities and Events at Aspire Zone Foundation; Hamad Yousef Al-Obaidly, Executive Director of Communication and Public Relations at Aspire Zone Foundation; and representatives of the participating teams. The draw resulted in the teams being divided into five groups.

Four matches will be played this evening on Aspire pitches. The first match, at 6:00 pm, will bring together Isḥat and Katara. The second match, at 7:00 pm, will feature Al Khor vs. Al Wakrah. The third match, at 8:00 pm, will see Izghawa face Rumailah, while the evening concludes with the match between Al Hamla and Al Nasr at 9:00 pm.

Abdullah Al-Dosari stated that the Qatar Youth Football League provides an ideal opportunity to encourage young talents and develop their skills and abilities. He noted that the league also offers young players the chance to participate in a professionally organized competition, officiated by experienced referees and supported by medical coverage to ensure players’ safety. Al-Dosari added that the strong turnout for participation in the current edition reflects the league’s value and continuous development from one season to the next. Previous editions have achieved notable success and revealed promising talents.

He emphasized the federation’s commitment to providing a football environment that attracts youth aged 16 and above, enabling them to practice football regularly while offering the facilities and equipment necessary to stage a high-quality tournament and ensure equal opportunities for all participating teams. He also praised the cooperation and partnership with Aspire.

Al-Dosari explained that the new edition represents a distinctive start to sports activities in 2026, within the framework of the federation’s diverse and wide-ranging sporting events planned for the year. He concluded by expressing hope that this edition will produce a new champion and contribute to enriching the sports scene with emerging talents.

For his part, Ahmad Al Hassan, Director of Facilities and Events at Aspire Zone Foundation, said that the partnership with the Qatar Sports for All Federation in organizing the tenth edition of the Qatar Youth Football League 2026 reflects their shared vision of supporting community sports and empowering youth by providing an integrated sporting environment that helps refine talents and promote a professional and sustainable sports culture. He affirmed the strong focus on this age group and the joint efforts to elevate the championship.

The Qatar Youth League is held according to regulations that allow the participation of Qatari amateur players aged over 16 who are not registered with the Qatar Football Association, with the exception of players registered in amateur, futsal, and beach football leagues. Each match features nine starting players, while each team’s squad must include a minimum of 14 players and a maximum of 20 players.

The Qatar Youth League is considered one of the prominent events within the Sports for All calendar, enjoying growing interest among Qatari youth. It contributes to strengthening competitive spirit, encouraging talent, and helping young players develop their technical and physical skills.