Aspire Football Dreams, winners of the last edition of the Al Kass International Cup, celebrate on the podium at Aspire Zone in this file picture of February 2016.
Aspire Academy will lead Qatar challenge at the Al Kass International Cup 2017 which kicks off in Doha on January 21.
Held for the sixth consecutive year, the ten-day event brings to Qatar the world’s top Under-17 teams, giving Doha crowds the opportunity to see the potential superstars of the future.
The 12 teams participating in this year’s tournament represent some of the most storied clubs in international football, including Real Madrid (Spain), Bayern München (Germany), and Paris St Germain (France).
Last year Aspire Football Dreams won the tournament but will not be around to defend the title. Other participating teams include PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), Kashiwa Reysol (Japan), Redbull Salzburg (Austria), AS Roma (Italy), Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany), Al-Ahli Saudi FC (Saudi Arabia), Raja Casablanca (Morocco), and Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia).
The first round, which begins on January 21, will pit groups of three teams against each other in a round-robin competition, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout round.
The final will be held on January 31. Official tournament sponsor Al Kass TV will be broadcasting all games live both online and on TV with Arabic and English commentary.
Past winners of the Al Kass International Cup include Aspire Football Dreams (2016, 2014), Paris St Germain (2015, 2012), and Brazilian club Fluminense (2013).
Al Kass International Cup is organized by Al Kass Sports Channels in collaboration with Aspire Zone Foundation and the Qatar Football Association. The under 17s football tournament is a global championship for worldwide competitive clubs.
The Al Kass International Cup has established itself as a key international football event that supports Qatar’s vision and contributes to building on the foundations of a proud footballing nation up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup and beyond.
Inaugurated in 2012, Al Kass International Cup is an annual tournament that facilitates a unique opportunity for some of the world’s choice young footballers of tomorrow to demonstrate their ability and skills on the world stage. The tournament also aims to contribute to the nurturing of passion for football in Qatar and the region by offering up an 11-day action-packed competition that seeks to propel Qatar to the forefront of sporting excellence and leadership.Groups
