Real Madrid goalkeeper Francisco Pujante gestures during the Al Kass Cup semi-finals against Red Bull Salzburg at Aspire Zone in this file picture of 2016 edition of the tournament.
PSV Eindhoven will take on Moroccan side Raja Casablanca in the opening match of the Al Kass International Cup 2017 which kicks off at Aspire Zone in Doha today.
Two other matches will be played on the opening day.
FC Bayern Munich (Germany) clashing with RB Salzburg (Austria) and Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia) facing Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany).
The 12 teams participating in this year’s tournament represent some of the most storied clubs in international football, including Real Madrid (Spain) and Paris St Germain (France).
Other participating teams include PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), Kashiwa Reysol (Japan), AS Roma (Italy), Al-Ahli Saudi FC (Saudi Arabia), and Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia).
Aspire Academy will lead Qatar challenge at the tournament.
Last year Aspire Football Dreams won the tournament but will not be around to defend the title.
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 first round, which begins today, 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.
