After a brief slow-down in summer, sports action in Qatar is picking up gear with Doha getting ready to host a vast array of events in the coming weeks. The domestic football season which started last month is in full swing with fans also witnessing international football action.
The top flight Ooredoo Stars League has already completed the three rounds producing thrilling action before the break which is seeing the QSL Cup – one of the major domestic football events – group action with 11 elite clubs of the country battling for honours. Last week the two-time Asian champions Qatar hosted the United Arab Emirates in the FIFA 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifiers in Al Rayyan with around 34,000 spectators in attendance at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. After a defeat against the visitors, Qatar will now meet North Korea on Tuesday hoping to bounce back in their campaign to qualify for the football showpiece.
Apart from football, the Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel, and Badminton Federation (QTSPDF) will begin its hectic season this month by hosting the Qatar QTerminals Classic to be competed among a stellar field of men and women players on the global squash circuit. The tournament, which will start on September 30 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, has attracted mostly all the top ranked players including World’s No.1 ranked players Ali Farag and Nour El Sherbini.
Following the squash show, leading pairs from across the world will descend on Doha to take part in the 17th edition of the FIP World Padel Championships from October 28 to November 2. The flagship FIP bi-annual event will see 16 national teams across both the men’s and women’s categories have the opportunity to participate in the pinnacle national team padel tournament. Qatar was selected to host this year’s tournament based on a range of leading criteria, including but not limited to the world-class quality of the sporting facilities, the player conditions and support, major events delivery experience, security, financial surety, geographic location and sporting heritage.
The busy Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) season will get underway in October with season openers placed on the horse racing and horse show programmes. The racing season includes a total of 69 meetings while the local Arabian horse show season programme comprises 12 high-profile national and international events to continue until April 2025.
The highly-anticipated Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024 is among the major sports events to be hosted by Qatar within the next three months. The spectacular F1 week at the Lusail International Circuit will take place from November 29 to December 1.
