Launch of Gulf Youth Championship in Qatar with Anticipated Group Stage Clashes

The activities of the second edition of the Gulf Under-17 Championship Qatar 2026 will kick off on Friday, hosted by Qatar from October 16th to November 4th, with the participation of ten national teams. The tournament is organized by the local organizing committee in Qatar in coordination with the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation, dividing the participating teams into two groups of five teams each. The first group includes host Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, and China, while the defending champion Saudi Arabia was placed in the second group alongside Iraq, Yemen, Kuwait, and Egypt, with China and Egypt participating as guests to provide diverse football school exposure. The competitions open on Friday with a match between Qatar and newcomer China at 5:45 PM Qatar time at Al-Arabi Stadium in the Group A opener, followed by the UAE against Bahrain at 8:00 PM at Al-Ahli Stadium. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia begins its title defense on Saturday, October 17, facing Egypt at 5:45 PM at Al-Arabi Stadium, while Iraq plays against Yemen in the second fixture at 8:00 PM at Saud bin Abdulrahman Stadium. The tournament final is scheduled for November 4 at 5:45 PM at Al-Arabi Stadium. According to the tournament regulations, matches ending in a draw during the semi-finals or the final will go directly to penalty shootouts without extra time.