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Defender Abdelkarim Hassan says there is a sense of excitement in the Qatar camp as they await eagerly to make their historic World Cup debut. The hosts kick off the World Cup against Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday, with Hassan and his teammates set to realise their childhood dreams.“Everyone is excited and the atmosphere in the team is wonderful,” said Hassan, as the Qatar squad continued training at the Aspire training pitch yesterday. “We are eagerly waiting for the referee’s kick off whistle for the Ecuador match. Every member of the squad is looking forward to contributing and playing his role for the team. We are targeting a good performance in front of our home fans,” he added.Ever since joining the Aspire Academy at 13 years old, Hassan and many of his teammates have dreamt playing at the World Cup. The 29-year-old – a pivotal player in Qatar’s maiden Asian Cup triumph in 2019 – said the team is well prepared and ready to put their best foot forward.“It’s a dream of every player to play the World Cup for his country. Like everyone it was my childhood dream too and I am proud to be a part of Qatar squad in our historic participation. I am looking forward to doing a lot at this World Cup, help my team achieve its goals,” Hassan said.“Our training camps were highly beneficial. The friendly games during these camps gave us good match practice as well. The technical staff deserves the praise as they worked very hard to prepare us for the tournament,” he added.Voted Asia’s Best Player in 2018, Hassan will be key to Qatar’s hopes of making it to the knockout stage as the left-back can also chip in with crucial goals. The Al Sadd Star – known as ‘Kimo’ to friends and teammates – is aware though it won’t be easy against Group A opponents the Netherlands, Senegal and Ecuador.“Without any doubt, the task is not easy. It’s a World Cup and all the teams are coming well prepared, so we need to double our effort. We are hoping for a performance like that in Asian Cup and bring smiles on the faces of our fans at the World Cup,” said Hassan, who has appeared 130 times for Qatar and scored 15 goals.

Qatar’s head coach Felix Sanchez said he and his players can’t wait to take the field on Sunday in the FIFA World Cup opener against Ecuador. The decade-long dream of Qatari players will come alive at the Al Bayt Stadium as the tournament hosts make their World Cup debut.For Sanchez and his men, the last few years has been all about preparing for the football showpiece event at home. That they won the maiden Asian Cup title in 2019, was a reward of their careful planning and hard work. Now the Al Annabi are ready for a World Cup battle, backed by their passionate fans.“We waited for a long time to get to this event. Obviously, everyone is looking forward to the tournament,” Sanchez told beIN Sports yesterday. “We feel proud to be part of the event and we will try to do our best, play at a high level and compete with the teams we will face,” the Spaniard added.The 46-year-old, who arrived in Qatar in 2006 to join the Aspire Academy, has coached at various levels in the Gulf State. “In 2019, it was difficult to imagine that we would win the Asian Cup, but we won the title. I am not talking about whether we will become world champions, but certainly our goal is to compete at the top levels,” said Sanchez, who will also face European heavyweights the Netherlands and African champions Senegal in Group A.“We are facing teams that have previously participated in the World Cup, or were crowned as African champions, and they include a number of the best players in the world. They have experience playing in the World Cup or the Champions League,” he added.The Qatar squad continued their training at the Aspire Academy training pitch yesterday. The players had arrived home from Spain on Monday after a month-long training camp, where they also played friendlies with lowly-ranked teams.Meanwhile, Qatari players echoed Sanchez’s sentiments saying they were thrilled at playing at the World Cup. Goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb said: “We are very proud to be representing our country in this prestigious tournament. The team is excited and ready and God willing, we will put up a good show.”Defender Bassam al-Rawi said: “These are exciting times for us and the fans. Everybody is excited before the first match and we are looking forward to a good show.”Midfielder Abdelaziz Hatim said the team is in best shape to take part in the tournament. “We have prepared well and our spirits are high. We are having fun. We are relishing this time as the World Cup approaches. I think every one of us is very proud of that,” he said.

At exactly 20:22pm Friday night, the 26-member Qatar squad for the FIFA World Cup 2022 was revealed in a very unique and special way. Coach Felix Sanchez left out Abdelrahman Mustafa from the 27-member provincial squad, which has been training in Spain, ahead of their historic World Cup debut. The timing of the announcement was symbolic to Qatar's hosting of the 22nd edition of the football showpiece event in 2022. The Qatar Football Federation (QFA) announced the squad in a special video depicting the players as mural on important landmarks around Qatar. The Asian champions will kick off the World Cup against Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on November 20. Also known as 'Al Annabi', Qatar take on Senegal on November 25 at the Al Thumama Stadium and the Netherlands on November 29 at Al Bayt in their other Group A matches. There were no surprises in the final list of squad with Mustafa unfortunate to miss out as FIFA allows only a 26-man roster. The teams can only make changes before the first game of the tournament, and only in the case of serious injury or illness. Qatar's all-time top scorer Almoez Ali and Akram Afif will expectedly lead the attack as the forwards remain crucial to Sanchez’s offensive strategy. Al Duhail striker Almoez – who has 42 goals in 85 games for his country – was top scorer with nine at the Asian Cup. Al Sadd forward Afif, meanwhile, can be lethal playing on the left. With more than 160 caps, Hasan al-Haydos is the most experienced player on the list and the Al Sadd midfielder, who can also play as a winger, will captain Qatar at the tournament. Unsurprisingly, the Qatar squad comprises players whose entire career was built around preparing for Qatar 2022 with 15 of those having been part of the Asian Cup title triumph under Sanchez in 2019. They were also part of the team at the Copa America in 2019, the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2021 and the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021, reaching the semi-finals of the latter two. Sanchez, who has guided many of these players since his time at the Aspire Academy back in 2006, will hope that his core group can create history at the World Cup. The hosts face a daunting task as they are the first team since Italy in 1934 to play at the World Cup without having qualified for the showpiece tournament. Qatar also would want to avoid the fate of South Africa, who remain the only host country to be eliminated in the group stage. But if one quality Qatar players have it's their ability to rise to the occasion. They displayed that spirit in abundance at the Asian Cup in 2019 and also in continental events in the last two years. While odds are stacked against them, Sanchez’s men can spring a surprise or two with big crowds at home rooting for them. The Maroon are scheduled to arrive back home on Monday from their training base in Spain. They will dive into training sessions straight away as they prepare to face Ecuador in the opening game. In the final stage of their preparation, Qatar played a number of unofficial friendlies where they beat Honduras 1-0, Nicaragua 2-1, Guatemala 2-0, and Panama 2-1. Squad Goalkeepers: Saad al-Sheeb, Meshaal Barsham, Yousef Hassan Defenders: Pedro Miguel, Musaab Khidir, Tarek Salman, Bassam al-Rawi, Boualem Khoukhi, Abdelkarim Hassan, Homam Ahmed, Jassem Gaber Midfielders: Ali Asad, Assim Modibo, Mohamed Waad, Salem al-Hajri, Moustafa Tarek, Karim Boudiaf, Abdelaziz Hatim, Ismail Mohamad Forwards: Naif Alhadhrami, Ahmed Alaaeldin, Hassan al-Haydos, Khalid Muneer, Akram Afif, Almoez Ali, Mohamed Muntari

  * Non-ticketed fans need Hayya Card  * World Cup opening ceremony at 5pm on Nov 20 * Four public hospitals to have dedicated urgent care walk-in centres   Officials at the press conference yesterday.   The organisers of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 announced on Thursday that fans without match tickets will be allowed to enter Qatar from December 2 after the completion of the group stage matches. Since November 1, only people with the Hayya Card and match tickets accompanied by three guests have been allowed to enter the country. But these restrictions will now be eased from December 2 at the end of the tournament's group stage, when up to four matches a day will be played. With only a fortnight to go for the football showpiece, the organisers yesterday outlined the latest operational aspects of the tournament at a press conference held at the Host Country Media Centre in Msheireb Downtown Doha. The officials revealed details about the opening ceremony, fan experience, transport, medical guidance and security protocols. The press conference was organised by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) in collaboration with the Safety and Security Operations Committee (SSOC) and the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). Colonel Dr Jabr Hammoud Jabr al-Nuaimi, official spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and SSOC, said fans who have not booked tickets for the World Cup can travel to Qatar after obtaining the mandatory Hayya Card, which will act as an entry permit to the country. “We are delighted to announce today that non-ticketed fans will be able to enter the State of Qatar after the conclusion of the group stage on 2 December, 2022, to enjoy the unique tournament atmosphere,” Colonel Dr al-Nuaimi said. “Non-ticketed fans can apply for their Hayya cards to enter Qatar through the Hayya platform or 'Hayya to Qatar 2022' mobile app from today (Thursday), according to the listed requirements and QR500 entry fee for children aged 12 and over. Under 12s will not be charged,” he added. About the security preparations for the month-long mega event, Colonel Dr al-Nuaimi said Qatar has implemented all measures to protect the stadiums, infrastructure and fans. “We are pleased to announce our readiness to securely host the World Cup. The Ministry of Interior and security forces have worked diligently to put extensive plans and programmes in place to ensure the delivery of a safe and distinguished tournament,” the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior and SSOC noted. “For many years, Qatar was among the highest-ranking countries in global security and safety indicators, topping the list of countries in the Middle East and North Africa. This makes Qatar an ideal country to safely host major events of all kinds. The tournament's security entails many different objectives, including protecting all World Cup facilities and infrastructure components, as well as building an integrated security capability for the tournament that surpasses the standards and practices used in previous major events,” he added. The much-anticipated opening ceremony will take place at 5pm, two hours before Qatar kick off the tournament against Ecuador at the 60,000-seater Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on November 20. Khalid al-Mawlawi, deputy director-general, Marketing, Communications & Event Experience at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), said gates to the stadium will open at 3pm as he urged fans to reach the venue early to avoid crowd rush. “I am advising all the ticket holders to be there, at least two hours before the opening ceremony kicks off,” he said. Al-Mawlawi would not go into details on which artists will perform at the opening ceremony, which is expected to be spectacular. While reports have suggested that hip-hop artistes Black Eyed Peas, K-Pop stars BTS and Colombian singer Shakira could all be taking to the stage, FIFA will announce the lineup of the artists closer to the event. Al-Mawlawi also provided details about Qatar’s vast entertainment programme. “Qatar will host a vast array of cultural and entertainment offerings during the World Cup, including more than 90 special events taking place on the sidelines of the tournament. In addition to the FIFA Fan Festival at Al Bidda Park, the Doha Corniche will be one of the largest fan destinations, with roving performances, cultural activities, food and beverage stalls and retail outlets along its 6km route, with capacity to host more than 70,000 fans every day,” he said. “Other activities will include the daily ‘Welcome to Qatar’ show, one of the biggest pyrotechnic shows in the world. Theme park rides and other attractions will be open to fans at Al Maha Island Lusail, along with the 974 Beach Club, the Hayya Fan Zone on Lusail South Promenade, North Qetaifan Island and the Arcadia Spectacular and ARAVIA by MDLBeast dance music festivals. The Last-Mile Cultural Activations will also feature more than 6,000 performances in 21 locations,” al-Mawlawi added. Healthcare provisions were also detailed at the press conference yesterday, including the latest requirements announced by the MoPH. Fans are no longer required to provide evidence of a negative Covid-19 test on arrival in Qatar. Fans are also no longer required to download the Ehteraz application. Emergency healthcare will be provided for free to Hayya Card holders at public health facilities. Dr. Yousef al-Maslamani, official healthcare spokesperson for Qatar 2022, said it is strongly recommended visitors to Qatar are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and seasonal influenza. The official said more than 100 clinics will be set up in stadiums, fan zones, key accommodation sites along with four public hospitals with dedicated urgent care walk-in centres. Emergency mobile medical teams will also be stationed at the Corniche and FIFA Fan Festival in Al Bidda. He also advised visiting fans to take travel insurance, with healthcare cover, for the duration of their stay in Qatar. The healthcare helpline for fans in Qatar is 16000. “We encourage fans to visit our dedicated website for the latest information. We also urge all international fans to take out travel insurance before arriving in Qatar,” Dr al-Maslamani said. The latest transport updates were also discussed during the press conference. Visiting fans are encouraged to use public transport to get around, including the dedicated bus services and Doha Metro. Qatar residents are encouraged to use their private cars to attend matches. Ali al-Ali, deputy director-general – Event Operations, SC, said: “Our state-of-the-art public transport systems will provide seamless options for fans to get around. Thanks to our compact tournament, fans will never be far from a stadium, their accommodation or entertainment site – and will even have the chance to attend more than one match per day during the early stages of the tournament.”    

* FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 just about a month away * Over-the-counter ticket sales begin today at DECC * International Consular Services centre to be opened at DECC, with 90 staff members from 45 embassies * 30,000 rooms added to Qatar Accommodation Agency in line with last-minute ticket sales * 2.89mn tickets sold for 64 matches so far * Organisers announce launch of ticketing app, advise public to keep checking FIFA.com/tickets for latest inventory * Qatar 2022 to be 'a tournament of peace and unity', says Infantino * Japan first team to arrive on Nov 7 * QNCC to host International Broadcast Centre and Main Media Centre, which will house a 'virtual stadium' * 89% of volunteers are Qatar residents With just over a month to go for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the organisers sounded upbeat about the preparations for the football showpiece as they revealed the vast array of entertainment options being primed up for visitors and updated on operations related to the tournament. Hosts Qatar will kick off the World Cup on November 20 at Al Bayt Stadium against Ecuador and the ticket sales for the tournament – the first in the Middle East and Arab world – have been fast approaching the 3mn mark, the organisers said at a press conference Monday.   FIFA president Gianni Infantino Officials said 2.89mn tickets had been sold for the 64 matches to be staged in eight state-of-the-art stadiums across with a further 30,000 rooms made available to visitors via the Qatar Accommodation Agency in line with last-minute ticket sales. FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who was in Kuala Lumpur Monday attending the AFC meeting, praised Qatar in a video message for its preparation to host the World Cup. “We have always said that Qatar will deliver the best ever edition of the FIFA World Cup. And as you look around the country today, at the state-of-the-art stadiums, the training pitches, the metro, the wider infrastructure, everything is ready and everyone is welcome. The world is excited. Qatar is ready. The stage is set. Together, we will deliver the best World Cup ever on and off the field,” said Infantino. He added that the World Cup should be "a tournament of peace and unity – one that brings the world together after some difficult times". The Swiss reiterated what the Qatari authorities have been saying for a long time. "And let me repeat it clearly, everyone will be welcomed to the tournament," Infantino said. At the press conference Monday, FIFA's World Cup chief operating officer Colin Smith along with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) director-general Yasir al-Jamal and Qatar 2022 CEO Nasser al-Khater provided an update on operations related to the tournament. Smith said there was huge demand for tickets as he urged fans to keep checking FIFA.com/tickets for the latest inventory as more tickets continue to be released between now and the end of the tournament. Regarding ticket purchases, the top 10 countries in terms of the residency of buyers are Qatar, US, Saudi Arabia, England, Mexico, UAE, Argentina, France, Brazil and Germany. Smith also announced the launch of a ticketing app – FIFA World Cup 2022 Tickets – where users can access their tickets, change their information and send them to others with ease. From this week, ticket holders will receive an email with information on how to download the ticketing app and retrieve their mobile tickets. The long-awaited counter sales of physical tickets will also begin today at the first of two ticketing centres that will open at DECC. He also stressed that the World Cup is inclusive for everyone. All sites will cater to fans of all needs and abilities, including stadiums, with sensory rooms or facilitated access. An International Consular Services centre will be opened at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) with 90 staff members from 45 embassies, who will be on hand to assist fans. Located in DECC Hall 4, it will be open from November 1 to December 25. The timings will be from 10am to 10pm. Infantino, meanwhile, said 240,000 hospitality packages had been sold for the month-long tournament, making it the "most successful hospitality programme ever". Some 63% of the sales are international and 37% local. Al-Jamal said 2mn room nights have been sold and that additional 30,000 rooms have been added to the inventory to accommodate last-minute ticket sales. The biggest variety of accommodation is available from the Qatar Accommodation Agency, where rooms can be booked from $80 per person, per night based on two-person occupancy. Accommodation options include hotels, apartments and fan villages. Al-Jamal also revealed more than 100,000 visitors have registered to stay with families and friends during the World Cup. Al-Khater provided details on exciting entertainment options prepared for visitors. The FIFA Fan Festival at Al Bidda Park will host up to 40,000 fans every day during the tournament. It will be free to attend and screen live matches, host globally-renowned artists and feature football activities. There will also be a range of local and international food and beverage options. In addition, the 6km Corniche Activation from Sheraton Park to the Museum of Islamic Art will feature roving performances, retail stores and food and beverage kiosks. Other activities will include the daily ‘Welcome to Qatar’ show – a water and pyrotechnics display that will feature music from the Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack, Qatari composer Wael Binali and the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. Theme park rides and other attractions at Al Maha Island, Lusail, will also be open to fans, as will the Ras Abu Aboud 974 Beach Club, the Hayya Fan Zone at Lusail South Promenade and the QetaiFAN Beach Fest. Dance music fans will flock to the 15,000-capacity Arcadia Spectacular and 5,000-capacity ARAVIA by MDL BEAST. In addition, Last-Mile Cultural Activations will feature more than 6,000 performances in 21 locations, entertaining fans on their way to stadiums. “Qatar is ready to host a global celebration of the beautiful game. We look forward to welcoming fans and players from across the world as they sample our welcoming hospitality, vast array of entertainment options and, of course, top-class international football. It promises to be a unique edition of the FIFA World Cup – and one that will leave a lasting, positive impact on Qatar, the Middle East and the Arab world,” al-Khater said. There will be 90+ sites and attractions to visit for fans, including roaming activities at locations like Souq Waqif and Msheireb. "This will be a fan experience like no other," said al-Khater. Meanwhile, it was pointed out that there are multiple options for all eventualities if fans are not able to show their Hayya Card at stadiums on their mobile phones. There will be charging stations at the Hayya Resolution Centre or fans may opt to have their physical card scanned to gain entry. On the security arrangements during the World Cup, al-Khater said Qatar has signed agreements with several countries to contribute to policing and security arrangements. “We have set up an International Police Co-ordination Centre (IPCC). It is not a foreign concept. Many major international sporting events have a centralised policing unit working together. There will be fans from all over the world descending on Qatar during the World Cup and it makes sense to have policing units especially from those countries whose fans are coming here,” the Qatar 2022 CEO said. Meanwhile, Smith, replying to a query regarding unfair criticism of Qatar related to workers' welfare, said the global football body believes in “dialogue over boycott”. “FIFA's been very clear on this point and over the years, we believe dialogue over boycott, we see the power and strength of the World Cup as a catalyst for change in the region. In Qatar we have been working hand in hand with the authorities over many years and worthwhile organizations have recognized the progress that has been made,” he said. “This is a World Cup for everyone, we are tremendously excited to welcome everyone from all nationalities here to come and celebrate the festival of football which brings the world together - that's the power of events like the FIFA World Cup which can do that. We, therefore, believe in positive dialogue and approach and in bringing people together. Let’s unify everyone here in Qatar in celebration in what's going to be an absolutely amazing event,” Smith added. Smith said Japan will be the first team to arrive in Qatar for the tournament on November 7. The World Cup CEO also said the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) will host the International Broadcast Centre and the Main Media Centre and will house 12,300 members of the media whether print, broadcast, online and radio. For the very first time in FIFA World Cup history there will be a 'virtual stadium' for members of the media working from QNCC where they can have a total immersive match and stadium experience. “We operate over 168 official sites through the compact nature of Qatar, and each one of these sites is essential to the running and successful delivery of this World Cup. Way beyond testing the eight stadiums, the volunteers and accreditation centres are fully operational, with the ticketing centre at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre opening tomorrow and the International Broadcast Centre and Main Media Centre to follow. I can only reiterate FIFA’s confidence and deep appreciation for all the work preparing to deliver the best FIFA World Cup ever in just over one month's time,” said Smith. Regarding volunteers, there were over 420,000 registrations from 209 nationalities for volunteers, of whom 20,000 were selected. The average age of volunteers is 33 years, with Qatar residents accounting for 89% of the total number of volunteers and the remaining 11% have been selected from international applicants.

              Doha   • Thousands of fans throng the hosts’ training session at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium Head coach Felix Sanchez believes Qatar will play their best football during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at home. Sanchez and his players got a sneak peek of what they will encounter during the World Cup as thousands of fans – young and old – thronged the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Al Sadd on Sunday to watch the team’s open training session. Qatar players only returned last week after a four-month training camp in Europe. They are here for a few more days before they travel to Marbella, Spain for the final phase of preparatory camp for the World Cup, which will begin with hosts taking on Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20. They also play Senegal and the Netherlands in Group A. Yesterday, the players were given a rousing reception as they took the field at reigning QNB Stars League champions Al Sadd’s home ground. Captain Hassan al-Haydos and star striker Akram Afif were much in demand for selfies and autographs and the duo and rest of the team obliged the fans duly. The fans stayed back as the Asian Champions took the field for a training session. Sanchez, meanwhile, said he expected Qatar to put in a much better performance than they have done in the recent past. The Al Annabi put in a below-par show in the two recent friendly matches. They lost tamely to Canada 0-2 on September 23 at Villa Park in Vienna, before holding Chile to a 2-2 draw at the same venue four days later. Sanchez said the intense and closed-door training sessions in Spain and Austria is just what the team needs ahead of their World Cup debut at home. “It’s very nice to be back in Qatar. Yeah, it’s been a long time, but I think that’s what we had planned. And I think that was what was best for us, to be able to train in good weather conditions. So we are quite confident that it was a good preparation,” the Spaniard said. “Every day we were preparing, trying to improve and hopefully we’re going to have a good last few days of preparation before the World Cup. And hopefully we’re going to be at our best level on November 20. The last two friendly games were obviously a test for us. Not every game you can perform at the level that you wish for, but I think in the second game we showed some improvements. When you play these competitive games, if you don’t start at your best level or you concede then it’s hard to come back into the game. So we need to learn from that. Hopefully we will not make that kind of mistake at the World Cup. We are confident to play at our best level,” the Qatar coach added. Sanchez on Saturday named a 27-member Qatar squad for the third and final preparatory camp. While there are no more International friendlies scheduled, Qatar will play a few matches against local teams as they aim to be in the best shape for the World Cup. “We’re going to keep training harder and try to improve on things that are not working. We need to always analyse our games and see what we can do to improve,” Sanchez, who led Qatar to maiden Asian Cup title in 2019, said. The Spaniard also called on Qatar fans to rally behind their team during the World Cup. “I think it will be a big occasion for the country. I hope people will enjoy the World Cup in Qatar. First time Qatar will play in the World Cup and it will be at home, so I think it’s unique. People have to enjoy these moments and I hope they will support us and cheer for the team and players. The players are going to appreciate that and give it their all to make the fans happy,” he said. Qatar’s head coach Felix Sanchez takes a selfie with a fan. Qatar’s forward Akram Afif (centre) interacts with children during a training session. Fans wave Qatar flags during the training session.

Doha   • Qatar will probably be the most prepared team going in to the World Cup, says Canada coach John Herdman Qatar will most likely play their last two friendlies against tough opponents in the next five days, before they embark on a historic World Cup appearance at home in two months’ time. The Asian champions will face Canada today at 8pm at the Viola Park in Vienna, before taking on Chile on Tuesday. These two matches will give coach Felix Sanchez an idea of his 26-member squad to select for the World Cup. It’s been four months since Sanchez and his 30-member probable squad set sail to Europe to prepare for their World Cup debut. After a physical training camp in Marbella, Spain, Qatar are camped right now in Austria, with the players missing the Qatar Stars league matches back home. The Maroons have played few behind-the-door friendly matches against clubs and second string national teams as their preparations have been kept well-guarded secret. Finally, they will emerge from four months in near-lockdown as they take fellow World Cup qualifiers Canada. Having spent tens of billions of dollars preparing for the first World Cup in an Arab nation, Qatar is desperate to see the national side get past the first round where they are grouped with Netherlands, Senegal and Ecuador. But they lost 3-0 to a Croatia under-23 team behind closed doors on Tuesday. And while public games in Vienna against Canada and Chile are only friendlies, they will still be seen as a key test of how much steel Sanchez has put into the side. Post the friendlies, Sanchez and the players will briefly return to Qatar in early October and will hold an open training session before returning to Spain for more isolation before the World Cup starts. Today, Canada will offer Qatar their toughest test in recent times in the first meeting between the two sides. The Canucks, ranked five places above Qatar at 43, topped the CONCACAF qualifiers to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1986. Coach John Herdman has called these upcoming friendlies (Canada also play Uruguay on Sunday) a measuring stick for his side, who will be facing teams outside of their region for the first time in over four years. “Being our first trip outside of Concacaf and first games against non-Concacaf nations since the journey started back in 2018, we will learn a lot in these moments,” said Herdman. “Both opponents present different types of tests and with the quality of Uruguay we will see and feel first-hand the intensity of that next level opponent.” Herdman is expecting a well-drilled opponent in the World Cup host. “Qatar will probably be the most prepared team going in to the World Cup,” said Herdman. “The investment that’s gone into them is pretty unique — being able to use all of the opportunities that they have as a country to centralise their players and pretty much play like a club team.” Herdman noted Qatar played club sides in Italy’s Lazio and Fiorentina during the summer and is coming off a game against the Croatian under-23 team this week. “They’re a team that is well organised, very disciplined, a good footballing team. And you can tell they know each other inside-out. So this is going to be a real challenge for Canada.” In the absence of the injured Atiba Hutchinson, David Hoilett will captain Canada. The 39-year-old Hutchinson, Canada’s all-time men’s caps leader with 97 senior appearances, has been sidelined by a bone bruise suffered in pre-season with Turkey’s Besiktas. The 32-year-old Hoilett takes over the captain’s armband in his 48th appearance for Canada. “He’ll lead the team out,” Herdman said yesterday. “He’s in wonderful form at his club at Reading near the top of the Championship (England’s second-tier).” Canada’s squad will be spearheaded by Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies and Lille’s Jonathan David. Two players –Montreal’s centre back Joel Waterman and Blackpool FC forward Theo Corbeanu – have been called up for the first time as the rest of the squad features returning players from the CONCACAF qualifiers. The Canadians’ meteoric rise in over the past couple of years has not gone unnoticed by the big clubs around Europe, as numerous players chosen by Herdman ply their trade with some of those prominent teams, many of whom are playing significant roles domestically.

On a day of high wind at the Qatar Sports Club Friday, the favourites fell by the wayside at the Diamond League season opener. The windy conditions did not spare even home favourite and Olympic champion Mutaz Essa Barshim as the Qatari finished second in front of a vociferous packed crowd. South Korea’s Sanghyeok Woo, the world leader coming into season’s opening event, cleared 2.33m to pip Barshim into first, while joint Olympic gold medallist Gianmarco Tamberi bowed out after three failures at 2.24m. There were surprises galore as the US sprinter Gabrielle Thomas and Brazilian hurdler Alison Dos Santos claimed victories with meet records in women’s 200m and men’s 400m hurdle respectively. Olympic silver medallist Marileidy Paulino also grabbed an impressive win in women’s 400m with Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo finishing a disappointing third. There was heartbreak for the crowd who had come to watch pole vault superstar Armand Duplantis as the event fell victim to high winds and was cancelled. But the javelin throwers thrived as the weather conditions caused their spears to fly huge distances as Grenada’s Anderson Peters smashed his personal best with a stunning 93.07m to claim victory. On an action packed day, all eyes were on Barshim in the far right corner of the stadium as the two-time world champion was competing for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics. The 30-year-old cleared 2.16 and 2.20m without much ado, before stumbling at 2.24. But he regrouped quickly and cleared 2.30 before coming unstuck at 2.33. A couple of attempts to clear 2.35 also did not materialize as Barshim settled for second spot. Sanghyeok, who was fourth at the Olympics last year, had soared over 2.33 as the South Korean finished on top. Tamberi, meanwhile, had a poor night as the Italian finished only seventh. Barshim, who is gunning for a hat-trick of world titles in Eugene, US, in July, was not unhappy with a second-place finish. “This year is different because I have not been jumping since Tokyo, but you have to be smart and take your goals step by step. Anyways it is a good start in front of an amazing crowd. The atmosphere gave us strong competition, I produce my best when it is crowded with fans,” he said. Meanwhile, Olympic champion Andre De Grasse of Canada finished fourth in the men’s 200m, with American Noah Lyles sprinting to victory in 19.72 secs after a close battle with compatriot Fred Kerley (19.75). De Grasse completed the race in 20.15 seconds and finished just behind Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago, who also posted the same time. The 24-year-old Lyles, aiming to bounce back from a disappointing 2021 when he managed only a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, led from start to finish. But with finishing line sight, Kerley closed the gap but Lyles had enough power to claim victory, though none of the meeting times would count because of the wind. “I came here to get my energy for the season. I perform under pressure, it helps me to get excited about the season,” said Lyles who expressed optimism for the season but added that rivals should expect “trouble” if he does not reclaim his world title in Eugene in July. “When I lose I come for blood,” he joked. De Grasse said he was not concerned but admitted that he will have to go home and “work on some things”. Britain’s world champion Dina Asher-Smith managed only third in her first 200 metres of the year as Olympic bronze medallist Gabrielle Thomas stormed to victory as Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson came second. “This was a big one to start the season, there was a lot of competition,” Thomas said. “I have a will to win, I fight to the end.” Anderson Peters, the reigning world champion at the World Championships in Qatar in 2019, went to No 5 on the world all-time lists after a wind-assisted throw of 93.07m. Olympic silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic also broke the 90-metre mark but Peters took victory with a huge, last-gasp effort. Only world record-holder Jan Zelezny with 98.48m plus Germans Johannes Vetter (97.76m) and Thomas Röhler (93.90m) and Finland’s Aki Paviainen (93.09m) have ever thrown further. “I came here twice. I love to be here in Doha trying to get better and to be more in shape,” said the 24-year-old winner. The men’s 1,500m also saw an upset, with three-time Diamond Trophy winner and reigning champion Timothy Cheruiyot coming second behind fellow Kenyan Abel Kipsang.

Since that magical night at Tokyo Olympics when they both stood on top of the podium with gold medals draped around their necks, Mutaz Essa Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi have been inseparable. The two high jumpers have been friends for long, but after their act of sportsmanship in Tokyo when they decided to share gold, their bond has become even stronger. Italian Tamberi has even spent a lot more time in Qatar, having trained here in March and April. Ahead of Friday's Doha Diamond League, the two shared the space again on the podium as they spoke about that historical moment at Olympics and their camaraderie since. But once they step onto the field at the Qatar Sports Club today, both Barshim and Tamberi reminded on Thursday they will mean business. It’s the first time the two will compete against each other since their iconic joint victory at the Tokyo Games and the high jump stars insisted they will not repeat the gesture if they are tied again. “We already talked about it, it is not going to happen again,” said Tamberi, as the Barshim sitting beside nodded in agreement at the press conference on Thursday. “We will look at each other (If we are tied again), we will say OK let’s go” to jump off. For myself, I will never go back in the past and change what we have done. We will forever remember as brothers ... friends,” the Italian added. “We both won because we both deserved that gold medal. When they ask us will you share again we say ‘no’ because we have done it once. But it does not mean we are not proud of it. I will never change the past even if you paid me or guaranteed me that I will be the one who wins that gold medal, I will share with him because I know he deserves, I know I deserve.” Both Barshim and Tamberi have set their targets on World Championships in Eugene, US, later this July. Tamberi has never won a world championship medal, while Barshim is gunning for greatness aiming to become the first athlete to win three straight high jump titles. “At the 2019 Worlds in Doha, someone asked me how I’d feel defending my world title and becoming the first male high jumper to do so. That stuck with me. Now I’m motivating myself by saying it’ll be even better to be the only guy to win three in a row. It keeps me going. It is not easy to find motivation after such a big year, such a big success,” said Barshim. The Doha Diamond League will be the Qatari’s first meeting since last August but the 30-year-old has lined up few events before the world championships, including GCC Games in Kuwait next week and Diamond League event in Rome on June 9. And he will be hoping he can hit the ground running today in front of home fans. But it will be difficult to gauge the form of an athlete who hasn’t competed for more than nine months and Barshim hinted that he is not yet at his physical best. “Honestly, if it wasn’t at home, I probably wouldn’t have jumped. But Doha is home and my people will be out there, my family and friends, cheering for me. That’s always a special feeling. I took my first steps in the sport I love here and it’ll always be special,” Barshim said. “Normally, people start with small events and move on to tougher events. That way, competing in the Diamond League straightaway may be risky. But I’m experienced and know what to do. Since it’s very early in the season, I may not be able to jump impressive heights. But my focus is different, I want to see where I’m at the moment, set a mark and start working from there,” he added. Tamberi, meanwhile, after his Olympic gold went on to win the Diamond League title last year and made a last-minute decision to compete at the World Indoor Championships two months ago, leaving Belgrade with a bronze medal. Today, both Barshim and Tamberi will have their task cut out. If recent form is anything to go by, then world indoor champion Woo Sanghyeok will start as the marginal favourite. The Korean was fourth at the Olympics last year, cleared a world-leading 2.36m earlier this year and then won the world indoor title. He opened his outdoor season last month with a 2.30m win in Daegu. Other contenders include Commonwealth champion Brandon Starc, world indoor bronze medallist Hamish Kerr of New Zealand and US jumps talent JuVaughn Harrison.      

The opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 will see hosts Qatar play against Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on November 21. Qatar, who will be making their World Cup debut at home, will also face African champions Senegal and three-time runner-up The Netherlands in other Group A matches. The Final draw was held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre yesterday after a short but dazzling live performances, which showcased a mix of Qatar’s culture and modern development. As the coaches and representatives of the 29 qualified teams took their seats and waited anxiously to find out their opponents for Middle East’s first World Cup, their nerves would have eased, albeit temporarily, as Qatar put on a glittering ceremony. There was references to the Arab culture and surprising acts that included the unveiling of the official mascot La’eeb and the launch of the Official Soundtrack, with the first live performance of the single Hayya Hayya (Better Together), a reggae and R&B influenced track by Qatari artist Aisha and American singers Trinidad Cardona and Davido. The stage – which resembled the swing and lightness of the dhow boat – was set on fire with an audiovisual performance of the traditional musical art of fijiri, followed by a motivational speech from one of the Arab world’s most well-known actresses Sherihan from Egypt. With just over 230 days to go for the football’s showpiece event, yesterday’s Final draw has set the path for the 29 teams that have qualified so far, along with the eight teams that remain in contention, three of whom will seal the last spots up for grabs in June. Asian Champions Qatar, who will be backed by a vociferous home crowd, could not have asked for a relatively easier start to their campaign as they take on South Americans Ecuador. Felix Sanchez’s men then will have to brace for tougher opponents as they face Senegal and the Netherlands – a shock victory in any one of the two matches holding key to their knockout hopes. If Qatar do make it to the last 16 as Group A winners or runner-up, they could run into any of England, US and Iran, who are all in Group B. One of Wales, Scotland or Ukraine will take up the last spot in the Group B after the European play-offs in June. The 2010 champions Spain will face 2014 winners Germany in a tough Group E with Japan and the winner of the Costa Rica versus New Zealand playoff in June. Four-time champions Germany were in Pot Two, making them the obvious team to avoid for the top seeds in the draw. They were knocked out of the 2018 tournament in Russia in the group stage. Defending champions France will face Denmark, Tunisia and the winner of the intercontinental playoff between Peru and Australia in Group D. Record five-time winners Brazil will play Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G, while two-time champions Argentina drew Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Robert Lewandowski’s Poland in Group C. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, who needed a play-off win against North Macedonia last week to qualify for Qatar 2022, are placed in Group H with Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in Group H. Croatia, runners-up in 2018, were drawn with Belgium and Morocco in Group F, which was completed by a Canada side returning to the World Cup for the first time in 26 years. For the first time, to optimise specific match details for the benefit and comfort of supporters and teams, the match schedule will be confirmed in due course by FIFA after games have been assigned to a stadium and kick-off time for each match. Before the draw was held, FIFA president FIFA president Gianni Infantino promised the event would “simply be the best tournament ever”. “What an emotion it is to be here. Now we know that it is for real and that’s why I wish you all welcome for the draw of Qatar 2022. This World Cup will simply be the best World Cup ever. The World will be united in Qatar. My first thanks goes to the people of Qatar, to the people of the Gulf and the people of Arab.  This will be the World of unity and the World Cup of Peace,” Infantino said. Yesterday’s draw was attended by 2,000 guests, and featured former World Cup winners Cafu of Brazil and Germany’s Lothar Matthaeus among the draw assistants. They were joined by Adel Ahmed MalAllah (Qatar), Ali Daei (Iran), Bora Milutinovic (Serbia/Mexico), Jay-Jay Okocha (Nigeria), Rabah Madjer (Algeria) and Tim Cahill (Australia). They were supported by a conducting team comprised of Women’s World Cup two-time champion Carli Lloyd, football pundit and former England player Jermaine Jenas and British-Jamaican sports presenter Samantha Johnson. The draw ceremony was presented by award-winning British actor Idris Elba and broadcaster Reshmin Chowdhury. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 groups Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales or Scotland or Ukraine Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland Group D: France, Peru or UAE or Australia, Denmark, Tunisia Group E: Spain, Costa Rica or New Zealand, Germany, Japan Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea * World Cup to be played from Nov 21 to Dec18 * Intercontinental playoffs to be contested on June 13-14 in Qatar: i) Winner of United Arab Emirates v Australia face Peru ii) New Zealand v Costa Rica -- European playoffs to be held in June on dates to be announced

Doha • Qatar will play against Ecuador on November 21 at the 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor Coach Felix Sanchez said Qatar will aim to be competitive in the FIFA World Cup, after the hosts were drawn to play Ecuador, Senegal and the Netherlands in Group A yesterday. Qatar will make their World Cup at home and they will undoubtedly be under huge pressure as they take the field for the first game against Ecuador on November 21 at the 60,000 -capacity Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. Their biggest challenge, however, will come against African champions Senegal and three-time World Cup runners-up the Netherlands. Sanchez, who led Qatar to its maiden Asian title in 2019, felt Qatar could have been drawn in any group against any team and it would still have been tough for them. “To be honest any group, any team will be very, very tough for us,” Sanchez said after the draw ceremony at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center yesterday. “You have to see the FIFA ranking or the history of each of the teams that are here. We are proud to be here today in the draw ceremony. We now know our opponents, so now we’re going to start preparing for these three games in our best way and try to be as competitive as we can,” the Spaniard added. The last time Qatar faced Ecuador in a friendly on October 12, 2018 at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, they won a thriller 4-3. It was just a year since Sanchez had taken charge of Qatar. Twelve players who took part in that match are key members of the current Qatar squad. However, Ecuador have been in terrific form lately, having finished fourth in the hugely competitive South American qualifiers to seal a place for the World Cup.   Sanchez said Qatar team will try to put their best foot forward in front of the home fans. “We have played Ecuador before. So we’re going to try to prepare and to show our best level in front of our people. I think that’s the most important. The first game in a tournament is always the most important because it gives you the feeling how the team will perform during the competition,” Sanchez said. Provided Qatar get off to a decent start, their passage to the knockout stage could pivot on their final game of the group. And that will come against the power of the Netherlands on November 29. Meanwhile, Ecuador will be playing at their fourth World Cup. After missing out on the 2018 World Cup in Russia, they were indebted to Coach Gustavo Alfaro for taking them back to the global stage. “I am excited we are playing against Qatar in the opening match. I am happy Ecuador will be competing at the biggest stage of football after missing out from the last World Cup in Russia” Alfaro said yesterday.    My past experience in coaching Saudi Arabia has helped understand GCC football better, which will be useful for our World Cup preparations. Qatar has gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure it’s ready to host the World Cup, whether in terms of hotels or the infrastructure in general,” added the  Argentine, who picked Belgium, Brazil, The Netherlands and France as the top contenders for the title. Meanwhile, Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal said the Dutch had received a kinder World Cup draw than their last appearance in the finals in 2014. In 2014, the Dutch won a group containing Chile, Spain and Australia and went on to reach the semi-finals. “It is a better draw than 2014, but that means nothing,” the Dutch coach told the NOS public broadcaster. “We will still prepare ourselves well.” Van Gaal had predicted before the draw that the Dutch would face the host nation. “It was a gamble, but of course it’s nice when a gamble becomes true,” he said. “I haven’t been to Qatar or Senegal that often... so I don’t know these countries that well. But we have very good scouts that will look into things. They will analyse our opponents and until now they have done fantastic work,” the former Manchester United manager added. “In 2014 we ended up in the toughest group, with world champions Spain, Chile, which was the number three in South America at the time, and Australia’s fighting team. The duel with Australia (a 3-2 Dutch win) ended up being our most difficult match. Compared to then, this draw is more favourable, even if this time we have to play against the champions of Africa,” Van Gaal said. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil

Qatar will step an inch closer to hosting the FIFA World Cup later this year, with the draw for the football’s showpiece event to be held on Friday. The who’s who of the football world will converge at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, where the show will start at 7pm, with 29 qualified teams set to know their opponents. The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy has promised few surprises on the sidelines of the event, but the teams will be hoping they do not have to draw tough opponents in the group stages to begin with. Qatar, who will be making their World Cup debut, have been seeded along with the seven top-ranked teams. As hosts, Qatar are in Pot 1 and will be represented by a different-coloured ball and pre-assigned to position A1. The Asian Champions will avoid facing new World No.1 Brazil, Belgium, defending champions France, Argentina, England, Spain and Portugal until the knockout rounds. Pot 2 is populated by the next eight highest-ranked qualifiers and includes the United States, Mexico, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Uruguay, Switzerland and Croatia while Pot 3 is made up of next eight best-ranked qualified teams: Senegal, Iran, Japan, Morocco, Serbia, Poland, South Korea and Tunisia. For the first time in the World Cup's 92-year history, three of the 32 entries in the draw will be placeholders because the three-year qualifying program was delayed due to Covid-19 pandemic, and is still ongoing. It means 37 nations will be involved in the draw today, including five which will ultimately not play when the first World Cup kicks off on November 21. One of the balls being drawn from pot 4 of low-ranked teams will represent Peru or Australia or the United Arab Emirates. Another is Ukraine or Wales or Scotland and Costa Rica or New Zealand. The rest of Pot 4 includes Cameroon, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia and Ghana along with Canada. The full line-up will not be known until at least June 14, with three qualification spots still to be contested, with one European and two Intercontinental Play-Offs still to be played. No country from the same confederation can be drawn against each other with two exceptions. As Europe has 13 teams in the draw and there are only eight groups, some groups will contain more than one nation from the UEFA qualifiers. The same applies to any team coming from the intercontinental playoffs. Each four-team group is a round-robin of six games in total. The order each team plays the other is decided by another draw within the ceremony. After each team is drawn, a subsequent ball – numbered 1, 2, 3 or 4 – is picked to place that country in the fixture grid. This unpredictability means the two highest-ranked teams in a group could meet in any of the three rounds. The top two teams in each group – where goal difference is the first tiebreaker – advance to the round of 16. A team’s path through to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final is set in the bracket. If Qatar advances as the Group A winner, it must then play the Group B runner-up. Teams which advance from the same group cannot meet again until the final. The draw will be attended by 2,000 guests and will be hosted by former US international and FIFA Women’s World Cup winner Carli Lloyd, former footballer and English television presenter Jermaine Jenas and anchor Samantha Johnson. The trio will be assisted by the likes of former footballers Cafu (Brazil), Lothar Matthaus (Germany), Adel Ahmed MalAllah (Qatar), Ali Daei (Iran), Jay-Jay Okocha (Nigeria), Rabah Madjer (Algeria), Tim Cahill (Australia) and Bora Milutinovic (Serbia), who as coach steered five different teams to consecutive World Cups – Mexico (1986), Costa Rica (1990), United States (1994), Nigeria (1998) and China (2022). The draw will serve as a giant milestone for Qatar, which has left no stone unturned to host the Middle East’s first FIFA World Cup. Since winning the historic bid in 2010, Qatar has always been ahead of the progress in terms of getting the infrastructure ready. Seven of the eight stadiums that will host the matches are already operational with Lusail Stadium, which will host the final on December 19 waiting to be inaugurated. At the FIFA Congress yesterday, the global governing body’s President Gianni Infantino said Qatar would host ‘a fantastic World Cup because it would be a unique tournament.’ "It will be a great celebration, a great celebration of humanity, bringing the world together, an opportunity for the Arab world to present itself to the entire world, and an opportunity for the entire world to come and meet the Arab world, its culture, its history, and to celebrate all together," Infantino said.    

Doha Al Duhail saved their best for the big occasion as the Red Knights’ sealed an empathic 5-1 win over Al Gharafa in the final to clinch the 50th edition of the Amir Cup yesterday. At the Khalifa International Stadium, there were five different scorers for Duhail, but it was Edmilson Junior who stole the spotlight, putting on a brilliant performance worthy of a marquee clash. The Belgian midfielder started the goal rush with a sixth-minute strike before setting it up for Michael Olunga (18’) and Almoez Ali (52’). Ferjani Sassi (58’) and substitute Abdelrahman Mohamed Moustafa (85’) also found the net with Duhail deservedly claiming their fourth Amir Cup title.   For Al Gharafa, it was a night to forget with their only moment of hope coming in when Ahmed Alaaeldin struck in the 53rd minute. The Cheetah’s – seeking their eight Amir Cup title and first in 10 years – pushed hard after conceding the fourth goal, but with too much to do they could not get past a determined Duhail. Yesterday’s triumph not just helped Duhail overcome a disappointing QNB Stars League campaign, where they were a distant second to champions Al Sadd, but it also gave a perfect parting gift to their coach Luis Castro. Under Portuguese Castro, Duhail won 18 times and lost just thrice in 26 games, but none of the victories would have tasted better than yesterday’s victory over Gharafa. Duhail, who had edged past bitter rivals Sadd in the semi-finals, were in control throughout. Duhail captain Alomez Ali dedicated the title to departing coach Castro and fans of the club. “We had faced Al Gharafa on two occasions this season and they troubled us a lot. But this time we studied them well and were more than ready to take them on. We were clinical tonight,” the Qatari said. Before the kick-off, a small ceremony marked the golden jubilee of the Amir Cup with the flags of the past winning teams and previous trophies paraded. With His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani watching, a video tracing the history of the tournament was played on the big screen. Many stars of Qatari football also lined up on the pitch when a medal was presented to the Amir to mark the occasion. As the crowd barely settled into their seats after a brief ceremony, Duhail could have gone ahead. With just 30 seconds after the start, Olunga shot wide with just goalkeeper Yousuf Hassan Ali to beat. But Edmilson did not take long to put Duhail on board. The 27-year-old playmaker met a long ball from Toby Alderweireld and slotted in. Once Edmilson made the breakthrough for Duhail there was no way back for Gharafa, as Castro’s men looked dangerous in every attack. Alderweireld’s long range passes troubled Gharafa all night with the former Tottenham Hotspur defender finding Edmilson and Olunga regularly. In the 18th minute, Olunga doubled the lead after he slid in a perfect cross from Edmilson for his third Amir Cup goal for the season.   Alderweireld on the other half also put in a brilliant effort, as the Belgian cleared off the line to keep Gharafa’s Sofiane Hanni at bay. That was the closest Gharafa came to scoring as Duhail went into the halftime with a comfortable 2-0 lead. Post the break, Duhail increased the lead after some dazzling play by Edmilson. The midfielder cut inside three Gharafa players before sending it far post to Ismaeel Mohamed, who pulled it back to unmarked Almoez as the Duhail captain found the net with ease. Gharafa, however, pulled on back in the next minute after Hanni’s clever back flick finding Alaaeldin, who found the bottom right corner with a good finish. Gharafa’s small hopes for a fight back were nipped in the bud as semi-final hero Sassi restored Duhail’s three-goal lead. With a steep hill to climb, Gharafa gave it their all but Duhail goalkeeper Salah Zakaria was equally up to the task as he made some crucial saves. The match was all but over after Moustafa came off the bench to dink one past Ali in the 85th minute. “We played our best football in the final,” said Olunga, who scored his 25th goal of the season yesterday. “It’s a special golden jubilee trophy for us and a great way to end the season in which we played very well. We dedicate this title to all Al Duhail fans who have been supporting us. It’s a good moment for us all, the management and players who have put in a lot of hard work,” the Kenyan striker said. Perfect farewell for me at Al Duhail: Coach Castro Doha: Al Duhail coach Luis Castro said he could not have asked for a fitting farewell after his side won the Amir Cup title with a clinical 5-1 win over Al Gharafa at the Khalifa International Stadium yesterday. Castro left Duhail after Amir Cup triumph yesterday in what was a dream farewell for the Portuguese. “It is a perfect farewell for me at Al Duhail,” an elated Castro said yesterday.   “This Amir Cup victory was very important for us after we missed the league title due to injuries and absences of players. But, overall I achieved a lot here, perhaps I will return one day,” he added. “The match was not easy as Al Gharafa played with all their strength. But we controlled the match and managed to score goals,” he added. Duhail defender Karim Boudiaf said: “We were the best team today, but Gharafa played a good match too. We are happy to win the Amir Cup and also it coincides with the 50th edition of the tournament. The final match was not that easy as the scoreline suggests and we had to make every effort to win. Duhail coach Luis Castro (right) and captain Almoez Ali pose with the trophy

Al Duhail and Al Gharafa will step out of Al Sadd’s absolute dominance in recent years, when the two sides clash in the final of the 50th edition of Amir Cup on Friday. For once, on Friday at the Khalifa International Stadium, the spotlight won’t be on Sadd, who had won the Amir Cup and QNB Stars League title in the last two seasons. Duhail snuffed Sadd’s hopes of a hat-trick of Amir Cup titles, when they edged out their arch-rivals in the semi-finals on Monday and will start as a firm favourite to win their fourth title. With coach Luis Castro also bidding adieu to Duhail after the final, the players will be no short of inspiration for the high stakes contest. Having said that, Al Gharafa’s youthful brigade could spring a surprise with a special atmosphere of the Amir Cup final spurring them on. Both sides have been inconsistent this season, but Duhail, having finished second behind Sadd in the league, possess the firepower. Their attacking trio Michael Olunga, Edmilson and Qatari star Almoez Ali will be difficult to stop for a wobbly Gharafa defence. Olunga, in particular, has been in sensational form since the Kenya striker joined Duhail two seasons ago. The 27-year-old was the top scorer at the recently-concluded QNB Stars League with 24 goals and was the key reason Duhail finished second in the top flight. Edmilson, Olunga’s main assist provider from the wings, said no team is a favourite in a Cup final. “In Cup games, no team has more chances of winning. It's completely different from league games,” the Belgian said yesterday. “The chances are the same, for us and for Al Gharafa. We will try our best to win this trophy for our club, our fans, and as a farewell gift for our coach. Playing at a FIFA World Cup venue is a big honour. Tomorrow's final will be a sporting carnival, and not just any normal game,” he added. Castro, in his last match in charge of Duhail, believes his players will need to cut down on minor mistakes if they want to emerge victorious today. “Al Gharafa deserves to be in the final. They have shown a different level in the Amir Cup as compared to the QSL. In order to win the final, we need to avoid all errors, major and minor. I have a great group of players and I have full confidence in them,” the Portuguese coach said. Gharafa, who beat Al Wakrah 4-1 in the semis, will be aiming for their eighth Amir Cup title and first since 2012. They finished fifth in the league, with their defence frailties being exposed on numerous occasions. Gharafa lost to Duhail both times they faced them in the league and it will take a mighty effort for them to beat their fancied rivals today. Gharafa’s hopes hinge on Sofiane Hanni, with the Algerian midfielder posing the biggest threat in attack. They also have Cheick Diabate and Ahmed Alaaeldin, who could provide them goals. Coach Andrea Stramaccioni said his side ‘deserved’ to be in the final and will have an uphill task against Duhail. “We deserve to reach the Amir Cup final because we displayed strong performances in every game that we played in the tournament,” the Italian said yesterday. “We will face one of the best clubs in Qatar, and also in Asia. We have the character of champions, although our club hasn't won a title recently. I am happy with my work at Al Gharafa. We are working hard to reach the point we wish to go, and I hope all our fans will be there tomorrow to support us,” he added. Gharafa left-back Homam El Amin was excited to play in his first Amir Cup final. “Our goal is to win the trophy after a long gap. We hope we can make it up to our fans by winning the title. We have overcome the disappointment of losing out on fourth place in the QSL. All the players are excited for tomorrow's game. We will go into the game with all our strength. I am excited to play in my first final,” he said.    

Jorge Martin stormed into his second Grand Prix of Qatar pole and fifth of his career after posting a scintillating lap at the Losail International Circuit on Saturday. The Pramac Ducati rider made the best use of 2022-spec engines as he took a surprise front row for Sunday's race. The Spaniard had also taken the pole last year in one of the two Grand Prix’s Qatar hosted last year but had to eventually settle for third spot. Martin will be hoping to stand on top of the podium this time and his qualifying performance yesterday suggests he will be one of the contenders. Martin will be joined on the front row by Italian Enea Bastianini for Gresini, which has switched to Ducati bikes this season, and six-times world champion Marc Marquez of Honda. Reigning champion Fabio Quartararo was only 11th on his Yamaha, with the Frenchman’s underwhelming pre-season testing performance laid bare in qualifying yesterday. The 24-year-old Martin has become somewhat of a qualifying specialist, having taken four pole positions last year in his rookie MotoGP season, where he finished ninth in the championship. It was a creditable performance from a rider, who had to miss five races after a serious accident during practice in Portugal. The Spaniard, however, unleashed his potential after his comeback as he claimed the Styrian GP to become only the third rider in the modern 1,000cc era to win a race in his rookie season, after Marquez in 2013, and Brad Binder in 2020. Martin wasn’t too optimistic of his victory in today’s race, clearly concerned by the lack of race pace. “I feel good always to be on pole position,” he said. “But I am not 100 percent happy because I lack a bit of race pace.” Martin concurred with the popular opinion in the paddock as he labelled Suzuki as pre-race favourites. Heading into qualifying as the first and third quickest riders on combined times, Alex Rins and Joan Mir had a very disappointing Q2 as they finished eighth and tenth respectively. Martin felt Suzuki’s sub-par qualifying performance won’t matter much on the race day. “I bet on Rins and Mir because I feel they are the strongest ones. I hope to be there and fight with them. Here we are saying all the same; I think Suzuki has been very strong. They have more power for sure,” he noted. In the windy and dusty conditions, Marquez threw the gauntlet down as the factory Honda rider set a 1m53.566 secs on his opening lap, as he ducked out of Mir’s slipstream on the straight to take over top spot. Racing with a hybrid 2021/2022 engine, Ducati’s Jack Miller edged ahead of Marquez but the latter set the fastest time again after Francesco Bagnaia. Martin, who was under Marquez’ time through the first three sectors of his penultimate lap, got a perfect slipstream from Pol Espargaro to eventually set a 1:53.011s – three tenths quicker. There was a late scare for Martin as Enea Bastianini looked set to beat his time, however, without a slipstream to aid him, the Gresini rider had to settle for second – his best qualifying result in MotoGP. Behind the front row of Martin, Bastianini and Marquez will be Miller and both Espargaro brothers – Aleix ahead of Pol. Marquez, who missed the start of last season still rehabbing a badly broken right arm and sat out the end of the campaign with double vision after a crash, said he ‘can fight’ for victory in today’s race but doesn’t feel he has the pace ‘for winning.’ “For me, the most important thing was FP4, where I ride alone, I had a consistent pace, and the lap time was coming in a good way. So, let’s see tomorrow. It’s true that we need to manage many factors; it’s the first race, the tyres, fuel, the track, all these things. But the butterflies in the stomach will be there, so let’s see how we can manage,” the 29-year-old said. “This morning I was still too far from the top guys, but this afternoon I was very close. This is enough for me and I’m happy with that pace because it’s true that I’m not the fastest guy out there but I can fight for top positions – not for winning. It depends on the conditions because, for example, Suzuki was fast all weekend and tonight struggled a lot, but tomorrow will be different. My main challenge is to understand 22 laps in a row. I feel OK, I don’t feel pain, so this is something that makes me happy,” he added. Meanwhile, Quartararo said he was ‘not super angry’ after qualifying a disappointing 11th, one row behind his closest rival last season Italian Bagnaia, who is in ninth place. The defending champion only sneaked into the final session after being forced into the first qualifying and finishing second fastest to grab the last place in the 12-rider shootout for pole position. “Well, to be honest I feel great on the bike. I just put myself on the limit, but I’m not an engineer. I give my 100% every time I go on track and today, tomorrow and until the end of the season. But it was tough,” Quartararo said. “I’m just a rider that is on the bike, I push myself 100%. Coming into Qatar I expected much better, but like always on the pace I’m fast. But looking at the practice, qualifying practice, I’m not super angry because I know I did my best and I could not do much better. So, to be honest I don’t know what to say,” he added. In Moto2 and Moto3, the first poles of the season went to Italy’s Celestino Vietti (Kalex) and Spain’s Izan Guevara (GASGAS). The Grand Prix of Qatar is the first of a record 21-race season climaxing in Valencia, Spain, on November 6. Grids for Qatar Grand Prix MOTOGP FRONT ROW 1. Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati-Pramac) 1min 53.011sec, 2. Enea Bastianini (ITA/Ducati-Gresini) 1:53.158, 3. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 1:53.283 2ND ROW 4. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati) 1:53.298, 5. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 1:53.319, 6. Pol Espargaro (ESP/Honda) 1:53.346 3RD ROW 7. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) 1:53.350, 8. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 1:53.407, 9. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 1:53.411 4th ROW 10. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 1:53.481, 11. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) 1:53.635, 12. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha) 1:53.982 MOTO2 1. Celestino Vietti (ITA/Kalex) 1min 59.082sec, 2. Tony Arbolino (ITA/Kalex), 1:59.194, 3. Sam Lowes (GB/Kalex) 1:59.226 2ND ROW 4. Filip Salac (CZE/Kalex) 1:59.287, Ai Ogura (JPN/Kalex) 1:59.302, Augusto Fernandez (ESP/Kalex) 1.59.339 MOTO3 1. Izan Guevara (ESP/GasGas) 2:04.811, Ayumu Sasaki (JPN/Husqvarna) 2:04.896, 3. Jaume Masia (ESP/KTM) 2:05.023 2ND ROW 4. Andrea Migno (ITA/Honda) 2:05.174, 5. Dennis Foggia (ITA/Honda) 2:05.536, 6. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN/KTM) 2:05.536 

There wasn’t a dry eye left in the Gresini Ducati garage as Enea Bastianini secured a maiden MotoGP win at the Grand Prix of Qatar on Sunday. The Italian’s victory at the Losail International Circuit was an emotional one for Gresini after team founder Fausto Gresini – a double 125cc world champion in the 1980s – died in February last year after a lengthy battle with Covid-19. After Fausto’s passing away, his wife Padovani took charge of the independent team and partnered with Ducati to field 2021-spec bikes for the new season. As Bastianini took the chequered flag yesterday, team principal Padovani broke down in tears as she was mobbed by the crew. Bastianini himself was emotional as the rider celebrated wildly and later dedicated his first victory in motorcycling's premier class to former team boss Fausto. "I think now it's incredible," said Bastianini, the Moto2 champion in 2020 who rejoined Gresini Racing this season after beginning his career with the team in Moto3. "I dedicate this victory to Fausto. He pushed me a lot from the skies, and it's fantastic for all the team. I think we've all been crying," the 24-year-old added. After overtaking Honda's Pol Espargaro on lap 19, Bastianini – who started from second – had to stave off a late challenge from Red Bull KTM's Brad Binder. The South African Binder, who made a blistering start from seventh on the grid, ran out of laps to challenge Bastianini to finish ahead of Espargaro. Spaniard Espargaro led for most of the race, before he was out-dragged by Bastianini, with the Honda rider’s hopes of fighting back ending at Turn 1 when he ran out wide and let Binder through. Espargaro’s mistake allowed Bastianini to put 1.3s between himself and the rest of the pack, though Binder would come back towards him on the final lap. But Bastianini would keep it clean to get to the chequered flag 0.346s clear of Binder, while Espargaro gave the radically revised 2022 Honda its first podium in third. "At the end Pol was really close to me. I understood that now I could try to win the race, and I overtook Pol on the first corner after he went out," said Bastianini. Espargaro’s brother Aleix on an Aprilia was fourth ahead of Honda's six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez. Suzuki duo Joan Mir and Alex Rins failed to replicate their success from practice, crossing the line in sixth and seventh respectively. Reigning champion Fabio Quartararo of France finished ninth after a challenging weekend on his Yamaha. Pole-sitter Jorge Martin made a horror start and slid to eighth on the opening lap, before the Pramac Ducati was taken out by factory Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia on lap 12. After Martin’s terrible start, it was Pol Espargaro who shot into the lead with Honda teammate Marquez second. While Espargaro kept Marquez at bay the latter ran wide at Turn 1 to allow Binder ahead. Meanwhile, further back Bagnaia’s factory Ducati teammate Jack Miller had to retire at the end of lap seven with a technical issue as the Australian stormed out of the paddock after going in. The nightmare for Ducati continued on lap 12 when Bagnaia crashed trying to overtake Martin at Turn 1 and took the Pramac rider with him. Espargaro, meanwhile, extended his lead to more than a second on lap 13, with Binder coming under intense pressure from Bastianini and Marquez. A lap later, Bastianini – in his second season in MotoGP –cleared Binder at Turn 1 and began to close in on Espargaro’s lead. The pressure paid off when Bastianini overtook Espargaro with four laps to go, using the Honda rider's slipstream before he went wide in an attempt to defend his position and dropped to third. After a humbling start to his title defence, Quartararo said he was “worried” about his title defence. “Well, knowing that last year we won both races in Qatar and now we finish basically behind, quite far back, of course I’m worried,” the Frenchman said. “I will not say I’m confident. We made the fourth row, going to Q1 in Qatar. So, I will say I cannot be super confident. But I’ll always say, I am not an engineer. My job is to give 100% and focus for every race, and I give my 100% in every condition; if I’m fighting for the victory, P3, P5, P9, I give my 100%,” he said. Martin, who clinched pole in Saturday’s qualifying, was more concerned about his pace than being taken out of the race by Bagnaia. "I didn't start well, anyway I was still top three, but I got close to Enea and had to close the throttle. A lot of riders overtook me and from then everything went wrong," Martin said. "Actually, it was the first time I had a fear about my life because I was really fast into the gravel between both bikes and I think I pushed one bike, Pecco's bike, with my hand," he added. Meanwhile, Celestino Vietti of Kalex emerged winner in the Moto2 race while Andrea Migno claimed Moto3 victory on his Honda. The Grand Prix of Qatar was the first of a record 21-race season, with the next race scheduled for March 20 in Indonesia. Grand Prix Qatar results MotoGP: 1. Enea Bastianini (ITA/Ducati-Gresini) 42min 13.198sec, 2. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) at 0.346sec, 3. Pol Espargaro (ESP/Honda) 1.351, 4. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 2.242, 5. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 4.099, 6. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 4.843, 7. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 8.810, 8. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) 10.536, 9. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) 10.543, 10. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda-LCR) 14.967 World championship standings 1. Enea Bastianini (ITA/Ducati-Gresini) 25 pts, 2. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) 20, 3. Pol Espargaro (ESP/Honda) 16, 4. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 13, 5. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 11, 6. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 10, 7. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 9, 8. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) 8, 9. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) 7, 10. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda-LCR) 6    

Qatari rider Hamad al-Sahouti finished an impressive second in Race 2 of the opening leg of the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup (ATC) at the Losail International Circuit on Sunday. Japan’s Amon Odaki was able to break clear in the latter stages and take his maiden ATC win, with wildcard and local hero al-Sahouti taking second ahead of Veda Ega Pratama of Indonesia in third. Al-Sahouti covered 14 laps and a distance of 75.32 kilometres in 30 minutes and 52.033 seconds, 1.313 behind Odaki. The promising al-Sahouti is the current leader of the Qatar Superstock Championship in the 300cc category and his latest podium finish comes as a significant achievement following his participation in competitions in European. Off the line, Odaki got a better start but didn’t quite keep the holeshot, with Malaysian Hakim Danish scything through to lead. As ever, it remained a group battle at the front though, with nine riders able to break away and fight it out. As the laps ticked down, it was duel between Odaki vs Pratama before al-Sahouti made the move. The Qatari rider put in a few fastest laps over the line, and the scene was set for a showdown to the wire. While Odaki pulled away to victory, Pratama, tucked in behind, suffered a huge moment – and pulled off an incredible save. The Indonesian stayed on but was shuffled back in the group, and in the wake of the incident a gap opened up between Odaki and the chasing pack. It was a slipstream showdown won by al-Sahouti as the wildcard took second and his first podium. Pratama, despite having dropped back after his moment, completed the podium.      

On the eve of the MotoGP season-opening Grand Prix of Qatar, six riders were asked about their championship predictions at the Lusail International Circuit on Thursday. While most of them, unsurprisingly, had put their money on themselves, Marc Marquez also held a placard with his name on it before saying it with a chuckle: “I always bet on myself. Even if I’m injured, I will bet on myself!” The Spaniard has endured a nightmare last couple of seasons but chose to see the funny side of it. The Honda rider suffered a broken arm from a crash, which cut short his 2020 season, before he was forced to miss the final two rounds of 2021 and sit on the sidelines for three months when a concussion suffered in a training accident left him with double vision issues due to nerve damage. During a period of uncertainty – in which he has three wins in 15 races out of a possible 32 starts – the 29-year-old also thought of calling it quits. But after a sufficient rest and a successful pre-season testing last month, Marquez is ready to challenge for the crown, which was won by Frenchman Fabio Quartararo in Yamaha last season. Marquez is also chasing retired Italian legend Valentino Rossi’s record of seven top-flight world titles. The Spaniard has six and if he can keep himself fit and avoid crashing his Honda often, he can fight for the title. “Yeah of course I’m happy to be here,” said Marquez yesterday. “It’s already better than last year and that’s important. After the winter it wasn’t clear but it was important to test in Malaysia and Mandalika, after Mandalika I felt a step with my physical condition and that’s important. Let’s see how to start the first race, for 2022 I want to fight all these guys for the title of course, maybe for the Qatar GP I’m not ready, during the weekend we will understand where we are,” he added. Marquez will be racing for the first time since 2019 in Qatar, a track where he has traditionally struggled and has won just once. While he is unsure of his victory this weekend at the Lusail International Circuit, he is hoping the revamped and much-improved RC213V can put him among the title challengers. “They took a big step on the bike,” said Marquez. “Honestly it feels like I changed the brand because it’s a completely different bike. Since I arrived in Honda there was always improvement but the character of the bike was always similar, but now it’s a big change. In Malaysia I struggled a bit but I felt the potential because in one lap the lap time was coming, but in Mandalika I was bringing the bike to my riding style already and I felt a step. During the first races we will find small things, but the base is nice, it’s good, and yeah let’s see in qualifying and race conditions where we are,” he said. Meanwhile, reigning champion Fabio Quartararo will head into the new season with a whole set of uncertainties. The 22-year-old became the first Frenchman to win the title last season, but things have been far from ideal in pre-season testing as he cut a dispirited figure due to the new bike’s lack of pace. Quartararo finished on the podium 10 times last year, with five race wins, to lift the title but he is worried about the lack of improvement in the Yamaha YZR-M1’s top speed. The signs were there last season when Quartararo struggled to keep up with the accelerating Ducatis as Italian Francesco Bagnaia won four of the last six races. To add to his problems on track, Quartararo is also out of contract at Yamaha at the end of this season as he chooses to keep his options ‘wide open.’ “To be honest it’s great to be back and when the season is over, the weeks are going quickly, but when you’re close to riding in Qatar, the last week was long and it’s great to be here. I think pre-season was good, we expected a bit more top speed. It is what it is, we need to give 100% in any case. I’m ready and looking forward to starting tomorrow,” said Quartararo. With his rivals, especially Ducati, showing signs of improvement in pre-season testing, Quartararo braces for the toughest challenge to defend his world title. “It’s so difficult. Last year you could say five or six riders but now I could say anyone. Of course the guys that are here today, but it’s difficult to say a few. We will need to wait a little bit more to see the clear opponents,” he said. The strongest contender by sheer pace on the bike is Ducati’s Bagnaia. The last year’s runner-up is fresh off a new two-year deal that will take Bagnaia and Ducati to the end of the 2024 season. The 25-year-old will be aiming for Ducati’s first riders’ championship title since Casey Stoner dominated the grid in 2007. The Italian heads into round one at Lusail with Ducati’s all-new GP 22 bike possessing more power than its predecessor that was untouchable on the straights last year. “It’s always that Ducati looks the best but the last time they won was in 2007. It’s very difficult to say if another bike is better,” said Bagnaia. “I’m not saying Yamaha was better last year because Quartararo won. I think my bike and the bike in the last part of the season was the best one I tried, but I don’t know if it’s the best because I haven’t tried Suzuki, Yamaha, KTM or Honda. For me it’s the best bike, but I don’t know if it’s the best one (on the grid),” he said. As for Suzuki, the ever-consistent 2020 champion Joan Mir finished third last year and the Spaniard will be in the mix for the title once again.