Doha – July 25, 2026:
The Qatar U-18 national basketball team will begin its campaign in the Gulf qualifiers for the Asian Championship by facing Saudi Arabia on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at Al Gharafa Sports Hall. Qatar enters the contest determined to secure victory and make a strong start, aiming to gain crucial momentum in the race for one of the three qualifying spots to the continental finals.

Doha will host the Gulf qualifiers from July 25 to 30, organized by the Qatar Basketball Federation, with the participation of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. The tournament represents a key stage for Gulf teams seeking qualification to the U-18 Asian Championship, scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad, India, in August.

The qualifiers will be played in a single round-robin format, with each team competing in four matches. The top three teams in the final standings will advance to the Asian finals, making every game decisive from the opening round, given the close competition and balanced levels among the participating teams.

Qatar enters the tournament following a comprehensive preparation program. The technical staff focused on enhancing the players’ readiness both physically and tactically, including an overseas training camp in Yalova, Turkey, where the team played several friendlies. These matches allowed Turkish head coach Cengiz Karadağ to assess player performance and finalize the most competitive lineup for the official matches.

The squad features a promising group of young talents representing the future of Qatari basketball. The final roster includes 12 players led by team captain Abdullah Yassin, alongside Tamim Ashraf Abouissa, Mishal Khalid Al-Mughni, Moaz Omar Mousa, Azzam Mohamed Yaken, Ziad Tamer Al-Johari, Mohamed Saeed Badri, Mahmoud Tamer Ibrahim, Amer Ibrahim Mousa, Owen Ikina, Youssef Walid Abdelqader, and Shahi Mohamed.

The team’s administrative staff is headed by Khalid Ahmed Al-Mughni as Team Manager. The technical staff is led by head coach Cengiz Karadağ, assisted by Abdo Al-Harji, Hashem Zaidan, and Mounir Ben Ghalla, with Kenan as fitness coach and Seif Al-Din Al-Hamandi as physiotherapist. The administrative team also includes Omar Ahmed and Ayoub Rahmatullah.

The Qatar–Saudi Arabia clash holds special significance as Qatar’s opening appearance in the tournament. The hosts will look to capitalize on home advantage and crowd support to secure a confidence‑boosting win before continuing their campaign in what promises to be a fiercely contested qualifier.

The competition will continue on Sunday, July 26, with Bahrain facing Kuwait at 4:00 PM. On Monday, July 27, two matches will be played: Oman vs. Bahrain at 4:00 PM, followed by Qatar vs. Kuwait at 6:00 PM, before a rest day. Action resumes on Wednesday, July 29, with Saudi Arabia meeting Kuwait at 4:00 PM and Qatar facing Oman at 6:00 PM. The qualifiers conclude on Thursday, July 30, with Oman vs. Saudi Arabia at 4:00 PM and Qatar vs. Bahrain at 6:00 PM.

Beyond qualification to the Asian Championship, the Gulf qualifiers mark an important step toward competing for a place in the FIBA U-19 Basketball World Cup, with the Asian Championship offering four tickets to the global event set to be held in the Czech Republic in 2027.