A landmark documentary tracing the origin story of Qatar's football nation — from 1981 to the dream realised
Doha, Qatar — Dynasty Media announces the VIP special screening premiere of 81: More Than Just a Game on 29 April 2026, in
partnership with Novo Cinema, Qatar, ahead of a four-week theatrical run.
Directed by Awad Joumaa and executive produced by Awad Joumaa and Ashraf Abu Issa, the 52-minute documentary revisits the
defining moment that helped ignite Qatar's long-term football vision: the national youth team's historic run to the 1981 FIFA World Youth
Championship final in Australia.
Anchored by national team captain Hassan Al-Haydos as a bridge between generations, the film brings together rare archival material —
much of it unseen by most audiences — with cinematic storytelling and first-hand reflections from key figures, including Badr Bilal, Khaled
Salman, and Younis Ibrahim.
"81 tells the story of a defining moment in Qatar's journey — when a remarkable run to the 1981 FIFA Youth World Cup final sparked a
vision far greater than football. I wanted to capture both the emotion of that moment and the decades of belief, sacrifice, and ambition
that followed, shaping the identity of a football nation."
— Awad Joumaa, Director
Screening Information
VIP Special Screening Premiere: 29 April 2026
Theatrical Run: 4 weeks
Venue Partner: Novo Cinema, Qatar
