QFA Youth Supervisor: Younger Gulf U-17 Cup Squad Selected to Gain Competitive Experience

Mohammed Tharman, Supervisor of Youth Categories at the National Teams Department of Qatar Football Association, said the youth team’s participation in the Gulf U-17 Cup, hosted by Doha until November 4, was intended to give the players competitive experience and prepare them for upcoming commitments in 2027.

Qatar’s youth team lost all four of its Group A matches against China, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, exiting the competition at the group stage.

The Youth Categories Supervisor said the tournament forms part of a programme to prepare younger players. The programme aims to continue developing Qatar’s youth national team players through tournaments and training camps, in continuous coordination with clubs and Aspire Academy.

He added that QFA’s technical department opted to enter an under-16 team in the Gulf Cup, making Qatar one of the youngest teams in the tournament. He said this was an important factor to consider when evaluating the results and the participation overall.

He said the participation was one of the preparatory stages in a long-term programme for the U-17 team ahead of its most important commitment, the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2027. He added that the team still has several preparatory stages ahead, including official and continental tournaments, training camps and friendly matches, through which they are working to develop the players’ level and strengthen their readiness.

He highlighted the ongoing coordination between the National Teams Department and clubs, particularly Aspire Academy, to build strong national teams across different youth categories and achieve the desired objectives. Meetings are held regularly with clubs to unify efforts and provide the best environment for preparing players.

He also outlined the key features of the U-17 team’s preparation programme before its participation in the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026, noting that preparations began around a year and a half ago. The programme included domestic and overseas camps, participation in official and friendly tournaments, and numerous matches against national teams with high technical standards.

Source: QNA

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