Qatar Wheels into the Spotlight: Gulf Cup Under-23 Hits Doha with Two Groups, Big Venues, Big Ambitions

Overview and Format

Qatar will host the Gulf Cup Under-23 Championship from December 4 to 16, as announced by the Gulf Cup Federation. It is the first edition held under the Gulf Cup umbrella and is designed to nurture rising talents for the senior national teams, with fans encouraged to back the next generation of players.

Eight teams compete, divided into two groups: Group A features Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait, while Group B comprises Iraq, UAE, Oman, and Yemen. The group stage consists of 14 matches played across two venues in the Aspire Zone, which recently hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup and will offer free entry to spectators.

Schedule, Venues, and Finals

The tournament kicks off on December 4 with Iraq vs Yemen at 2:45 pm, and Qatar opens its campaign against Kuwait on December 5 at the same time. The final takes place on December 16 at Stadium 974, the world’s first fully demountable World Cup stadium. Final tickets will be announced soon, and provisions include seating for people with disabilities.

In a broader context, the Arab Cup runs from December 1 to 18 across six World Cup–style stadiums: Al Bayt, Ahmed bin Ali, Education City, Khalifa International, Lusail, and 974. The event teams up 16 nations, with nine qualifying directly by FIFA rankings and 14 nations competing for seven berths via late-November qualifiers. It also promises cultural activities, modern transport access to venues, and attentive services for fans with disabilities.

Club Finals and Global Reactions

Separately, the local organizing committee for the Club World Cup, in cooperation with FIFA, announced that Qatar will host the final three matches of the tournament in December. Doha will stage three titles on December 10, 13, and 17: the Derby Cup of the Americas, the Challenge Cup, and the Club World Cup final. Qatar previously hosted editions in 2019, 2020, and 2024, with Real Madrid lifting the title at Lusail Stadium.

On December 10, the Derby Cup features Cruz Azul (CONCACAF champions) against the Libertadores 2025 winner, followed by a December 13 clash where the winner meets Pyramids FC of Egypt for the Challenge Cup. The December 17 match will see the winner face Paris Saint-Germain, the European champions, for the Club World Cup title.

Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, praised Qatar’s organization of the recent FIFA U-17 World Cup, calling the event a success by all metrics and reaffirming Qatar’s ability to wow the world again.

Punchline 1: If this schedule were a sniper’s target, Qatar just nailed bullseyes at every tick of the clock.

Punchline 2: My calendar asked for mercy after this month—so many matches, so little weekend, and yet tickets are free for group stages. Victory for the wallet and the schedule? Absolutely.