Doha, September 19 (QNA) - The inaugural edition of the AGCFF U-17 Gulf Cup will kick off Saturday in Doha. The tournament will run from September 20 to October 3, hosted by the State of Qatar.

The opening match will feature Iraq and Kuwait at 6:00 PM at Grand Hamad Stadium, as part of Group B. Later, Saudi Arabia will face Bahrain at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium.

Qatar will begin its campaign on Sunday against Yemen at Grand Hamad Stadium, within Group A, which will also see the UAE take on Oman the same day at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium.

The second round of matches will be held on September 23, with Saudi Arabia playing Kuwait and Iraq facing Bahrain in Group B. Qatar will meet Oman on September 24 in Group A, alongside a match between the UAE and Yemen.

The tournament draw, held in August, placed host nation Qatar at the top of Group A, alongside the UAE, Oman, and Yemen. Iraq leads Group B, joined by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

According to the tournament format, the top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout semi-finals on September 30. The final will be held on October 3 at Grand Hamad Stadium.

The local organizing committee announced earlier this week the start of ticket sales. A total of 15 matches will be played across Grand Hamad and Suhaim Bin Hamad stadiums.

The tournament is expected to witness strong competition among participating teams as part of their preparations for future continental and international youth events.

This championship is considered one of the most significant youth football events in the Gulf region, contributing to talent development and fostering competitive spirit among Gulf national teams, in line with a shared vision to support youth football. (QNA)