Doha, October 17 (QNA) - The first-round group-stage matches of the eighth Sports for All Futsal Championship for Ministries and Government Agencies 2026 will be staged Sunday, with four matchups lined up at Lusail Sports Arena.

Organized by the Qatar Sports for All Federation (QSFA) under the umbrella of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, the championship gives participating teams an opportunity to leverage the competition to make a strong start and secure their first points.

Qatar News Agency (QNA) take on the Public Works Authority's Assets Affairs sector in the opening match.

The second fixture pits the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau against Qatar Media Corporation, followed by a third showdown between Ashghal and the General Civil Aviation Authority. The opening round wraps up with a clash between the Ministry of Transport and the State Audit Bureau.

The tournament features 20 teams representing ministries, government agencies and institutions across the country, divided into four groups of five. Group play continues throughout this week before a break from Oct. 25 to 29, coinciding with the mid-semester break.

QSFA Executive Director Abdullah Al Dosari expressed hope that the matches would showcase novel and impressive performances, marked by doggedness and strength and drawing on the expertise the squads have internalized through previous competitions.

He outlined the teams' determination to deliver their best performances and vie for the trophy, emphasizing that QSFA is working to ensure that all organizational and coaching tools are in place to deliver the high-caliber contests that the tournament and participating agencies have been anticipating.

Al Dosari applauded the keenness of ministries, authorities and institutions to participate in and engage with the tournament, asserting that the participation of 20 teams manifests growing interest in sports within institutions.

These public institutions recognize the importance of sports in creating a positive environment for staffers and solidifying team spirit, Al Dosari noted, emphasizing that this materializes one of QSFA's foremost goals: expanding the base of societal engagement in sporting activities. (QNA)