Doha, October 31 (QNA) - Youth Teams Supervisor in the National Teams Department at the Qatar Football Association (QFA) Mohammed Jaber Dharman said Qatar's participation in the Gulf U-17 Cup, which Doha is hosting through Nov. 4, was aimed at providing players with crucial competitive experience and girding them for major commitments in 2027.
Qatar lost all four Group A matches against China, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, exiting the tournament at the group stage.
Dharman explained that the tournament is part of a broader development program for younger players, designed to continually improve youth national teams through participation in tournaments and training camps, in close lockstep with clubs and Aspire Academy.
The QFA's technical department opted to field a U-16 squad, making Qatar one of the youngest teams in the competition. Dharman highlighted that this is a crucial factor to consider when assessing the results and the team's participation as a whole.
Dharman suggested that the campaign should be viewed as one of several preparatory stages in a long-term program for the U-17 national team ahead of the paramount challenge of competing in the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
He added that the players still have plenty of preparation ahead, including official and continental tournaments, training camps and friendly matches, all intended to significantly improve players' technical standards and immeasurably bolster their readiness.
He also highlighted the steadfast coordination between the National Teams Department, clubs and, in particular, Aspire Academy to build strong national teams across all age groups and achieve the intended objectives.
Regular meetings with clubs are held to unify efforts and provide the best possible environment for player development, he said.
Addressing key elements of the U-17 team's preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Dharman said the program began nearly 18 months ago and has included domestic and overseas training camps, participation in official and friendly tournaments, and a lot of matches against technically accomplished national teams. (QNA)