Doha, November 09 (QNA) - Qatar's U-17 national football team are aspiring to achieve impressive results and show up well while representing the nation with distinction as they compete in the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026, which Doha will host from Nov. 19 through Dec. 13.

The tournament will feature 48 national teams competing in 104 matches, marking the second consecutive tournament in a series of five successive iterations Qatar are set to host through 2029.

Qatar are slotted to compete in Group A alongside Panama, Greece and Egypt, with their campaign set to get underway against Panama on Nov. 19 at the Competition Complex at Aspire Zone.

The Qatari team are counting on a pantheon of promising players who are looking to capitalize on home advantage and crowd support to deliver competitive performances that reflect the substantial progress made by Qatari football at the youth level.

At the same time, the tournament offers players quite an incredible opportunity to unlock their potential before spectators, talent scouts and leading clubs from around the globe.

Captain of Qatar's U-17 team and a forward for Al Rayyan SC, Mohsen Al Hajri, said he was looking forward to representing Qatar with distinction on the global stage, describing participation in this tournament as a dream for every player at this age.

Facing national teams from around the world gives players an important opportunity to showcase their footballing skills and gain plenty of valuable experience through competing against players from different countries, Al Hajri said.

He added that training at Aspire Zone from an early age had allowed him to benefit from a comprehensive sporting environment, emphasizing that high-end facilities and pitches, alongside sophisticated infrastructure, help nurture young talent and substantially develop athletes' abilities across a wide range of sports.

For his part, midfielder for Qatar's U-17 team and Al Duhail SC, Hadi Khalil, described the tournament as a consequential milestone in young players' careers and an opportunity to compete against some of the world's finest footballing talents while showcasing their abilities on the international stage.

Khalil said he hoped the experience would help improve his game and pave the way for him to join Qatar's senior national team down the road, as well as contribute to further success for Qatari football.

On the coaching front, Spanish coach Alvaro Mejia said hosting a tournament of this magnitude gives young players an incredible experience, particularly as it brings together some of the world's leading national teams, featuring plenty of promising talents.

He expressed confidence that the tournament would serve as an important platform for discovering the next generation of football stars, adding that he was looking forward to showcasing Qatar's immense passion for the game and the wealth of talent the country has to offer. (QNA)