Doha, September 09 (QNA) - The Gulf Football Federation announced Wednesday the list of national teams participating in the second edition of the Gulf U-17 Cup, which Qatar will host from Oct. 16 to Nov. 4, 2026. The tournament will feature 10 teams, the largest field in its history.
The tournament will feature the national teams of the federation's member associations: the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait and Yemen, along with Egypt and China. The expanded field will give the participating teams an opportunity to compete against strong and diverse opponents, gain technical and competitive experience, and prepare for upcoming international competitions, foremost among them the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026 for teams that have qualified.
Qatar's local organizing committee will oversee the tournament in coordination with the Gulf Football Federation as preparations continue for the competition, which begins in October.
The tournament draw is scheduled for Thursday at noon Doha time and will be held via videoconference from the Gulf Football Federation's headquarters. The draw will determine the two groups and the tournament schedule.
The participating teams have been divided into five pots, with two teams in each, based on the rankings from the federation's most recent tournament for the same age group. The Competitions Committee may determine the pots as it deems appropriate if new teams are participating for the first time.
Pot 1 includes Qatar and Saudi Arabia; Pot 2, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq; Pot 3, Kuwait and Oman; Pot 4, Yemen and Bahrain; and Pot 5, Egypt and China.
Under the tournament regulations, the teams will be divided into two groups of five. Qatar, the host, will head Group A, while Saudi Arabia, the defending champion, will head Group B.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, which will be played as knockout matches. The winner of Group A will face the runner-up of Group B, while the winner of Group B will face the runner-up of Group A.
If either semifinal or the final ends in a draw after regulation time, the winner will be decided directly by a penalty shootout.
The Gulf U-17 Cup is one of the key youth competitions organized by the Gulf Football Federation. It provides opportunities to develop young talent and increase competition among national teams, while strengthening cooperation among member associations and helping prepare a new generation to carry Gulf soccer forward at the continental and international levels.
The inaugural edition, hosted by Qatar in 2025, was won by Saudi Arabia, which defeated the United Arab Emirates 2-0 in the final at Grand Hamad Stadium to become the tournament's first champion. (QNA)