Qatar U-17 players and officials pose for a photo.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar will open their campaign in the second edition of the FIVB U17 World Championship against Venezuela in Group A at the Aspire Zone's Women's Sports Hall today at 5pm. This will be followed by France on August 21 and Tunisia on August 23.
Yesterday, the Qatar 2026 Organizing Committee announced that preparations for the championship being hosted in Doha from Wednesday until August 28, are complete.
Secretary-General of the Qatar Volleyball Association and Executive Director of the tournament Yusuf Ahmed Kanoo described hosting the championship as a historic event for Qatari volleyball, stressing Qatar's readiness in terms of facilities and organizational expertise.
The matches will be held at the Women's Sports Hall in Aspire Zone and Al Arabi Sports Club.
Kanoo highlighted the tournament's importance in showcasing promising talent and the future of volleyball, noting that the Qatar U17 team is fully prepared after an extensive training program.
He also called on Qatari fans to attend and support the team.
For his part, Assistant QVA Secretary-General and Tournament Media Director Saeed Salem Al Nuaimi said all organizational and media arrangements had been completed, including a media center at Aspire Zone's Women's Sports Hall.
QVA Board Member and Competition Director Mohammed Salem Al Kuwari expressed confidence in Qatar's ability to host a successful edition, noting that the FIVB had praised the facilities and venues.
A total of 20 teams - France, Qatar, Tunisia, Venezuela (Group A), Cuba, India, Italy, Romania (Group B), Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Poland (Group C), Bulgaria, Egypt, Spain, Turkiye (Group D), Algeria, Iran, Pakistan and Chinese Taipei (Group E) are participating in the tournament.
Italy will begin their title defence in Pool B alongside Cuba, India and Romania.
The defending champions are among all four of the top finishers from 2024 returning to the World Championship, with runners-up Argentina, bronze medalists Chinese Taipei and fourth-placed Spain also back in the field.
The expanded 20-team field welcomes nine teams making their Boys’ U17 World Championship debut: hosts Qatar, France, Venezuela, India, Romania, Poland, Türkiye, Pakistan and Algeria.
Each team will play three preliminary round matches, with the top 16 teams in the combined ranking advancing to the Round of 16.
The remaining four teams will be eliminated.
The knockout stage will continue with the quarter-finals and semi-finals, followed by the bronze and gold medal matches.
The inaugural edition was held in Bulgaria in 2024 and won by Italy.
