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Views /Editorial

Football season begins

Published: 05 Sep 2021 - 09:02 am | Last Updated: 21 Apr 2025 - 01:00 am

Qatar’s domestic football season kicks off with clubs promising exciting action after undergoing extensive overseas and home training camps during the offseason. Qatar’s football season is termed as the busiest in Asia that brings spectacular matches throughout the calendar year. 

The 2021-2022 season of country’s top flight league – the QNB Stars League – will explode into action on September 11, with 12 First Division clubs eyeing honours in the prestigious event. Xavi Hernandez-coached Al Sadd, who showed remarkable performance throughout the last season, will defend their title with Al Duhail, Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa expected to give The Wolves tough challenge in their title-defense. The other participating clubs include Al Ahli, Qatar SC, Al Arabi, Al Wakrah, Al Sailiya, Umm Salal, Al Khor and Al Shamal.      

QSL is famous for attracting top footballers from around the world and many such players will be a part of the league in this season too. The QSL will also introduce new stars who will be seen in action during the league for the first time. 

Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld, who joined Al Duhail for three seasons, is one of the players who will make his Qatar debut after leaving Tottenham Hotspur following his six-year stint with the Premier League side. Al Duhail will also have a new coach in prominent Portuguese tactician Luis Castro after parting ways with Frenchman Sabri Lamouchi. 

Al Sadd will have Ghanaian international Andre Ayew for the new season. There were many more signings and changes in the squads as teams look for improvement in the new season, making the fight for the Falcon Shield more thrilling. 

Besides the QSL, the 2021-2022 season Ooredoo Cup also kicks off today with same teams – divided into two groups – taking part in the competition.              

The top notch action will continue as the Qatar Cup – a super cup tournament competed among the top 4 teams of the QSL – will also take place along with the Golden Jubilee edition of Amir Cup – country’s most popular football tournament. Fans will get extra treat as the final of 49th Amir Cup will also be held in the coming weeks. 

Earlier scheduled in May, the Qatar Football Association (QFA) postponed the match between arch rivals Al Sadd and Al Rayyan to allow fans to attend the mouthwatering clash following the announcement of the gradual lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.       

The QFA and the Qatar Stars League organised last season’s competitions in successful manner despite the unprecedented challenges they faced due to the pandemic, winning praise from all over the world. With the situation has improved and fans likely to attend the games, the new season is all set to be a blockbuster and a treat for fans.