Gulf Times Sport
Holders Gharafa target final as Sadd face Duhail in titans clash
Al Gharafa are determined to retain the Amir Cup, with their immediate focus on securing a place in the final, head coach Pedro Martins said yesterday. The defending champions, who finished fourth in the recently concluded Qatar Stars League (QSL),...
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Mascot ‘Washeq’ unveiled as GCC Games near kickoff
Qatar has unveiled the official mascot, “Washeq”, as it confirmed full readiness to host the 4th GCC Games – Doha 2026, with all preparations completed ahead of the event scheduled from May 11 to 22. The announcement was made yesterday during a press...
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Arsenal breeze past Fulham to open 6-point gap over City
Arsenal threw down the gauntlet to Manchester City in the Premier League title race with a 3-0 home cruise against Fulham yesterday putting them six points clear at the top. Viktor Gyokeres scored twice in the first half at The Emirates to put his...
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Heavyweights gear up for quarter-final showdowns
Defending champions Al Gharafa will begin their Amir Cup title defence today with a quarter-final clash against the recently-relegated Qatar Stars League (QSL) side Umm Salal at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium at 8pm. Despite a promising start to the...
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Qatar ends campaign with two gold and one silver
Qatari teams wrapped up their campaign at the Asian Beach Games – Sanya 2026 in style, finishing with an impressive haul of two gold medals in 3x3 basketball and beach volleyball, along with a silver in beach handball, further cementing their status as...
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Holders PSG edge Bayern in 9-goal semi-final epic
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele scored twice each as Paris Saint-Germain beat Bayern Munich 5-4 in an epic first leg of their Champions League semi-final yesterday, an extraordinary encounter becoming the highest-scoring match ever at this...
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AL SADD RETAIN QSL TITLE
Defending champions Al Sadd beat a dogged Al Shamal 3-2 yesterday to retain the Qatar Stars League (QSL) crown. Playing in front of a partisan crowd of 12,324 fans, captain Akram Afif and his powerful side dominated proceedings in both halves to clinch...
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Qatar handball team in semi, Younousse-Tijan advance
Qatar’s beach handball team has qualified for the semi-finals of the 2026 Asian Beach Games in Sanya after defeating Thailand 2-0 (26-20, 22-20) yesterday. The win secured Qatar top spot in Group B with 12 points, following a close contest between the...
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All-Qatari beach volleyball clash seals quarters spot
After impressive group-stage performances, the country’s two men’s teams will meet in an allQatari round of 16 clash in the beach volleyball competition at the Asian Beach Games - Sanya 2026 today. The first team of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan...
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Qatar handball team extend winning streak in Sanya
Qatar’s beach handball team continued its strong run at the Asian Beach Games - Sanya 2026, securing two convincing victories yesterday against Bangladesh and Mongolia, both with identical 2-0 scorelines in the group stage. The team delivered dominant...
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Qatar handball team begin title defence with double win
Qatar’s beach handball team began their campaign at the 6th Asian Beach Games – Sanya 2026 with two well-deserved victories over Pakistan and Oman in the opening matches of the men’s competition, which got underway yesterday. President of the Olympic...
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Ahli will be ready to face Ronaldo’s Nassr, says Draxler
Julian Draxler is relishing the prospect of facing Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr Club after helping Qatari side Al Ahli defeat Al Hussein 3-1 on Sunday to reach the AFC Champions League Two West Zone semifinal. The playmaker created the opening goal for...
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Advantage Man City after crucial win over Arsenal
Manchester City beat stumbling Arsenal 2-1 to take charge of the Premier League title race as Liverpool strengthened their push for a Champions League place. Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have been in pole position for months but are wobbling at the worst...
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Brighton’s Rutter denies Tottenham crucial victory
Tottenham remain in the Premier League relegation zone after Georginio Rutter’s stoppage-time equaliser salvaged a 2-2 draw for Brighton, while Leeds beat Wolves 3-0 to pull clear of the bottom three. Spurs were headed for their first win in 15 league...
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Arteta tells spluttering Arsenal to embrace title pressure
Mikel Arteta has urged spluttering Arsenal to embrace the “huge privilege” of facing Manchester City in a potentially decisive showdown in the Premier League title race. Arteta’s side are six points clear of second-placed City ahead of their...
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Vissel Kobe edge Sadd in thriller to enter semis
Vissel Kobe booked their place in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite Finals with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Qatar’s Al Sadd after a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah. Substitute Jean...
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Bayern late show sinks Real Madrid
Late goals from Luis Diaz and Michael Olise earned Bayern Munich a 4-3 win over Real Madrid last night, securing a 6-4 aggregate victory and sending them through to face holders Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals. The tie was level at the break...
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Dembele double at Liverpool fires PSG into semi-finals
Ousmane Dembele’s double guided Paris Saint-Germain into the Champions League semi-finals as a 2-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield last night completed a 4-0 aggregate win for the holders. To compound the English champions’ woes, Hugo Ekitike suffered a...
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Sadd edge Hilal to enter quarters
Qatar’s Al Sadd advanced to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite with a 4-2 win on penalties after their Round of 16 tie against Al Hilal ended 3-3 after extra-time last night. Al Sadd amazingly came from behind three times at Prince...
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City rout Chelsea to close gap on leaders Arsenal
Tottenham’s Premier League plight deepened with a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland yesterday in Roberto De Zerbi’s first match in charge as Manchester City smashed Chelsea to pile the pressure on leaders Arsenal. Spurs brought in the former Brighton and...
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Arsenal suffer huge title blow as Liverpool earn vital win
Arsenal’s shock 2-1 defeat by Bournemouth yesterday blew the Premier League title race wide open as Liverpool beat Fulham to boost their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. The Gunners could have opened up a 12-point lead at the...
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Slot admits Liverpool in ‘survival mode’
Liverpool coach Arne Slot admitted his team were well beaten by Paris Saint-Germain in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg as he defended his decision to play with three central defenders and insisted the Reds still had hope going into...
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Dominant PSG beat Liverpool to seize advantage
Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored the goals to give a dominant Paris Saint-Germain a 2-0 win over Liverpool in their Champions League quarter-final first leg last night, as the holders seized a clear advantage to take to Anfield for next...
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Havertz’s late strike against Sporting gives Arsenal win
Kai Havertz snatched a last-gasp winner as Arsenal bounced back from their domestic distress to steal a 1-0 victory at Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarter-final first leg yesterday. Mikel Arteta’s side arrived at the Jose Alvalade Stadium...
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Mbappe ready for Real’s clash against Bayern: Arbeloa
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said Kylian Mbappe joined the club to star in key matches like today’s Champions League clash against German giants Bayern Munich. Arbeloa said Mbappe was a vital part of the team, although questions remain over whether...
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Vanderveen claims CSI5* Grand Prix of QEF Cup
Kristen Vanderveen made it a memorable first in Doha for herself and her horses yesterday as she topped the CSI5* Grand Prix - Jump-Off - 1.60m concluding class of the Qatar Equestrian Federation Cup as the Doha Equestrian Tour 2026 came to a...
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Shamal close gap on Sadd after leaders held by Rayyan
Al Shamal boosted their chances of winning the Qatar Stars League title for the first time in their history with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Umm Salal at Al Bayt Stadium yesterday, while leaders Al Sadd were held to a 1-1 draw by Al Rayyan in the...
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Sadd seek response against Rayyan as title race intensifies
Defending champions Al Sadd will look to tighten their grip on the summit and respond to recent setbacks when they take on Al Rayyan in the standout fixture of Week 20 of the Qatar Stars League this weekend. Al Sadd, who lead the standings with 38...
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Iraq plot ‘shock’ as famous win seals World Cup return
Coach Graham Arnold challenged his players to “shock the world” after Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify for the World Cup with a nerve-shredding 2-1 win over Bolivia in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico on Tuesday. Iraq, whose...
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Italy miss out on World Cup as Bosnia qualify
Bosnia and Hercegovina stunned Italy in a penalty shoot-out last night to qualify for the 2026 World Cup at the expense of the fourtime champions, who have not been back to the tournament since 2014. Bosnia won 4-1 on penalties after their play-off...
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Gattuso backs Italy against Bosnia in play-off
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso dismissed concerns over pitch conditions and the atmosphere his side would face in Bosnia for their World Cup play-off final, saying he had never conceded a goal to a fan. Gattuso carries the weight of Italian football on...
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Cherif flies to 5-star Grand Prix win, secures Al Shaqab Cup
Qatar-based French rider Cyrine Cherif claimed victory in the prestigious CSI5* Grand Prix Two Rounds with Jump Off 1.60m event, clinching the Al Shaqab Cup yesterday. Riding the 10-year-old bay gelding Triple T Calamando Blue at Longines Outdoor...
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Vanderveen claims CSI3* 1.50m title at Al Shaqab Cup
America’s Kristen Vanderveen continued her fine run in Doha, claiming the CSI3* 1.50m Faults & Time title on the penultimate day of the Al Shaqab Cup yesterday. Riding Bull Run’s Mary, she completed the course in 63.31 seconds for an emphatic victory....
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Kadioglu fires Turkey past Romania, to brink of World Cup berth
Turkey kept their hopes of a first World Cup appearance since 2002 alive as Ferdi Kadioglu scored a second-half winner in a 1-0 victory over Romania in their play-off semi-final yesterday. Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey will face either Slovakia or...
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Play-off hopefuls eye FIFA World Cup spot
The final line-up for the 2026 World Cup will be decided over the next week, with 16 teams competing for the last four places allocated to European countries. Twelve runners-up from the qualifying groups and four teams that earned spots through their...
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Gattuso focuses on mental strength before playoff
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has called for composure ahead of Italy’s World Cup playoff semifinal against Northern Ireland on Thursday, urging his players to block out the trauma of past failures. With the spectre of failed 2018 and 2022 qualification...
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City win League Cup as O’Reilly sinks Arsenal after Kepa error
Manchester City punished Kepa Arrizabalaga’s howler to lift the League Cup as Nico O’Reilly’s double sealed a 2-0 win against Arsenal in yesterday’s final at Wembley. Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa already had a tortured relationship with the League Cup and...
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Liverpool and Chelsea stumble again in CL race
Chelsea failed to take advantage of another Liverpool stumble in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League yesterday, thumped 3-0 by Everton to remain outside the top five. Champions Liverpool had slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Brighton in the...
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Europe’s super elite teach English clubs a lesson
Four teams out of six eliminated, with a total of 28 goals conceded over the two legs – it has been a chastening week for most of England’s representatives in the Champions League knockout phase. Only Arsenal, the Premier League leaders, and Liverpool...
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Gharafa title hopes hit as Ahli storm to comeback win
Al Gharafa suffered a major setback to their title hopes after slumping to a heavy 1-4 defeat against Al Ahli at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in the Qatar Stars League yesterday, as the visitors produced a dominant secondhalf display to turn the match on...
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Sadd stumble again as Arabi fight back late
Al Sadd slumped to a second successive defeat as Al Arabi staged a late comeback to secure a 2-1 victory in the Qatar Stars League at the Khalifa International Stadium last night. Despite the setback, Al Sadd remain top with 38 points after other...
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Al Sadd seek rebound against Al Arabi as title race tightens
Leaders Al Sadd face a challenging test against Al Arabi in the Qatar Stars League at Khalifa International Stadium today as the title race enters a crucial phase. Defending champions Al Sadd saw their impressive 10-match winning streak come to an...
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Emotional Antonelli wins maiden grand prix in China
An emotional Kimi Antonelli won a grand prix for the first time yesterday in China ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who made his maiden podium for Ferrari. The 19-year-old Antonelli converted being the youngest polesitter...
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Dowman makes history as leaders Arsenal strike late
Arsenal moved a step closer to the Premier League title as Max Dowman became the competition’ youngest ever goalscorer in a dramatic 2-0 win against Everton, while Chelsea’s top four bid was dented a 1-0 defeat against Newcastle. Mikel Arteta’s side...
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Qatar SC stun Gharafa as Shamal move second
Al Gharafa’s Qatar Stars League title ambitions suffered a setback after a 0-2 defeat to Qatar SC, while Al Shamal climbed into joint second place with a dramatic late win over Al Wakrah as the league resumed yesterday following a short suspension due...
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Qatar Stars League to resume on Thursday
The Qatar Stars League will resume on Thursday, the governing body has announced, after the country’s top-flight competition was paused on February 28 due to regional tensions. Round 17 matches between Qatar SC and Al Shamal, as well as the clash...
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Dominant Russell wins Australian GP in Mercedes 1-2
George Russell kept his cool to win a frantic season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday from Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli after a thrilling battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The pole-sitting Briton took the chequered flag by 2.974secs in...
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Russell leads Mercedes 1-2 for Australian Grand Prix
George Russell powered to pole position yesterday for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli, but there was disaster for Max Verstappen as he crashed out. On a fine day at Melbourne’s Albert Park,...
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Norris hungrier than ever to defend Formula 1 world title
Lando Norris said his tense world title triumph last year made him hungrier than ever to win another, with the McLaren ace having no concerns about being the hunted rather than the hunter. The fresh-faced Briton held off teammate Oscar Piastri and Red...
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Teams on edge as F1 reset faces litmus test in Australia
Formula One’s new era starts at this weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix, where teams will leap into the unknown and grapple with sweeping technical changes under race conditions for the first time. F1 has simultaneously overhauled chassis...
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Will Iran take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in US?
The war in the Middle East triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran has raised the question of whether the Iranian national team will take part in the World Cup later this year, during which it is due to play group games in the United States. WHAT...
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2026 World Cup tickets: Huge demand and sky-high prices
From almost $900 for the opening game to over $8,000 for the final, match tickets are far from cheap for the World Cup which begins in North America in 100 days. AFP Sport assesses the cost of attending games at the tournament. HOW MANY TICKETS, HOW...
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FIFA World Cup marks 100-day countdown amid global unrest
The 100-day countdown to the biggest World Cup in history gets under way tomorrow against a chaotic backdrop of global unrest, from US-Israeli strikes on Iran to surging violence in Mexico and anxiety over Donald Trump’s domestic agenda. A record 48...
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City win at Leeds to close in on Arsenal, Liverpool hit five
Manchester City shrugged off the absence of Erling Haaland to close to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a 1-0 win at Leeds, while Liverpool beat West Ham 5-2 to climb into fifth. Haaland was absent for the trip to the city of...
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Leaders Sadd storm back to sink Duhail in statement win
Leaders Al Sadd produced a strong comeback to defeat Al Duhail 3-1 in a thrilling Qatar Stars League clash at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium last night. Duhail took the lead shortly after the break through Edmilson Junior in the 47th minute, but the...
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Qatar Football Festival ticket sales begin today at 9pm
Ticket sales for the Qatar Football Festival, including Finalissima, will begin today at 9pm, Doha time, at www.roadtoqatar.qa. Fans from across the globe are set to experience a star-studded football extravaganza, taking place between March 26-31 in...
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Kerr to launch Diamond League campaign in Doha
Olympic, world and Commonwealth high jump champion Hamish Kerr of New Zealand will return to Qatar for the Doha Meeting – the opening meeting of the 2026 Diamond league series – on May 8. A proven championship performer, the 29-year-old national...
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Zanotelli tops CHI Al Shaqab Grand Prix with Charly Heart
Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli topped a competitive field to clinch the CSI5* CHI Al Shaqab Grand Prix, bringing four days of thrilling action at Al Shaqab to a close on Saturday night. Zanotelli and his 10-year-old mare Charly Heart stood out in...
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Unstoppable Alcaraz corners Qatar Open glory
He came. He saw. He conquered. Top seed Carlos Alcaraz arrived in Doha last week seeking his first Qatar Open title. Six days into the hugely popular tournament on the ATP Tour, Alcaraz stormed to his maiden trophy in Doha yesterday when he crushed...
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Alcaraz gets past Khachanov to enter Qatar Open semis
Carlos Alcaraz came from behind to beat Karen Khachanov 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-3 yesterday and book his spot in the semi-finals of the Qatar Open. Playing his first tournament since completing his career Grand Slam at the Australian Open earlier in...
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Sinner sees off Popyrin to reach Qatar quarter-finals
Jannik Sinner of Italy yesterday produced a commanding show of aggressive tennis as he beat Alexei Popyrin of Australia in straight sets to book his place in the quarter-finals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. In his second appearance since a semi-final...
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