Qatar Stars League confirms initial fixtures, start date for 2025/26 season

Qatar Stars League’s 2025/26 will feature 12 sides, with promotion winners Al Sailiya in action in the first game.

The 2025/26 season of the Qatar Stars League will start on August 14 with Al Rayyan facing promotion winners Al Sailiya at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.

The cast of the first eleven game weeks, including complete details of the first three, was released by the league’s organising committee on Sunday.

Timings for the rest game weeks will be determined following the draws of the Asian club competitions and regional tournaments, as well as the national team’s schedule.

“Coordination will be conducted with clubs participating in external tournaments after their matches are scheduled to be rescheduled on specified dates in the calendar, to support them in all their participations,” QSL said in a statement.

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League champions Al Sadd and Amir Cup winners Al Gharafa have been already qualified for the AFC Champions League Elite, whereas league runners-up Al Duhail will face Iran’s Sepahan for a spot in the premier continental club competition. Al Ahli will compete in the AFC Champions League Two, with Al Rayyan set to compete in the Arabian Gulf Club Champions League.

Stadiums with full air conditioning facilities will be used until the sixth game week, according to QSL, anticipating the soaring outdoor temperatures. Those matches will also have late kick-off timings.

Four stadiums used during the FIFA World Cup 2022 — Khalifa International Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium and Ahmad bin Ali Stadium — will stage the matches. Stadium 974 will not host matches, contrary to the second half of the 2024/25 season.

Defending champions Al Sadd will start by facing Qatar SC on August 16 at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, the only non-World Cup host stadium in the initial roster. Stadiums for the tenth game week are yet to be confirmed.

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The schedule for the second half of the season will be determined according to the national team schedule. The Qatar National Team is set to play the World Cup Qualifiers play-off in October, followed by the FIFA Arab Cup at home in December, in addition to the friendlies during international windows.

The first international window will be from September 1-9, the second from October 6-14, followed by the third from November 10-18. The Arab Cup will be held during the league’s winter break.

The 12 top division clubs are set to begin their pre-season preparations on July 1, according to the official schedule laid out by the Qatar Football Association.