Qatar delivered a robust and action-packed sporting calendar in 2025.
Qatar’s standing as a global sporting hub strengthened further in 2025, as the country staged a packed calendar of elite international competitions spanning football, motorsport, tennis, endurance racing, and a slate emerging global championships.
From February through December, Qatar played host to many of the world’s leading athletes and teams.
February: Tennis and endurance racing open the year
Qatar ExxonMobil Open
The year began with top-tier men’s tennis as the ATP Tour returned to Doha for the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, the long-standing ATP 500 event held from February 17 to 22. Andrey Rublev claimed the singles championship, while Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash dominated the doubles category.
The tournament drew many of the world’s highest-ranked players and served as one of the season’s earliest major tests on the hard court.
FIA World Endurance Championship
Just days later, from February 26 to 28, Qatar hosted the opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship — a 10-hour endurance race under lights at Lusail.
Ferrari AF Corse emerged victorious, while TF sport topped in the GT3 class cars race. The event showcased Qatar’s expanding footprint in global motorsport beyond Formula 1.
May: Global table tennis comes to Doha
World Table Tennis Championships
One of the year’s largest indoor sporting events, the World Table Tennis Championships brought hundreds of elite athletes from nearly 70 nations to Qatar from May 17 to 25.
The competition was held across men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, with Asian and European powerhouses delivering standout performances throughout.
The championship reinforced Doha’s reputation as a reliable host for major indoor world championships.
October: Qatar makes history with 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
On October 14, Qatar secured its place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking a milestone moment in the nation’s football history as it qualified for the tournament on merit for the first time.
The decisive Asian qualifying playoff, held at Doha’s Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, saw Qatar emerge as the victor with a 2-1 win against the UAE.
November: Football, Formula 1 and UFC dominate the calendar
FIFA U-17 World Cup
November ushered in the FIFA U-17 World Cup which was held from November 3 to 27 in its newly expanded 48-team format, with matches played across multiple stadiums.
Portugal claimed the title, Austria came in second place and Italy secured third place.
The tournament highlighted the next generation of global football talent.
UFC Fight Night Doha
In one of the year’s most notable firsts, Qatar hosted a UFC Fight Night event for the very first time on November 22 at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena.
The UFC’s inaugural visit to the country marked a major addition to Qatar’s growing portfolio of international sporting events.
Headline and co-main bouts included Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker, a high-stakes lightweight clash that set the tone for the promotion’s broader Middle East expansion.
Belal Muhammad also took on Ian Machado Garry in the welterweight division. The sold-out arena, fan engagement zones, and fight-week activations added to the spectacle and demonstrated Qatar’s ability to host world-class mixed martial arts events.
Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix
Just days after the U-17 World Cup concluded, Formula 1 returned to Lusail for one of the season’s most visually striking races, held from November 28 to 30. RedBull’s Max Verstappen dominated the Grand Prix, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri won the Sprint.
December: A football-heavy finale
FIFA Arab Cup
The Arab Cup returned to Qatar from December 1 to 18, bringing together national teams from across the Arab world in a highly competitive regional tournament. Morocco triumphed in a dramatic final against Jordan at Lusail Stadium, where a sold-out crowd witnessed one of the year’s standout matches.
T100 Triathlon World Championship Final
From December 11 to 13, Qatar welcomed one of the sort world’s newest global properties as the T100 Triathlon World Tour concluded its season with the world championship final. Hayden Wilde captured the men’s world title, while Kate Waugh topped the women’s category. The event highlighted Qatar’s growing influence in endurance and multi-discipline sports.
FIFA Intercontinental Cup (Final Stages)
Qatar also hosted the final rounds of FIFA’s revamped global club competition on December 10, 11 and 17, featuring continental champions from around the world. Paris Saint-Germain won against Brazil’s CR Flamengo on penalties.
From February to December, Qatar’s 2025 sports calendar demonstrated both breadth and ambition. By hosting everything from youth World Cups and elite motorsport to global championships in tennis, triathlon, and table tennis, the country continued to position itself as one of the world’s premier destinations for international sport.
