Doha will host the postponed Gulf qualifiers for the FIBA U18 Asia Cup from 25-30 July, with five Gulf nations competing for three qualification spots at the continental championship in India next month.

Qatar will host the Gulf qualifying tournament for the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) U18 Asia Cup from 25-30 July, after organisers postponed the original dates from 17-22 July.

The tournament also serves as the region’s official qualifying route to the continental U18 Asia Cup, which India will host in August.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman will face off in a round-robin format, with the top three finishers earning direct qualification.

The tournament kicks off on 25 July with Kuwait facing Oman and Saudi Arabia meeting Bahrain.

As hosts, Qatar open their campaign against Saudi Arabia on 26 July, followed by Kuwait on 27 July, Oman on 29 July, and Bahrain to close out the group stage on 30 July.

Qualification extends beyond the Gulf, with the U18 Asia Cup serving as Asia’s final qualifier for the 2027 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup, due to be held in the Czech Republic in the summer of 2027, with the top four Asian finishers securing places.

This isn’t Qatar’s first time hosting FIBA youth basketball. Doha staged the 2014 FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship and both the 2022 and 2023 editions of the FIBA U16 Asian Championship. 

The Gulf qualifiers also arrive as Qatar prepares to host the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2027, the first time the tournament will be held in the Middle East.

The 11-man roster includes Tamim Ashraf Abu Issa, Meshaal Khalid Al Mughni, Moaz Omar Mousa, Azzam Mohammed Yaken, Ziyad Tamer Al Johari, Mohammed Saeed Badri, Mahmoud Tamer Ibrahim, Amer Ibrahim Mousa, Owen Ikina, Youssef Walid Abdelqader, and Shahi Mohammed.