DOHA: Qatar’s football calendar for the 2026-27 season promises an action-packed schedule, with domestic competitions and major continental events set to keep clubs and national teams busy throughout the campaign.
The new season officially gets underway on August 20 with the start of the Qatar Stars League, Qatar’s premier domestic football competition. The campaign will also mark the launch of the newly introduced QSL2 League, organised by the Qatar Stars League Foundation, featuring 12 teams competing in the country’s second-tier competition.
In addition to league football, fans can look forward to the return of the Qatar Cup, Qatar Stars Cup, and the prestigious Emir Cup, ensuring a full domestic calendar.
Before the domestic season begins, Qatari clubs will turn their attention to continental action. On August 13, Al Rayyan will take on Iraq’s Duhok in the Gulf Super Cup at Duhok Stadium. The fixture brings together the champions of the last two editions of the Gulf Champions League and is expected to be one of the highlights of the regional football calendar.
Qatar will also have strong representation in the AFC Champions League Elite, Asia’s premier club competition. Al Sadd, reigning Qatar Stars League champions, Al Shamal, last season’s runners-up, and Al Gharafa, winners of the Emir Cup, have all secured places in the tournament, which begins on September 15.
The three clubs will discover their league-stage opponents during the official draw on August 18 at the Asian Football Confederation headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Under the AFC Champions League Elite format, each team will play eight league-stage matches, with four home and four away fixtures. Clubs will face one opponent from each seeding pot, either home or away, with the league standings determining qualification for the knockout stages.
With new competitions, high-profile regional clashes and elite Asian football on the schedule, the 2026-27 season is set to be one of the busiest and most exciting in Qatar’s football history.
