DOHA, Feb 15 (Reuters) – Al Ahli will take on Umm Salal on Sunday at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in the final Round of 16 match of the 2026 Emir Cup, with both sides seeking a place in the quarter-finals of the tournament’s 45th edition.
The two teams head into the tie locked in a relegation battle in the 2025-26 Doha Stars League season. Al Ahli are 10th in the standings, while Umm Salal sit 11th, second from bottom, on 12 points, with seven rounds remaining.
Their most recent meeting came in the 11th and final round of the first half of the league campaign, when Umm Salal secured a 3-0 victory over Al Ahli.
Both clubs have previously lifted the Emir Cup. Al Ahli have won the title four times, in 1973, 1981, 1987 and 1992, while Umm Salal claimed their sole triumph in 2008.
Sunday’s encounter offers both sides an opportunity to shift focus from their league struggles and extend their run in one of Qatar’s most prestigious domestic competitions.
