Doha – October 21, 2025:
The opening round of the 2025-2026 Qatari Men’s Basketball League continues with two high-stakes matchups at the Qatar Basketball Federation Arena. Al Shamal takes on Al Khor at 6:00 PM, followed by Al Ahli versus Al Gharafa at 8:00 PM, as both games promise intense competition with teams vying for an early edge in the standings.
Following Monday’s thrilling victories by Al Rayyan over Qatar SC and Al Sadd over Al Wakrah, signaling their strong preparedness for the season, attention now shifts to Wednesday’s fixtures. These encounters serve as a critical test for the remaining teams to demonstrate their technical and physical readiness.
In the first game, Al Shamal aims to solidify an early position in the league table, while Al Khor seeks a balanced team performance to match their opponents and secure their first points of the new campaign.
The second matchup pits Al Ahli against Al Gharafa in what is expected to be a fiercely contested battle filled with excitement. Al Ahli, who finished fourth last season and participated in the inaugural Qatar Super Cup, is determined to assert their strength and claim victory. Meanwhile, Al Gharafa, boasting a history of achievements and titles in recent years, looks to kick off the season on a perfect note.
With these games, the first round continues to shape the race for the top spots. Defending champions Al Arabi will return in the next round after competing in the West Asia Super League, adding further intrigue to a season featuring a revamped playoff structure designed to heighten competition through the final stages.
The second round begins on Thursday, October 23, with Qatar SC facing Al Wakrah. On Saturday, October 25, Al Arabi meets Al Sadd, and Al Gharafa plays Al Shamal. The round concludes on Monday, October 27, with a marquee clash between Al Rayyan and Al Ahli.
The first phase of the league wraps up on Saturday, December 20, 2025, with two heavyweight encounters: Al Wakrah versus Al Arabi and Al Sadd against Al Rayyan, both at Al Gharafa Arena.
This season introduces a modified format for the final stages, incorporating Play-In and Play-Off rounds to extend the drama until the very end. In the Play-In phase, teams finishing third through sixth will compete for two semifinal berths. The third-place team faces the fourth, with the winner advancing to meet the runner-up. The fifth plays the sixth, and the victor then takes on the loser of the third-fourth matchup to determine the fourth qualifier.
The semifinals and finals will follow a best-of-three series format to crown the 2025-2026 Qatari Men’s Basketball League champion.
