Doha: The organizing committee of the Gulf Qualifiers for the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026 announced that final arrangements for hosting the tournament have been completed. Taking place at Al Gharafa Sports Hall from July 25 to 30, the tournament will feature the national teams of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.
According to Qatar News Agency, the five teams will compete in a single round-robin format, with the top three teams earning direct qualification to the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2026 in India this August. The qualifiers carry exceptional significance, serving not only as the gateway to the continental tournament but also as the first step toward the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup. The top four teams from the Asian Championship will advance to the World Cup, scheduled in the Czech Republic from June 26 to July 4, 2027.
The Gulf Qualifiers will kickstart on Saturday, July 25, with Kuwait taking on Oman, followed by a match between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. For their part, team Qatar will begin their qualifying campaign with a match against Saudi Arabia on Sunday, followed by a match against Kuwait the next day. Qatar will then face Oman on Wednesday, July 29, before concluding their campaign with a match against Bahrain on Thursday, July 30.
The organizing committee is committed to delivering a distinguished edition of the qualifiers, both technically and logistically, in line with Qatar's renowned reputation for hosting major sporting events.