QATAR BASKETBALL FEDERATION UNVEILS AMBITIOUS 2025 EVENT CALENDAR
The Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) has announced an ambitious and meticulously structured event calendar for 2025. The line-up includes a wide range of training camps, friendly competitions, and official international participations, all designed to enhance technical readiness and increase international experience for players across various age groups. The move comes in anticipation of a crucial year featuring major continental and global basketball tournaments.
The focal point of the calendar is the preparation of the Qatari Men’s National Team “A” for the prestigious FIBA Asia Cup 2025, set to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from August 5 to 17, 2025. To gear up, the team will embark on an external training camp in Turkey from June 18 to July 3. This phase will include intensive physical and tactical training, along with a series of friendly matches, providing players with crucial high-level exposure and competitive edge.
Qatar has been drawn into Group A alongside basketball giants Australia, Lebanon, and South Korea—a lineup widely considered one of the toughest in the tournament. With only the group winner gaining direct entry to the quarterfinals, and second- and third-placed teams requiring playoff wins to advance, the path forward is both challenging and defining for the team’s aspirations.
Following the Turkey camp, the squad will return to Doha for a domestic training phase from July 8 to 14, which includes friendly encounters with other Asian national teams. The next major leg involves a training camp in South Korea from July 16 to 21, featuring matches from July 18 to 20 against local teams to deepen tactical insights and adapt to various styles of play.
Adding momentum to the buildup, QBF will host a significant international friendly tournament at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall from July 25 to August 1. This event will feature the national teams of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Japan, and it promises to be a key platform for final performance reviews and strategic adjustments prior to the Asia Cup.
Parallel to the “A” team’s efforts, Qatar’s Men’s National Team “B” is set to compete in the globally respected William Jones Cup, organized by the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association (CTBA), from July 12 to 20. The team’s campaign will begin with a domestic camp in Doha until July 10, focused on rigorous physical evaluations and final roster selection.
The William Jones Cup, first held in 1977, is one of the oldest and most revered unofficial international basketball tournaments. Dedicated to the legacy of FIBA founder Renato William Jones, it draws national teams and university clubs from around the world, offering an excellent stage for both development and international visibility.
Further intensifying a packed summer, the team will also participate in the Arab Youth Championship in Nabeul, Tunisia, from July 23 to August 3, a competition seen as critical for broadening continental experience and fostering regional basketball ties.
The future of Qatari basketball also lies in the hands of its youth. In that regard, the U-16 national team is preparing for the Gulf Cooperation Council U-16 Championship, scheduled in Bahrain from July 7 to 13, 2025. This competition doubles as a qualifier for the AFC U-16 Asian Cup Finals in Mongolia in September, emphasizing its importance as a gateway to the next level.
On the occasion, Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, Secretary General of the Qatar Basketball Federation and Director of National Teams, stated:
“We are heading into an exceptional year of work and preparation, which requires great cooperation from everyone: administrators, players, and the technical staff, to achieve our desired goals. We have developed a comprehensive plan for the national teams of all categories, ensuring the highest levels of readiness through external training camps and participation in specialized tournaments. The men’s team’s participation in the Asian Cup in Jeddah represents a crucial milestone, and we are confident in our players’ abilities to perform to an honorable standard.”
Al Kuwari added:
“Our participation in the historic William Jones Tournament and friendly tournaments also confirms our commitment to creating an optimal environment for interaction and development. We also pay special attention to the age groups, and we view the Gulf Junior Championship as an important gateway to emerging on the Asian stage. We are working to create a new generation of players who will represent the future of the game in Qatar.”
Al Kuwari concluded by highlighting the importance of inter-institutional cooperation:
“Our progress and preparations are strongly supported by our strategic partnerships with the Qatar Olympic Committee, local clubs, and our extended basketball community. Their support is integral to the execution of this ambitious national plan.”
With its comprehensive and multi-tiered strategy, the Qatar Basketball Federation is positioning its national players—both current stars and future prospects—for successful performances across key regional and international arenas in 2025.
— Team V.DIR-EM-UAE
