Doha: Al Ahli defeated Al Shamal 29-26 on Monday in the opening round of the 2025-2026 Qatar Handball Federation Cup for men. In other first-round matches, Al Sadd beat Al Khor 32-23, Al Duhail overcame Al Gharafa 39-29, and Al Wakrah edged Qatar SC 28-25.
According to Qatar News Agency, the first round continues on Tuesday with a match between Al Arabi and the national youth team. This season, the tournament is being held under a new format, with participating teams divided into two groups. Group A includes Al Ahli, Al Shamal, Al Sadd, Al Khor, Al Arabi, and the youth national team.
Group B features Al Duhail, Al Gharafa, Al Wakrah, Qatar SC, and the junior national team. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. The Federation Cup is staged during a break in the regular league season to accommodate national team players preparing for the Islamic Solidarity Games, currently underway in Riyadh.
Al Arabi won the title last season (2024-2025), with Al Rayyan finishing as runners-up and Al Duhail in third place.