DOHA: As part of its broader development plan and ongoing efforts to raise the technical standards of domestic football, the Qatar Stars League has unveiled a revamped version of the QSL Cup for the 2025-2026 season.
This new structure aims to support several strategic objectives, including increasing the number of competitive matches, improving the overall level of play, and offering young talents greater opportunities to gain vital experience on the field.
The updated QSL Cup will feature 20 participating teams drawn from both the First and Second Divisions, reinforcing the League’s commitment to enhancing the visibility and competitiveness of lower-tier clubs. This move is aligned with the strategic goal of further developing Second Division competitions and offering them a greater platform within the national football calendar.
In keeping with international best practices, the tournament adopts a modern format used in various continental and global competitions.
It will kick off with a single-stage league phase, where each team will play 10 matches over a span of 10 weeks.
These matches will pair teams of different levels, increasing the variety and challenge of each fixture.
Each team will be permitted to include six foreign professional players (five outfield players and one goalkeeper or Asian quota), while also encouraging the integration of youth and reserve players to foster local talent.
This inclusive approach is expected to create a highly dynamic and developmental environment throughout the tournament.
Following the league phase, the top two teams will advance directly to the quarterfinals.
Teams placed from third to 14th will enter six knockout matches, with the winners progressing to complete the quarterfinal lineup. The competition will then proceed through a traditional knockout format, with quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final match deciding the champion.
To ensure a clear understanding of the tournament structure and format, a dedicated meeting will be held with all participating clubs ahead of the tournament.
During this session, the mechanism of the competition will be explained in detail, and the official draw will be conducted to set the stage for an exciting and competitive new chapter in Qatari football.
