QFA supports delivery of FIFA World Cup 2026

Doha: The Qatar Football Association (QFA) is taking part in delivering the FIFA World Cup 2026, with several of its staff managing match operations as part of a knowledge and expertise transfer programme between the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and FIFA. livefromquarantine.club

The programme draws on the organisational experience Qatar gained from hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and other major international tournaments.

QFA staff are taking on key roles at several stadiums, including overseeing operations and coordinating with participating teams, helping to deliver a seamless match experience in line with FIFA standards.

Abdulla Mohammed Jassim Al Ishaq, Deputy Match Director, New York New Jersey Stadium

Abdulla Mohammed Jassim Al Ishaq is taking part as Deputy Match Director at New York New Jersey Stadium, leading operational activities and overseeing the stadium’s readiness to host fixtures in line with FIFA requirements. His role includes managing team arrival and match coordination meetings, collaborations with participating teams and various operational bodies, as well as following up on pre-match ceremonies, pitch management, dressing rooms and match official facility readiness.

Ali Hamoud Al Nuaimi, Match Commissioner, Houston Stadium

Ali Hamoud Al Nuaimi is serving as Match Commissioner at Houston Stadium, overseeing all organisational aspects of the match and monitoring proceedings and ensuring all parties comply with tournament regulations and FIFA requirements. He is also responsible for documenting events related to the match and preparing official match reports.

Abdulla Al Ansari, Match Coordinator, Houston Stadium

Abdulla Al Ansari is working as Match Coordinator at Houston Stadium, liaising between teams and tournament management, running coordination meetings, ensuring the readiness of dressing rooms and other facilities, and managing team schedules from arrival at the stadium through to departure.

Ahmed Al Sayed, Match Coordinator, Miami Stadium

Ahmed Al Sayed is serving as Match Coordinator at Miami Stadium, handling team logistics and ensuring compliance with tournament regulations. His responsibilities also include reviewing and approving player and technical staff lists, overseeing team schedules, and coordinating with match officials, the match commissioner, media, security and the anti-doping team.

This participation reflects the growing trust placed in Qatari professionals on the international stage, and the talent Qatar continues to build through its experience organising major global events.

Arlington, United States: Cristiano Ronaldo laboured through his last World Cup match Monday as the dream of winning the biggest prize of all ended in a 1-0 defeat to Spain and left him fighting back tears.

The 41-year-old Portugal captain and one of the best players of all time says he will now go away and think about what comes next.

He has won it all in a trophy-laden career at some of Europe's biggest clubs, and tasted European glory with his country.

But among his bulging trophy cabinet there will be no World Cup winners medal, and he was largely ineffectual as he huffed and puffed through a disappointing last-16 clash in Texas.

"That's football, that's the life of a footballer," he said, struggling to raise his voice above the crushing disappointment.

"Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and you have to move on."

Ronaldo, the leading scorer in the history of men's international football, said he would leave the World Cup stage "with a clear conscience".

"The truth is, the biggest title I won with the national team was in 2016 (Euros), which for me is just as significant as a World Cup, honestly," he said.

Ronaldo's best World Cup will always remain the semi-finals 20 years ago.

His display in a disappointing game summed up what the veteran talisman has become in recent years -- a shadow of the player that one struck fear into opponents.

He had three attempts at goal and was a peripheral figure playing through the centre of an ineffectual Portugal attack.

He scored three times at the tournament in North America in his World Cup farewell -- twice in a 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan and a penalty against Croatia in the last 32.

Ronaldo did not register a single assist at the tournament and at one point against Spain threw his hands up in the air as a team-mate's pass went astray.

He left the pitch at the home of the Dallas Cowboys on his own.

Billionaire footballer

Ronaldo went from growing up in a poor family on the island of Madeira, with an alcoholic father, to become a global superstar.

His eternal thirst for records coupled with a relentless drive for self-improvement and tireless devotion to his art sustained him into his 40s.

Off the field he is a phenomenon too -- the first billionaire footballer, boasting 671 million followers on Instagram and his "Siuuu!" celebration mimicked by star-struck children the world over.

But there was to be no Hollywood-style World Cup happy ending for the attacker, who played first for Sporting Lisbon, before becoming a global icon at Manchester United.

After six years and Champions League glory there he lit up the Bernabeu with Real Madrid, where he conquered Europe four more times.

Then came Juventus, a stint back at United, and now the figurehead of Saudi Arabia's bid for footballing respectability at Al Nassr.

His many accolades and prizes also include five Ballon d'Ors.

In recent years the narrative around Ronaldo has shifted.

With his powers on the wane and lacking the mesmerising turn of foot and pace that were once his hallmark, he moved from the wings to a more traditional number nine role.

Ronaldo and Portugal coach Roberto Martinez have been accused of dragging his international career out beyond its sell-by date.

Martinez made two double changes late on as they chased the game against Spain, but Ronaldo remained on the pitch regardless.

Speaking on the eve of the match, Ronaldo insisted: "I am not going to be more Cristiano Ronaldo or less because I win the World Cup."

وقّعت مؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر اتفاقية رعاية جديدة مع شركة “ترند كار كير”، الشركة القطرية المتخصصة في العناية بالسيارات، وذلك للعام الثاني على التوالي، في تأكيد على نجاح الشراكة بين الطرفين واستمرار التعاون بما يخدم الأهداف المشتركة.

وتمتد الاتفاقية الجديدة لموسمين ، 2026/2027 و2027/2028، بما يعكس الثقة المتبادلة بين الجانبين والحرص على مواصلة التعاون في إطار رؤية مشتركة تسهم في تحقيق المزيد من النجاحات.

وتسعى شركة “ترند كار كير” إلى تقديم خدمات متميزة ومنتجات عالية الجودة تلبي تطلعات واحتياجات عملائها، فيما تأتي هذه الاتفاقية ضمن استراتيجية مؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر الهادفة إلى تعزيز شراكاتها مع الشركات الوطنية وتوسيع قاعدة الرعاة والشركاء.

وبهذه المناسبة، قال السيد ناصر يعقوب لرم سالمين، مدير إدارة المبيعات والتسويق في مؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر:

“يسعدنا تجديد الشراكة مع شركة ترند كار كير للعام الثاني على التوالي، وهو ما يعكس نجاح التعاون والثقة المتبادلة بين الجانبين. ونرحب باستمرارهم ضمن قائمة الرعاة والشركاء، ونتمنى لهم تحقيق المزيد من النجاحات والوصول إلى تطلعاتهم المستقبلية. ويأتي هذا التعاون في إطار استراتيجيتنا الرامية إلى تعزيز الجوانب التجارية والتسويقية، وحرصنا المستمر على توسيع آفاق التعاون مع مختلف الجهات والمؤسسات والشركات، بما يحقق المصالح المشتركة.”

وتؤكد هذه الاتفاقية، التي تمتد حتى نهاية موسم 2027/2028، التزام مؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر ببناء شراكات استراتيجية طويلة الأمد مع القطاع الخاص، بما يسهم في دعم مسابقاتها وفعالياتها وتعزيز منظومة كرة القدم القطرية

كما قال السيد خالد طالب عبد الله الصيعري، الرئيس التنفيذي لشركة ترند كار كير نؤكد على تجديد تعاوننا مع مؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر نجاح التعاون بين الجانبين، ويعكس ما تقوم عليه الشراكات الاستراتيجية من التزام، واحترافية، ورؤية مشتركة.”

“ويأتي تمديد اتفاقية الشراكة، بصفتنا شريك أعمال لمؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر، خلال موسمي 2026/2027 و2027/2028، امتدادًا لما تحقق خلال الفترة الماضية، ودافعًا لمواصلة العمل المشترك بما يحقق تطلعات الطرفين.

“وفي شركة ترند كار كير، ننظر إلى الشراكات الاستراتيجية باعتبارها ركيزةً أساسية في رؤيتنا، ونحرص على تعزيز حضورنا في أبرز المحافل الرياضية والمجتمعية، من خلال شراكات تقوم على الاحترافية، والالتزام، والتميز.

“وأعرب عن خالص الشكر والتقدير إلى مؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر على ثقتها في ترند كار كير، ونتطلع إلى مواصلة هذا التعاون، والبناء على ما تحقق، بما يدعم نجاح هذه الاتفاقية ويحقق تطلعات الطرفين خلال الموسمين المقبلين.

Vancouver: Switzerland beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw on Tuesday to set up a quarter-final with defending champions Argentina.

The two teams cancelled each other out in the final game of the last 16 -- the last match to be played at the 2026 tournament outside the United States.

Both teams missed spot-kicks before Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel brilliantly saved Cucho Hernandez's effort and Ruben Vargas scored the decisive penalty.

Colombia, once again backed by thousands of passionate fans in Vancouver, had conceded just once in their four games before Tuesday's match and the Swiss had also proved difficult to break down.

The first action of note came in the 21st minute when Kobel was forced into a flying save to keep out Gustavo Puerta's curling effort from the edge of the penalty area.

The Swiss stepped up a gear immediately after the first hydration break, with Camilo Vargas beating away a shot from Fabian Rieder before denying Dan Ndoye.

But the match was goalless at half-time, with two well-matched teams struggling for inspiration.

Switzerland started the second half on the front foot but Colombia also had their moments, with Luis Suarez lashing wastefully wide.

Both coaches made multiple changes in the second half but again struggled to create meaningful openings, with Colombia's star winger Luis Diaz kept quiet.

Ndoye flashed a shot across goal in stoppage time but nobody was able to get on the end of it and the match was 0-0 at the end of normal time.

The game belatedly burst into life in the first period of extra time.

Colombia defender Jhon Lucumi headed against the bar from a corner in the ninth minute and Kobel kept out a fierce effort from Jaminton Campaz as the South Americans upped the tempo.

At the other end, Vargas dived to his left to beat away an effort from substitute Zeki Amdouni.

Campaz missed a glorious chance to win the game with five minutes of time left on the clock.

With nothing to separate the teams, the game went to penalties.

Switzerland will face Argentina in Kansas City on Saturday after Lionel Messi's team earlier beat Egypt 3-2 in Atlanta.

Switzerland last reached the quarter-finals when they hosted the World Cup in 1954.