Alkass English
As part of its long-term strategy to raise technical standards and expand opportunities across domestic football, the Qatar Stars League has introduced a new format for the 2025-26 QSL Cup. The competition will now feature 20 teams from both the First and Second Divisions, giving lower-tier clubs greater exposure and competitiveness within the national football calendar.
Each team will play 10 matches over a 10-week league stage, creating a larger pool of competitive fixtures and ensuring more diverse matchups. To balance development with quality, clubs will be allowed to register six foreign professionals—five outfield players and one goalkeeper or Asian quota—while also being encouraged to integrate youth and reserve players to accelerate the growth of emerging Qatari talent.
At the end of the league phase, the top two teams will qualify directly for the quarterfinals, while those ranked third to fourteenth will contest six playoff matches to decide the remaining spots. The tournament will then continue in a traditional knockout format through to the final.
This restructuring aligns with international best practices and underlines the QSL’s commitment to raising standards, providing opportunities for young players, and strengthening Second Division football. A pre-tournament meeting will be held with all participating clubs to explain the new competition structure in detail and conduct the official draw, setting the stage for an exciting new era of the QSL Cup.