Qatar’s highs, lows and milestones

Doha, Qatar: Qatari athletes endured mixed fortunes in the passing year, marked by historic achievements, extraordinary individual performances and mo...

Doha, Qatar: Qatari athletes endured mixed fortunes in the passing year, marked by historic achievements, extraordinary individual performances and moments of heartbreak.

Al Annabi experienced a roller-coaster 2025, but their first-ever qualification for the FIFA World Cup on merit saved the blushes in an otherwise challenging year.

Qatar also celebrated outstanding performances across sports, including from weightlifters, track and field stars, motorsport heroes and beach volleyball standouts, with rally legend Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah once again keeping the nation’s flag flying.

Football: Historic qualification amid inconsistency

After winning their second straight AFC Asian Cup crown in 2024, Qatar began the year in emphatic fashion, thrashing North Korea 5-1 in the third round of Asian qualifiers for the expanded 48-team World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.