The Qatar Cup 2026 semi-finals are scheduled to take place Tuesday, featuring the top four finishers from the 2025-26 Qatar Stars League. Defending champions Al Sadd will face Al Gharafa at Khalifa International Stadium, while Al Shamal will meet Al Rayyan at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Both matches promise competitive showdowns as the teams vie for a place in the final.
Al Sadd, who secured the title last year, enter the tournament determined to defend their crown and maintain their strong early-season form. They will confront Al Gharafa, a side that defeated them in the Amir Cup final last season. Pedro Martins, Al Gharafa’s coach, emphasized the importance of the encounter, describing it as a high-stakes semi-final with both teams bringing experience and ambition. He highlighted the progress of the club’s younger players, noting their growing contribution to the squad’s maturity and performance level. “Our team is ready and all the players are in their best condition to face Al Sadd,” Martins stated during the pre-match press conference.
Al Sadd’s head coach, Razvan Lucescu, acknowledged the quality of their opponents and stressed the significance of the Qatar Cup. He insisted that the team remains focused on continuous improvement and understands the necessity of treating every match as a final step toward securing the trophy. “Al Sadd always plays to win and claim titles,” Lucescu said. Former Liverpool forward Firmino, who joined Al Sadd this season, echoed this sentiment, expressing confidence and concentration ahead of the match. “This is a very important semi-final... Al Gharafa are a capable team and we know this will be difficult, but we are ready,” Firmino commented.
The second semi-final features Al Shamal against Al Rayyan, with both sides eager to advance to the final. Al Shamal coach David Prats is aiming for his team’s first Qatar Cup final appearance. He acknowledged the strength of Al Rayyan but stressed his squad’s readiness to rise to the challenge. “We hope to live up to expectations and qualify for the final for the first time. We will fight against Al Rayyan and give our best over the 90 minutes,” Prats said. He also noted the distinct mindset required for cup competition compared to league play, urging his players to maintain the passion that secured them second place in the league last season.
Al Rayyan’s Vicente Moreno anticipates a tough match but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to perform. He praised Al Shamal’s strong campaign last term but emphasized the need for Al Rayyan to focus on their own strengths as they seek further silverware following two title wins last season. “If we play our style, luck will be on our side. We play for our fans and we want to win more titles,” Moreno stated.
Kickoff for the semi-finals is set for 5 p.m. local time at Khalifa International Stadium for Al Sadd versus Al Gharafa, followed by the Al Shamal versus Al Rayyan match at 7:30 p.m. at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. While Al Sadd enter as favorites, all four teams remain determined to secure their place in the tournament’s final.