Egypt included in expanded 10-team Gulf Cup Under-17 tournament

Egypt’s Under-17 team has been included in the 10-team line-up for the second edition of the Gulf Cup for Under-17 national teams, which will be hosted by Qatar from 16 October to 4 November 2026.

The tournament will feature the largest field in its history, with Egypt and China joining the eight national teams representing the member associations of the Gulf Football Federation.

The participating teams are the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait and Yemen, alongside Egypt and China.

The Gulf Football Federation confirmed the line-up and said Qatar’s local organising committee would be responsible for staging and hosting the competition. Organisers will work in coordination with the Gulf Football Federation as preparations continue for the tournament’s opening in October.

The draw for the competition is scheduled to take place on Thursday at 12:00 Cairo time at the headquarters of the Gulf Football Federation. It will determine the groups and establish the route through the tournament.

The draw procedure will divide the 10 participating teams into five levels, based on the rankings from the most recent edition of the competition organised by the Gulf Football Federation for the same age group.

The federation’s competitions committee will have the authority to determine the levels before the draw if teams are taking part in the tournament for the first time. Under the planned format, each level will contain two teams.

Egypt’s inclusion represents a notable addition to a tournament traditionally involving the national teams of the Gulf Football Federation’s member associations. The 2026 edition will therefore bring together the eight Gulf sides, Egypt and China in what will be the competition’s biggest participation to date.

Qatar will host the matches during a three-week period, with the local organising committee overseeing the event in conjunction with the regional governing body. Further details on the groups and the competition pathway will be established once the draw has been completed.

The Gulf Cup for Under-17 national teams is the second edition of the tournament, and the organisers are continuing their preparations ahead of its start in October 2026.