Qatar Football Festival Returns in March 2026

For the first time since hosting the 2022 World Cup, Qatar will stage a weeklong international football showcase in March 2026, bringing elite national teams and star players to Doha. The Qatar Football Festival 2026 is scheduled from 26 to 31 March during an official FIFA international window, which means full senior squads are expected to participate. The headline match will feature a Finalissima contest between European champions Spain and South American champions Argentina at Lusail Stadium on 27 March. This fixture is set to be one of the most prestigious encounters before the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

Along with the Finalissima, four other countries will play international friendlies including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Serbia. These matches will be distributed across Qatar’s modern stadiums built for the World Cup, providing teams with ideal preparation environments. Because the tournament falls within the FIFA window, major stars are expected to play, including Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah, Lamine Yamal, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Omar Marmoush.