Doha: The Qatar national veterans team put up a spirited fight but fell just short in a 2-1 defeat against Al Rayyan’s reserve squad in a friendly match held this evening at Al Rayyan’s training grounds. The match was part of the team's final preparations for the inaugural Gulf Legends Cup, "Khaleeji Al Asatir." Veteran star Adel Khamis found the net for Qatar, with the team showing promise in a well-contested encounter.

In attendance was Mr. Mansour Al Ansari, Secretary-General of the Qatar Football Association, who offered his support and encouragement to the squad ahead of their trip to Kuwait. The Gulf Legends Cup, set to take place from February 20 to 24, will bring together all eight Gulf national teams in a historic first edition of the tournament.

On the sidelines of the match, Al Ansari met with Mr. Mohammed Mubarak Al Muhannadi, head of the delegation, to assess the team’s readiness before their scheduled departure to Kuwait on Thursday, February 20.

Qatar has been placed in Group A, where they will face Kuwait, the UAE, and Oman. The tournament will be played in a two-group format, with each match consisting of two 20-minute halves. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, with the winners progressing to the final.