Gulf Champions League draw set for August 24

Doha, Qatar: The Gulf Football Federation (GFF) has announced that the draw for the 2026-27 Gulf Champions League will be held on August 24.

The qualifying rounds for the third edition of the tournament are scheduled to begin on October 13 and will continue until April 30, 2027, with the participation of 12 clubs representing the member national federations. hiddenlangkawi.club

The GFF confirmed that the draw ceremony will be conducted via video conference.

According to the competition regulations, the 12 participating teams will be divided into three groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will qualify for the quarter-finals, which will be played on a home-and-away basis.

The third edition is expected to feature the largest participation in the tournament’s history since its inception, following the decision to increase the number of clubs from eight to 12. The move reflects the competition’s growth and the expansion of participation among member federations, helping raise the standard of competition and strengthen its standing in the region.

The participating clubs are Al Duhail (Qatar), Al Ettifaq and Neom (Saudi Arabia), Al Nasr and Ajman (UAE), Erbil and Al Zawraa (Iraq), Al Shabab (Oman), Al Riffa (Bahrain), Kazma (Kuwait), and Shaab Hadramout (Yemen).

The early announcement of the draw is intended to give clubs and national federations sufficient time to complete their technical and organisational preparations ahead of the competition, enhancing team readiness and the overall quality of the tournament.

Qatar's Al Rayyan won the second edition of the tournament last year after defeating Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia 3-0 in the final.

The benefits of shock-absorption flooring go far beyond comfort underfoot — they directly protect your equipment, your floor slab, and the people training on it every day. Whether you are fitting out a commercial gym in Doha, a home training room, or a physiotherapy clinic, the flooring you choose determines how safe, quiet, and durable your space will be for years to come.

Gym owners, fitness facility managers, and sports center operators across Qatar are increasingly moving away from standard tiles and concrete in favor of purpose-built rubber flooring. This guide explains why, and what to look for when sourcing shock-absorption flooring in Doha, Qatar.

What Is Shock-Absorption Flooring?

Shock-absorption flooring is a specialized rubber surface engineered to compress and rebound under impact. Instead of transferring the full force of a dropped weight or a running foot straight into the subfloor, it disperses that energy across the mat. This is different from standard rubber matting, which mainly protects against scratches but offers limited cushioning.

In fitness environments, this flooring is typically installed in weightlifting zones, functional training areas, cardio sections, and free-weight platforms — anywhere heavy impact or repetitive movement occurs.

Key Benefits of Shock-Absorption Flooring

1. Injury Prevention for Trainers and Clients

The most important benefit of shock-absorption flooring is reduced joint stress. Hard surfaces like concrete or ceramic tile place significant strain on knees, ankles, and the lower back during high-impact training such as box jumps, HIIT, or Olympic lifting. A cushioned rubber surface absorbs a portion of that impact, lowering the risk of stress injuries over time.

For physiotherapy clinics in particular, this is not optional — patients recovering from joint or spine issues need a forgiving surface to train on safely.

2. Equipment and Floor Protection

Dropped dumbbells, barbells, and weight plates can crack tiles, dent concrete, and damage equipment on impact. Shock-absorbing gym mats prevent this by cushioning the drop, extending the life of both your flooring and your machines. This is a major reason commercial gyms and hotel fitness centers across Doha specify impact-resistant flooring for gyms in their free-weight and CrossFit zones.

3. Noise and Vibration Reduction

Weight drops on a hard floor create loud impact noise and vibration that can travel through a building. In hotels, apartments, and shared commercial spaces, this is a real operational concern. Rubber shock-absorption flooring significantly dampens both sound and vibration, making it easier to run a gym without disturbing neighboring units or floors.

4. Slip Resistance and Safety

Rubber flooring naturally offers better grip than polished tiles or bare concrete, even when the surface is damp from sweat. This added traction reduces the risk of slips during dynamic movements, making it one of the most practical safety flooring for fitness centers options available.

5. Durability in Qatar’s Climate

Doha’s heat and humidity can be tough on lower-quality flooring, causing warping, cracking, or fading. High-grade rubber flooring is built to withstand heavy daily use and temperature fluctuations without breaking down, which is why durability is a key factor when selecting the best gym flooring Qatar facilities can rely on long-term.

6. Easy Maintenance and Hygiene

Rubber surfaces are non-porous and simple to clean, which matters in high-traffic commercial gyms. A quick wipe-down or mop keeps the surface hygienic, and unlike carpet or foam tiles, it does not trap moisture or odor over time.

Where Shock-Absorption Flooring Is Used

• Free-weight and weightlifting floor protection platforms
• CrossFit and functional training zones
• Cardio and HIIT training areas
• Home gyms and personal training rooms
• Physiotherapy and rehabilitation clinics
• Hotel and apartment fitness centers

Choosing the Right Shock-Absorption Flooring Supplier

Not all rubber flooring performs the same. Thickness, density, and the certification of the manufacturer all affect how much impact the flooring can actually absorb. For commercial installations, working with an established commercial gym flooring supplier ensures you get the correct specification for your training zones rather than a generic mat that wears out quickly.

Sports Village Qatar is the authorized supplier of Ecore USA and Paviflex Spain, two of the most trusted names in the flooring industry, and offers a full range of Rubber Gym Flooring Qatar solutions for commercial facilities. If you are outfitting a private training room, the same protection is available for smaller spaces through the home gym flooring Qatar range.

Home Gym Flooring: Does It Need Shock Absorption Too?

Yes. Home gym enthusiasts often assume shock-absorption flooring is only necessary for commercial spaces, but the same risks apply at home — cracked tiles, damaged subfloors, and joint strain happen just as easily in a spare room as they do in a full commercial facility. A dedicated home gym flooring Qatar solution protects your investment in equipment while keeping your training space safe for daily use.

Installation Considerations for Doha Facilities

Before installing shock-absorption flooring, consider:

1. Zone mapping — separate high-impact areas (weightlifting) from lower-impact zones (cardio, stretching)
2. Subfloor condition — ensure the base surface is clean, level, and dry before installation
3. Mat thickness — heavier free-weight zones typically require thicker matting than general training floors
4. Professional installation — proper fitting prevents gaps, shifting, and premature wear

Sports Village Qatar handles full gym flooring installation Doha and equipment fitting as part of its service, so facilities do not need to coordinate separate contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main benefit of shock-absorption flooring? The primary benefit of shock-absorption flooring is reducing impact stress on joints and preventing damage to both equipment and the subfloor during weightlifting or high-impact training.

Is shock-absorption flooring necessary for a home gym? Yes, home gym flooring Qatar solutions protect both your subfloor and equipment, and reduce injury risk just as effectively as commercial-grade installations.

How thick should gym flooring be for weightlifting? Weightlifting and free-weight zones generally need thicker, higher-density rubber flooring than cardio or stretching areas to handle dropped weight impact safely.

Does rubber flooring reduce noise in a gym? Yes, shock-absorbing gym mats significantly reduce impact noise and vibration, which is especially important in hotels, apartments, and shared commercial buildings.

Who supplies rubber gym flooring in Qatar? Sports Village Qatar is an authorized supplier of Ecore USA and Paviflex Spain flooring, offering both commercial gym flooring supplier solutions and home gym flooring across Doha and Qatar.

If you are planning a new gym, upgrading an existing facility, or protecting a home training space, choosing the right shock-absorption flooring is one of the most important decisions you will make. The team at Sports Village Qatar can guide you through the right specification for your space, budget, and training needs.

REQUEST A FREE FLOORING QUOTE — CALL NOW →

Address: Sports Village, Building No 86, Street 340, Zone 39, Near Jarir Book Store, Ramada Signal, Salwa Road, Doha, Qatar Phone: +974 4450 1166 / +974 5515 6973

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Rabat: President Gianni Infantino held emergency talks with other FIFA directors in Morocco on Wednesday, a source told AFP, amid a wave of criticism over his now shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment.

Infantino has come under increasing pressure, even from within FIFA, over his handling of the proposal, and calls for him to step down have grown since he abandoned it last Saturday.

One of those believed to be at the meeting is FIFA's secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom, whose internal email to staff criticising the plan was leaked on Tuesday.

Infantino, a 56-year-old Swiss lawyer -- who is holding the meeting in FIFA's Africa regional office in Sale close to Rabat -- was in Morocco to celebrate last week's Feast of the Enthronement.

Morocco is to co-host the 2030 World Cup and Moroccan Football chief Fouzi Lekjaa is one of the few to have publicly supported Infantino since the humiliating climbdown.

Lekjaa last Saturday had praised his "wise" move to scrap the plan in the interests of "unity and cohesion".

He reiterated his backing for Infantino for "all the initiatives aimed at the development of world football" during his 10 years in charge.

Infantino had been basking in the warm afterglow of a highly successful World Cup -- the largest ever with 48 teams and co-hosted by three countries, Canada, Mexico and the US.

His wish to serve a fourth and final term looked likely to be rubber-stamped in Rabat next March -- no other candidate had come forward to challenge him.

However, Tuesday last week all that faded.

FIFA, world football's governing body, floated the plan, saying it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.

It said that, if approved, the project could provide each of FIFA's 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027, and increase their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.

'Sad and reproachable'

Instead of acting as a sweetener it produced a furious backlash, with European football's governing body UEFA resorting on Thursday to the nuclear option of boycotting the sport's jewel in the crown, the World Cup.

By Saturday Infantino held his hands up and withdrew the plan.

"Our purpose has always been -- and will always be -- to unite and improve," said Infantino.

If he had hoped for that to be sufficient to shore up his authority he was to be swiftly disabused.

UEFA termed the proposal a "shabby, back room, opaque deal" hatched by Infantino.

"The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family," UEFA said in a statement.

North and Central American football's governing body CONCACAF went further still and called for "a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency" while slamming Infantino's "poor governance and leadership".

Grafstrom's leaked email only added fuel to the fire.

He described the fiasco surrounding the proposal as "a sad and reproachable series of events".

He added: "Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue."

Trabzonspor president Ertuğrul Doğan has confirmed that Mohamed Salah’s proposed contract includes a share of shirt sales.

Doğan revealed the clause during an interview with A Spor after Trabzonspor officially announced negotiations with the 34-year-old free agent.

“There has been a lot of talk about the percentage from shirt sales,” Doğan said. “We are giving a percentage, but it is nothing like the figures reported in the press.”

Rumors had circulated that claimed Trabzonspor would grant Salah 20% of shirt or merchandise sales. However, Doğan disputed that figure and said Trabzonspor would publish the correct percentage later.

Trabzonspor announced that Salah would arrive in Istanbul on Wednesday afternoon, and the parties expect to complete the move on Thursday, with reports indicating that the club could hold a public signing ceremony.

Doğan said he first spoke with Salah and agent Ramy Abbas approximately 10 days ago. “Everything became clear as of yesterday,” he added, describing the negotiations as professional and respectful.

Turkish reports have generally described the proposed deal as a two-year contract. Estimates of Salah’s annual guaranteed salary range from €17 million to €20 million, with an additional signing fee and performance bonuses also reported.

However, Doğan denied claims that Trabzonspor had secured a company to finance the move, but said he intended to approach businesspeople connected with the club for sponsorship support.

The shirt-sales provision is particularly significant because a similar demand contributed to the collapse of Salah’s negotiations with Beşiktaş.

As previously reported by KingFut, the Istanbul club shelved the move following disagreements over commercial revenue, including shirt sales, image rights and other financial terms.

The post Trabzonspor Accept Salah Shirt Sales Clause Rejected by Beşiktaş appeared first on KingFut.

Doha, Qatar: South Africa legend Graeme Smith thinks next year’s Men’s Cricket World Cup will be a landmark moment for the game, highlighting the tournament’s return to Africa and the prestige of the 50-over showcase.

South Africa last co-hosted the tournament in 2003, alongside Zimbabwe and Kenya. They will stage the 2027 tournament alongside Zimbabwe and Namibia.

“It’s been a long time coming since Africa or South Africa hosted a men’s world cricket event again,” Smith said on a star-studded evening in Johannesburg which marked the announcement of the 12 venues that will stage the competition.

“I think the vibrancy of these three nations, the quality of players, the fan base certainly deserves a world event in the game, so it’s great to have it back.”

Smith also underlined why the Cricket World Cup continues to hold a unique place in world cricket despite the sport’s evolving landscape.

The 2027 edition will be the 14th Men’s Cricket World Cup and the first to feature 14 teams since 2015. Smith went on to compare the success of the recently-concluded FIFA World Cup 2026, where 48 teams took part to make the event a massive success.

“We’ve just come off a football World Cup where you’ve seen a massive amount of nations compete and the cultures and the coming together of many different countries getting behind their teams,” he added.

“It’s amazing. With 14 teams now, you hope that many people decide to come and travel to South Africa and be a part of the event."

A fearless leader who epitomises grit and resilience. Graeme Smith - a pillar of South African cricket and a leader like no other. The 2027 tournament will feature 14 teams, an increase from the 10-team format at the previous two Men’s Cricket World Cups.

The marquee tournament slated for next year will be hosted across eight venues in South Africa, three in Zimbabwe and the Namibia Cricket Ground in the Namibian capital city of Windhoek. It will mark only the third occasion of the tournament being staged across three host nations after 1996 and 2003. — ICC