Qatar's senior men's volleyball team are continuing their daily training at their residential camp in the association hall, in the final phase of preparations before competing at the World Championship hosted by the Philippines from 12 to 28 September — a historic second appearance for the team at this level.
Qatar played two friendly matches against Egypt on 25 and 26 August, both ending level at two sets apiece without recourse to a deciding fifth set, by agreement between the two sides: the coaching staffs preferred to stop at four sets so as to give as many players as possible a run and to try more than one approach.
In the first match Egypt took the opening two sets 26-24 and 25-15, before Qatar came back to take the third and fourth by an identical 25-18.
The second meeting saw the advantage change hands. Egypt took the first set 25-14, Qatar replied in the second 25-22, Egypt moved ahead again in the third 25-15, and Qatar levelled matters by winning the fourth 25-21.
Qatar continue their series of warm-up matches against Iran on 31 August and 2 September, before closing the camp with three meetings against Ukraine on 4, 6 and 7 September — the last stop before travelling to the Philippine capital, Manila, where the championship is played.
The World Championship draw placed Qatar in Pool B alongside Poland, the world's top-ranked side and holders of the title, the Netherlands and Romania, in a group described as among the hardest in the tournament.
Qatar open on 13 September against the Netherlands, meet Poland on the 15th, and close the first round against Romania on the 17th.
This is the team's second appearance in the finals of the World Championship, following their participation in the 2022 edition held in Poland and Slovenia.