Doha
Doha hosted a men's World Cup in 2022, and futsal and 5-a-side remain part of the city's evenings. Weekday games run in compounds, academies and indoor halls long after dark. The MCC Doha tournament gives amateur teams a 2027 season of their own: three grounds, a Pitch Round from 9 April and a Qatar Country Championship at the end of May.
Three grounds, three champions
Two halves of 15 minutes on a stop clock. Every team plays three group matches in a group of four, and the top two go into the playoffs, where a tie level after two halves goes to penalties. Five weeks of football on each ground leave Doha with three Pitch Champions, and each goes straight to the Country Championship.
Temba Arena
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
Al Rayyan/West
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
Al Wakrah/South
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
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Futsal after dark in Doha
Most small-sided football here happens in the evening, once the heat has dropped. The community is international: Qatari, Arab, South Asian, African and European players share the same leagues. Al Sadd, Al Duhail and Al Rayyan are among the best-known clubs in the country.
A workplace team or neighbourhood side that already plays weekly fits the format directly. Squads of up to nine play two halves of fifteen minutes on a stop clock, and every match takes a 40-minute slot, so a night of fixtures is easy to plan around.
Temba Arena, Al Rayyan/West and Al Wakrah/South
Doha has three grounds. Temba Arena is the name of the one covering the central and northern districts, Al Rayyan/West covers the western side of the city toward Education City and the Al Rayyan area, and Al Wakrah/South covers the southern side toward Al Wakrah. Each holds 64 to 128 teams and runs its own complete round.
People move around by car, taxi and the Doha Metro, and distances are short enough that a ground is rarely far from a team's home district. A team enters the ground that suits its commute, whether that is west, south or central.
April and May heat, then the Qatar route
April and May bring the first serious heat to Doha, with daytime highs often above 30 degrees by May. The group weekends are 9, 16 and 23 April. Knockout play begins on 30 April and ground finals are on 9 May.
No other Qatari city hosts, so all three Doha Pitch Champions, each winning $20,000, meet at the Country Championship from 28 to 30 May 2027. A continental stage follows, and the World Final is on 7 July 2027, the last match of the tournament.
A season rather than a one-day cup
Company tournaments and expat cups are common in Qatar, and many last a single day. MCC is built differently: a published format, three group matches in a group of four, penalties for level playoff ties, and a conduct policy with zero tolerance. Teams enter under one Team License and name a Team President. Amateurs only.
The road out of Doha
- 01 · 9 Apr - 9 May 2027
Pitch Round
Groups of four on every pitch, three group matches each. The top two of every group go into the playoffs, and penalties settle a level playoff tie.
$20,000 - 02 · 28-30 May 2027
Country Championship
The Pitch Champions of each country play for the national title: two halves of 15 minutes, a league table, then the playoffs.
$150,000 - 03 · 2027
Continental Championship
Country Champions compete within their region for a place on the world stage.
$500,000 - 04 · 7 Jul 2027
World Championship
A five-team mini-league, then the World Final: two halves of 15 minutes, penalties if level. One MCC World Champion.
$5,000,000
Questions from Doha
How does a team enter MCC in Doha?
Register on this site and pick one of Doha's three grounds: Temba Arena, Al Rayyan/West, Al Wakrah/South. One Team License per team: USD 1,200 for one year until 1 March 2027 (then 2,500), or 5,000 for three years. Payment and KYC verification follow the application.
When does the tournament start in Doha?
The Pitch Round runs 9 April to 9 May 2027 on all three Doha grounds. The group matches are played on 9-11, 16-18 and 23-25 April, the playoffs from 30 April, and each ground's final on 9 May. Pitch Champions go straight to the Country Championship on 28-30 May 2027.
How many teams can play in Doha?
Up to 384: each of the three grounds takes up to 128 teams, and each needs a minimum of 64 to run its round. A full ground puts an entry on its waitlist instead of turning it away.
What can a Doha team win?
$20,000 per Pitch Champion, $150,000 for the Qatar title, $500,000 continental and $5,000,000 for the World Champion - plus championship rings from Country level up.
Can a mixed-nationality workplace team enter in Doha?
Yes. The team enters under one Team License with a named Team President, and the players must be amateurs. Players do not have to share a nationality in the squad of up to nine.
How warm is Doha during the April and May Pitch Round?
April is warm and May is hot, with daytime highs often above 30 degrees by the end of the Pitch Round. Matches are 40-minute slots of two 15-minute halves on a stop clock, and the Pitch Round runs from 9 April to 9 May 2027.
Is Temba Arena a venue, and where is that ground?
Temba Arena is the name of one of Doha's three grounds and covers the central and northern districts. It is not a signed venue. A venue for each ground is confirmed through the pitch owner programme, and the live cards on the Doha page show which have one.
Does the Doha tournament use futsal rules?
It uses a 5-a-side format familiar to futsal players: squads of up to nine, two 15-minute halves on a stop clock, 40-minute slots and penalties when a playoff tie is level.
Nearby in Middle East and Caucasus
Claim a pitch in Doha
One Team License per team, for one year or three years. Squads of up to 9 are built in the MCC app after licensing. Registration takes the team, its coach and its Team President.
- USD1,200One year
- 5,000Three years