The new season will once again involve an array of international stars, including Roberto Firmino, Marco Verratti, Julian Draxler, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Pablo Sarabia and Luis Alberto, among others.
This campaign follows a thrilling 2025/26 season, when Firmino's Al Sadd claimed their 19th league crown, while Al Rayyan forward Roger Guedes finished as the QSL's top scorer.
Ahead of the 2026/27 edition, Director of Competitions, Ahmed Abbassi, has outlined a new era for Qatar’s top flight, built around sustainability, stability, competitiveness and market value, while revealing the remarkable growth of the league over the past three years.
Improved pathway for Qatari talent
One of the major changes to the domestic football structure is the introduction of QSL2, a new 12-team competition. This is designed primarily to provide young Qatari players with more competitive football on a regular basis, creating a clearer route towards the elite level.
“The under 23 national team is going to play competitive matches week in, week out, all season, home and away, instead of playing friendly matches,” Abbassi explained.
The objective is to give the national team's young players a stronger competitive preparation for the U-23 Asian Cup and the qualification pathway towards the 2028 Olympic Games.
Incredible commercial growth
For Abbassi, Director of Competitions at the QSL, the momentum that's built ahead of the 2026/27 campaign reflects the remarkable growth across the top flight.
“Even from a commercial point of view, in the last three years, the market value of the league has increased by 150% compared to previously,” Abbassi said.
That commercial growth has attracted partners such as Doha Bank, who became the league's naming sponsor.
“We are now starting a new era in our journey of growth,” said Abbassi.
“This era is based on four main pillars. One is sustainability, two is stability, three is competitiveness, and four is market value. And all of this together is going to create our path forward. And we are very excited about this.”
