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Qatar Stars League

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Qatar Stars League
Founded1963; 63 years ago (1963)
CountryQatar
ConfederationAsian Football Confederation
Number of clubs12
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toQatar Stars League 2
Domestic cups
International cups
Current championsAl-Sadd (19th title)
(2025–26)
Most championshipsAl-Sadd (19 titles)
Broadcaster(s)beIN Sports
Alkass Sports
Sponsor(s)Doha Bank
Alkass
Websiteqsl.qa
Current: 2025–26 Qatar Stars League

The Qatar Stars League (Arabic: دوري نجوم قطر, romanized: Dawrī Nujūm Qaṭar; abbreviated as QSL), known as Doha Bank Stars League for sponsorship reasons, is the top level football league in Qatar. Contested by 12 teams, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Qatari Second Division (QSD), with the lowest ranked club at the end of the QSL season being demoted to make room for the promotion of the highest ranked QSD club of the season. The QSL season usually runs from September to April. The league's first season was played in 1963, although the first official season occurred in 1972.

The Qatari league system provides 5 domestic cups that various clubs can compete for: the Emir of Qatar Cup, open to all teams in both the first and second divisions; the Qatar Cup, a postseason tournament played by the top four first division teams; the Sheikh Jassem Cup, a prelude to the first division regular season; the Qatari Stars Cup, a round-robin tournament played midseason; and the Qatar FA Cup, where the bottom 8 teams from the QSL and the entire QSD participate. The league title has been officially won by 7 clubs since its inception. The club that has won the most championships is Al-Sadd, with 19 titles.

League structure

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There are two divisions in the Qatari football structure and the league has previously seen one club promoted and relegated each year, except in expansion seasons. The Qatar Stars League, previously known as the Q-League currently features 12 teams, with the second division featuring eight teams. The top four clubs at the end of the regular league system participate in the Qatar Crown Prince Cup, which was formed in the 1994/95 season.[1]

The Qatar Stars League has slowly expanded since the turn of the decade, moving from nine clubs to ten clubs, and then latest setup of 12 clubs for the Qatari League 2009-10 campaign. It was announced that in the 2013-14 season, the number of clubs in the top division would increase to 14, whereas the second division would increase to 18 clubs which includes the reserve teams of the top division clubs.[2]

It was announced on 15 April 2009 that no clubs would be relegated from the top flight the 2008–09 Qatar Stars League season, due to expansion reasons, however the announcement was made with only one game remaining.[3] That year, the top league expanded to 12 clubs. In May 2013, the QFA again expanded the league by two more teams, bringing the total number of clubs in the first division to 14.[4] In 2017 the number of teams moved back to 12.

There are currently four official amateur football leagues in Qatar. Three amateur leagues are under the jurisdiction of the Qatar Community Football League (QCFL), established by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and the fourth, known as the Qatar Amateur League (QAL) is recognized by the QFA. Inaugurated in November 2013,[5] the QAL has 14 teams, all of which were established through the country's government, political and social sectors.[6]

History

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Early history

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The first unofficial season of the Qatar Stars League was the 1963–64 season, three years after the formation of the QFA. Similarly, a second division was also created during this time. For many years, there was no promotion or relegation system.[7] Al-Maref, a club representing the Ministry of Education, was dissolved in 1966-67 by decision of the QFA and its players distributed to other clubs.[8]

First official season

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In 1972–73, the first official season was played.[9] Al Esteqlal, now known as Qatar SC, won the first championship.[10]

The first time there was a playoff for the championship was in 1980, between Al Sadd and Al Arabi. Al Sadd won the match 1–0.[7]

Although a second division had been in place for some time, there was no relegation or promotion system. However, in 1981, such a system was put in place for the first time. Five clubs participated in the second division that year.[7]

In 1984–85, there was no relegation or promotion due to a lack of players, as members of the Qatar national football team were preparing for the qualification rounds of the 1986 FIFA World Cup.[7]

In 1994, for one season, the QFA launched a new system where matches ending in draws would end in a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. This was put in place in an effort to improve attendance.[7]

Three second division clubs were dissolved in the 1990 season: Al Nasr, Al Tadamon, and Al Nahda. Many of their players were distributed to first division clubs and became prominent players in Qatari football history, such as Fahad Al Kuwari, Ahmed Al Kuwari and Hamad Al Khalifa. After the dissolution of these clubs, there was no longer any relegation or promotion for five years. In 1995/96, the second division was brought back with five clubs, while there were ten clubs participating in the first division.[7]

The 2003 money influx from QFA

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A successful method the QFA used to develop the league was allocating each Q-League club with a sum of $10,000,000 to buy big-name foreign players in order to increase popularity, in the summer of 2003. The attempt brought in players such as Ronald and Frank de Boer, Romário, Pep Guardiola, Fernando Hierro, Marcel Desailly, Stefan Effenberg, Claudio Caniggia and Gabriel Batistuta, who soon appeared and shone in the league.[11][12]

In addition, in 2004, the Aspire Academy was formed, which provides training facilities to young people in order to improve the footballing standard not only in Qatar, but internationally. Many notable players have graduated from the academy, including Abdelkarim Hassan, Saad Al Sheeb, and Ibrahim Majid.[13]

2009: Changing name to Qatar Stars League

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In 2009, no clubs were relegated from the top division. Due to the recent formation of Lekhwiya and El Jaish, this meant that the second division would lose two clubs while two more clubs would enter the first division, bringing the total number of clubs in the first division to 12, and the second division to six.[3] As part of the expansion campaign, the Q-League changed its name to what it is currently known as the Qatar Stars League,[14] and inaugurated a new domestic cup, the Qatari Stars Cup.[15]

Clubs

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Champions

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Al Sadd are the most successful team in the league
Club Wins Winning years[16]
Al Sadd 19 1971–72, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1999–2000, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2012–13, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26
Al Duhail 8 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2022–23
Al-Rayyan 8 1975–76, 1977–78, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1989–90, 1994–95, 2015–16
Qatar SC 8 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1976–77, 2002–03
Al-Arabi 7 1982–83, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97
Al-Gharafa 7 1991–92, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10
Al-Maaref 3 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66
Al-Wakrah 2 1998–99, 2000–01

Total titles won by region

[edit]
Region Number of titles Clubs
Doha
44
 Al-Sadd SC (19), Qatar SC (8), Al-Duhail (8), Al-Arabi (7), Al-Maaref (3)
Al Rayyan
15
 Al-Rayyan (8), Al-Gharafa (7)
Al Wakrah
2
 Al-Wakrah (2)

Media coverage

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Qatar

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In 2012, Alkass Sports Channels signed a deal for the rights to broadcast the Stars League in English.[17] beIN Sports also bought rights to broadcast the Stars League.

Seasons Channel
2012–present Alkass Sports
beIN Sports

International

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Seasons Countries Channel
2023–present  South Korea SPOTV
 ASEAN

Post-season awards

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An award system was developed in 2006 in which the best player and coach of the footballing season are selected by a panel of journalists. Each award winner receives $100,000.[18][19] There are also awards for youth players and club staff.

Year Best Player Club Best Player U23 Club Best Coach Club
2006[18] Qatar Sebastián Soria Al Gharafa Not held Uruguay Jorge Fossati Al Sadd
2007[18] Qatar Emerson Sheik Al Sadd
2008[18] Morocco Aziz Ben Askar Umm Salal Qatar Hassan Al Haydos Al Sadd Brazil Marcos Paquetá Al Gharafa
2009[18] Argentina Leonardo Pisculichi Al Arabi Not held Brazil Sebastião Lazaroni Qatar SC
2010[18] Brazil Juninho Pernambucano Al Gharafa Brazil Caio Júnior Al Gharafa
2011[18] Ivory Coast Bakari Koné Lekhwiya Qatar Abdullah Mubarak Al Ahli
2012[20] Brazil Rodrigo Tabata Al-Rayyan Uruguay Diego Aguirre Al-Rayyan
2013[21] Qatar Khalfan Ibrahim Al Sadd Morocco Hussein Amotta Al Sadd
2014 Algeria Nadir Belhadj Tunisia Sami Trabelsi Al-Sailiya
2015 Qatar Hassan Al-Haydos Qatar Abdurahman Al-Harazi Al-Sailiya Denmark Michael Laudrup Lekhwiya
2016 Qatar Rodrigo Tabata Al-Rayyan Qatar Abdelkarim Hassan Al Sadd Uruguay Jorge Fossati Al-Rayyan
2017 South Korea Nam Tae-hee Lekhwiya Qatar Almoez Ali Lekhwiya Portugal Jesualdo Ferreira Al Sadd
2018 Tunisia Youssef Msakni Al-Duhail Algeria Djamel Belmadi Al-Duhail
2019 Qatar Akram Afif Al Sadd Qatar Bassam Al-Rawi Al-Duhail Portugal Jesualdo Ferreira Al Sadd
2020 QatarTarek Salman Al Sadd Uruguay Diego Aguirre Al-Rayyan
2021 Spain Santi Cazorla Qatar Homam Ahmed Lekhwiya Spain Xavi Al-Sadd
2022 Qatar Akram Afif Al Gharafa Spain Tintín Márquez Al-Wakrah
2023 Tunisia Youssef Msakni Al Arabi Qatar Osama Al Tairy Al-Rayyan Qatar Younes Ali Al Arabi
2024 Qatar Akram Afif Al Sadd Qatar Jassem Gaber Al Arabi Portugal Pedro Martins Al-Gharafa

Top goalscorers

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Source:[22][23]

Year Best scorers Team Goals
1972–73 QatarAwad HassanAl-Esteqlal10
1973–74Mansour MuftahAl-Rayyan15
1974–75 Not held
1975–76 QatarJamal Al-KhatibAl-Esteqlal8
1976–77Mansour MuftahAl-Rayyan13
1977–7811
1978–79Hassan MattarAl Sadd11
1979–80 Egypt
Qatar
Qatar
Qatar		Sharif Abdul-Hamed
Badr Bilal
Hamdan Hamed
Mansour Muftah		Qatar SC
Al Sadd
Al Ahli
Al-Rayyan		5
1980–81 QatarHassan MattarAl Sadd9
1981–82Mansour MuftahAl-Rayyan19
1982–8310
1983–847
1984–85Ahmed YaqoubAl-Arabi7
1985–86Mansour MuftahAl-Rayyan22
1986–87Hassan SabelaAl Ahli9
1987–88Hassan JawharAl Sadd11
1988–89 IranFarshad PiousAl Ahli9
1989–90 BrazilMarquinho CariocaAl-Arabi10
1990–91 Qatar
Qatar
Qatar		 Adel Khamis
Hassan Sabela
Mahmoud Soufi		 Al-Ittihad
Al Ahli
Al-Ittihad		 10
1991–92 Algeria
Qatar		 Rabah Madjer
Mubarak Mustafa		 Qatar SC
Al-Arabi		 8
1992–93 QatarMubarak MustafaAl-Arabi9
1993–94 IraqAhmed RadhiAl-Wakra12
1994–95 Qatar Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi Al-Rayyan 9
1995–96 NigeriaRicky OwubokiriAl-Arabi16
1996–97 Qatar
Senegal		 Mubarak Mustafa
Alboury Lah		 Al-Arabi
Al Ahli		 11
1997–98 Brazil
Morocco
Senegal		 Cláudio Prates
Hussein Ammouta
Alboury Lah		 Al-Shamal
Al Sadd
Al Ahli		 10
1998–99 AngolaAkwáAl-Wakrah11
1999–2000 QatarMohammed Salem Al-EnaziAl-Rayyan14
2000–01 SenegalMamoun DiopAl-Wakrah14
2001–02 AlgeriaRachid AmraneAl-Ittihad16
2002–03 MoroccoRachid RokkiAl-Khor15
2003–04 ArgentinaGabriel BatistutaAl-Arabi25
2004–05 BrazilSonny AndersonAl-Rayyan20
2005–06 EcuadorCarlos TenorioAl Sadd21
2006–07 IraqYounis MahmoudAl-Gharafa24
2007–08 BrazilClemerson27
2008–09Magno AlvesUmm Salal25
2009–10 Brazil
Iraq		Caboré
Younis Mahmoud		Al-Arabi
Al-Gharafa		21
2010–11 IraqYounis MahmoudAl-Gharafa15
2011–12 BrazilAdrianoEl Jaish18
2012–13 QatarSebastián SoriaLekhwiya19
2013–14 Democratic Republic of the CongoDioko KaluyitukaAl Ahli22
2014–1525
2015–16 Morocco
Qatar		 Abderrazak Hamdallah
Rodrigo Tabata		 El Jaish
Al-Rayyan		 21
2016–17 MoroccoYoussef El-ArabiLekhwiya24
2017–18 MoroccoAl-Duhail26
2018–19 AlgeriaBaghdad BounedjahAl Sadd39
2019–20 Algeria
Qatar		 Yacine Brahimi
Akram Afif		 Al-Rayyan
Al Sadd		 15
2020–21 AlgeriaBaghdad BounedjahAl Sadd21
2021–22 KenyaMichael OlungaAl-Duhail24
2022–2322
2023–24 QatarAkram AfifAl Sadd26
2024–25 BrazilRóger GuedesAl-Rayyan21
2025–26

By player

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Rank Player Country Titles Seasons
1Mansour Muftah Qatar71976–77, 1977–78, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86
2Mubarak Mustafa31991–92, 1992–93, 1996–97
2Younis Mahmoud Iraq2006–07, 2009–10, 2010–11
4Hassan Mattar Qatar21977–78, 1980–81
4Hassan Sabela1986–87, 1990–91
4Marquinho Carioca Brazil1989–90, 1993–94
4Mahmoud Soufi Qatar1990–91, 1993–94
4Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi1994–95, 1999–2000
4Alboury Lah Senegal1996–97, 1997–98
4Dioko Kaluyituka Democratic Republic of the Congo2013–14, 2014–15
4Youssef El-Arabi Morocco2016–17, 2017–18
4Baghdad Bounedjah Algeria2018–19, 2020–21
4Akram Afif Qatar2019–20, 2023–24
4Michael Olunga Kenya2021–22, 2022–23
4Róger Guedes Brazil2024–25, 2025–26

All-time top scorers

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Rank Nat Name Club Years Goals Apps Assists
1 Qatar Sebastián Soria Al-Gharafa, Qatar SC, Al-Rayyan, Al-Duhail, Al-Arabi 2004–21143458
2 Mansour Muftah Al-Rayyan, Al-Wakrah 1973–199817921620+
3 Algeria Baghdad Bounedjah Al-Sadd, Al-Shamal 2015–16317146
4 Qatar Rodrigo Tabata Al-Rayyan, Al-Sadd 2011–148282102
5 Iraq Younis Mahmoud Al-Gharafa, Al-Sadd, Al-Arabi, Al-Khor, Al-Wakrah 2004–20131311904
6 Qatar Meshal Abdullah Al-Gharafa, Qatar SC, Al-Wakrah, Al-Sailiya, Al-Ahli 1999–201012335428
7 Tunisia Youssef Msakni Al-Arabi, Al-Duhail 2013–11118660
8 Qatar Akram Afif Al-Sadd 2018–10712769
9 Hassan Al-Haydos 2007–10233686
10 South Korea Nam Tae-hee Al-Sadd, Al-Duhail 2012–20239423175
11 Qatar Mubarak Mustafa Al-Arabi SC, Al-Khor, Al-Gharafa 1990–200791+179+42+
12 Democratic Republic of the Congo Dioko Kaluyituka Al-Duhail , Al-Gharafa, Al-Kharaitiyat, Muaither, Al-Ahli 2011–20178412112
13 Qatar Khalfan Ibrahim Al-Arabi , Al-Sadd, Al-Rayyan 2004–20208324149
14 Morocco Youssef El-Arabi Al-Duhail 2016–2019765913
15 Kenya Michael Olunga Al-Duhail, Al-Arabi 2021–75806
16 Burkina Faso Moumouni Dagano Al-Sailiya, Qatar SC, Al-Shamal, Al-Duhail, Al-Khor 2008–20157215820
17 Angola Akwá Qatar SC, Al-Gharafa, Al-Wakrah 1998–200670123
18 Brazil Clemerson Araújo Al-Gharafa 2007–20106884
19 Morocco Rachid Rokki Al-Khor, Umm Salal 2000–200865118
20 Ecuador Carlos Tenorio Al-Sadd 2003–20086388
21 Argentina Leonardo Pisculichi Al-Arabi 2007–20126311215
22 Burkina Faso Yahia Kébé Al-Kharaitiyat 2009–20165813221
23 Croatia Wagner Ribeiro Al-Sailiya, Al-Arabi, El Jaish, Al-Ahli 2009–20185717429
24 Brazil Cabore Umm Salal, Al-Arabi 2009–2014579015
25 Qatar Mirghani Al Zain Al-Gharafa, Al-Wakrah, Al-Sailiya 1996–201957420
26 Algeria Yacine Brahimi Al-Gharafa, Al-Rayyan 2019–5710130
27 Brazil Júlio César Al-Khor, Al-Ahli 2009–20165611713
28 Qatar Almoez Ali Al-Duhail 2016–56161
29 Qatar Abdulgadir Ilyas Bakur Al-Sailiya, Al-Arabi, El Jaish, Umm Salal, Al-Markhiya 2008–5518439
30 Oman Amad Al-Hosni Qatar SC, Al-Rayyan 2005–2010521006
31 Qatar Mohammed Muntari El Jaish, Al-Duhail, Al Ahli, Al-Gharafa 2012–52152
32 Ivory Coast Yannick Sagbo Umm Salal 2015–2020519812
33 Algeria Mohamed Benyettou Al-Wakrah 2019–51103
34 Qatar Ali Afif Al-Sadd, Al-Duhail, Umm Salal 2015–5028634
35 Qatar Boualem Khoukhi Al-Sadd, Al-Arabi 2009–5026825

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Heir Apparent Cup finals" (in Arabic). Al Kass. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "QSL confirms expansion move". Doha Stadium Plus. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Qatar Stars League (QSL)". mail.asiancup2011.com.qa. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "QSL expands to 14 teams". Qatar Sports Today. 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Qatar Amateur League". Qatar Stars League. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014.
  6. ↑ "Amateur League kick-off on Nov 11". Doha Stadium Plus. 13 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 دوري نجوم قطر. mail.asiancup2011.qa (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "Qatar — List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  9. ↑ "« عن الريان « تاريخ النادي" (in Arabic). Al Rayyan Club. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012.
  10. ↑ "Al-Esteqlal Doha Qatar Stars League (1. League)". Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  11. ↑ "Football in Qatar". Qatar Visitor. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012.
  12. ↑ Ken Salmon (9 June 2022). "When Effenberg, Batistuta and Guardiola played in Qatar". 90soccer.com.
  13. ↑ "Champ magazine, issue 7". Aspire Academy. December 2014. p. 9. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  14. ↑ Matthias Krug (29 August 2009). "An Asian armada sets sail for Europe". ESPN FC. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  15. ↑ "QNB The Exclusive Partner of QATAR STARS CUP". QNB. 14 October 2009. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  16. ↑ "Qatar - List of Champions". 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  17. ↑ "'Football is a powerful marketing tool'". 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "QFA to name Player of the Year on Sunday". Qatar Football Association. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012.
  19. ↑ QFA announce $100,000 for best player Doha Press.
  20. ↑ "Tabata & Aguirre named season heroes". Qatar Stars League. 13 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  21. ↑ "Sadd's Khalfan, Raul, Amotta shine at QFA awards gala". Gulf Times. 20 May 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  22. ↑ "Qatar - List of Topscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  23. ↑ "Qatar Football Association Award 2021-22". Retrieved 2022-12-19.
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