Doha: Qatar’s national volleyball team is set to face Iran on Sunday evening at the Federation Hall, continuing its series of friendly matches in preparation for the upcoming FIVB World Championship, which will be held in the Philippines from Sept. 12 to 28.

According to Qatar News Agency, the team is training daily at its domestic camp in Doha, entering the final phase of preparations. Last week, Qatar played two friendlies against Egypt, both ending in draws. In the first match, Egypt won the opening two sets 26-24 and 25-15, before Qatar bounced back to take the third and fourth sets, both by a score of 25-18. The second match saw alternating dominance, with Egypt winning the first set 25-14, Qatar responding with a 25-22 win in the second, Egypt taking the third 25-15, and Qatar leveling the match with a 25-21 win in the fourth.

Qatar will continue its warm-up campaign with another match against Iran on Tuesday, followed by three games against Ukraine on Sept. 4, 6, and 7. These will mark the final stage of preparations before the team departs for Manila. The tournament draw placed Qatar in Group B alongside world No. 1 and defending champion Poland, as well as the Netherlands and Romania, making it one of the most competitive groups in the championship.

Qatar opens its campaign on Sept. 13 against the Netherlands, faces Poland on Sept. 15, and concludes the group stage against Romania on Sept. 17. This marks Qatar’s second appearance at the World Championship, following its debut in 2022 in Poland and Slovenia. The team hopes to build on its previous experience and raise its level against top-tier international competition in the expanded 32-team format, up from 24 teams used since 1998.