Al Gharafa are continuing their preparations for the 2026-2027 season with a training camp in Slovakian capital Bratislava (July 16 to August 3), as part of the team’s preparatory programme under the guidance of Portuguese Coach Pedro Martins.

The team is undergoing intense daily training sessions, focusing on physical, technical and tactical aspects. The aim is to improve the players’ readiness and help them reach peak performance before the start of official competitions as well as to enhance the cohesion between new signings and the core of the squad.

Al Gharafa began their preparations in Doha on July 4 before moving to overseas camp, where they played friendly matches against Slovak clubs AS Trencin and Samorin as well as Saudi Arabian sides Al Hilal and Al Riyadh.

The 2025-2026 season proved productive for Al Gharafa as they finished fourth in Doha Bank Stars League with 36 points (11 victories, three draws and eight defeats). They scored 36 goals and conceded as many goals. 

The Cheetahs then won the Amir Cup by beating Al Sadd in the final, retaining the prestigious trophy they won in 2024-2025 season by defeating Al Rayyan in the final. The achievement also secured Al Gharafa a berth in AFC Champions League Elite.

In terms of individual recognition, Al Gharafa defender Ayoub Al Oui won the Best Under-23 Player Award at 2025-2026 Qatar Football Association Awards.

Al Gharafa have strengthened their squad by recruiting Abdulrahman Faiz Al Rashidi, Mason Holgate and goalkeeper Ahmed Kone, while coach Martins’ contract has been extended for two more seasons. They will be joining the ranks that include Yacine Brahimi, Fabricio Diaz, Ferjani Sassi, Jang Hyun-Soo, Florinel Coman, goalkeeper Khalifa Ababacar, Amro Seraj and Jamal Hamed.

Al Gharafa will kick off their 2026-2027 Doha Bank Stars League campaign against Al Shahania at Khalifa International Stadium on August 21 with ambitions to continue their success and compete strongly in domestic and continental tournaments.