6 Dubai clubs in the fray against European teams

All six Dubai clubs will play alongside some of the top junior sides from European clubs in the 2nd Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Football Championship (Under 19) to be held from April 6-16. Junior teams from Al Shabab Al Arabi, Al Nasr and Dubai Club will clash against Italy Liga Pro and Al Jahraa FC, Kuwait in Group A, while Al Wasl, Al Ahli and Hatta Club will be up against RC Lens from France and Birmingham FC from the United Kingdom when competition kicks off on Friday. Each team will play each other to decide the best two in each group who will advance to the semi-finals. If two or more teams are tied with the same number of points at the end of the preliminary rounds, then the result between the two teams will decide the winner. The competition is open to players born in 1992 and after. All participating teams will be allowed to have the services of two unregistered players on a trial basis. Matches will be played over two halves of 40 minutes each. Besides trophies and medals for the top three teams, there will be separate individual prizes for the best goalkeeper, the top scorer of the tournament and a Fair Play trophy. All preliminary round matches from Group A will be played at Al Nasr Club, while the Group B game will kick off at Al Wasl Club. In the opening match on Friday, Al Nasr will play Dubai Club at 4.30 pm at Al Nasr Club ground, while Al Shabab will face Italy Lega Pro in the second match scheduled to be held at the same venue from 6.30pm. In Group B, RC Lens will take on Hatta Club at 4.30 pm, while Al Wasl will take on Al Ahli in the second match beginning at 6.30 pm. The semi-finals and final will be held from 4 pm on April 14 at the Al Nasr Club ground. Group A: Italy Lega Pro, Al Shabab Al Arabi, Dubai, Al Nasr, Dubai; Dubai Club and Al Jahraa FC, Kuwait. Group B: RC Lens, France, Birmingham FC, UK; Al Wasl, Dubai, Al Ahli, Dubai, Hatta Club.