Prospects for 2022 World Cup on show in Abu Dhabi

Youngsters from Qatar, Spain and England compete in the Al Jazira International Friendly Youth Tournament with an eye on the 2022 World Cup.

Qatar's Saleh Badr, right, and Manchester City's Albert Rusnak in action.

ABU DHABI // They will turn 27, 28 and 29 in 2022, when Qatar plays host to the World Cup. And, who knows, some of them may play for the Gulf nation when football's greatest tournament kicks off.

"Sure, they talk of the future," said Hassan al Obadily, team manager of the Qatar national Under 18 side. "Some of them will be there, I hope."

Some of the top young talent in the region, and from Manchester City of the English Premier League and Valencia of the Spanish Primera Liga, are in the capital for the Al Jazira International Friendly Youth Tournament, sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

It involves six teams and began last night at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium and continues until the final on April 12.

In games on Day 1, Al Jazira defeated the Tunisian national team 5-1 as Muhammed Hussein scored three goals, and in the late game Qatar's future stars outpaced Manchester City's youth side 4-2.

"This is a really good tournament for us, and we're always happy to come to Abu Dhabi," said Mark Allen, academy director for Manchester City, which is owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed. "We like to renew the connection we have, and we always feel welcome."

The young City players arrived in the UAE on Saturday. Allen said tournaments such as this one give valuable experience to rising players, both on a competitive level and in exposing them to the wider world. "This is the sort of assignment they will have later on," Allen said, "playing a tournament in a foreign country, and it's good for them to know what it's like to live in the hotel and go through the airports. All of those things".

Even as the parent club rises in the Premier League table mostly on the strength of players from outside City's youth development programme, some athletes from the youth ranks are still finding a place in the Blues: Allen cited the examples of John Guidetti, Reece Wabara and Gregory Cunningham, all of whom played at the same level these boys did, although one more level - the elite development squad - stands between these aspiring stars and the first team.

City's 18 players include 11 who have played for their national sides, Allen said, as well as several from outside the UK, including the Norwegian twins Tom and Kim Skogsrud and the Irish centre-back and captain, Kieran Kennedy.

City's most impressive player in the match with Qatar probably was the midfielder Bradley Robinson, who showed an ability to hold the ball in traffic and earned (and converted) a penalty.

Qatar, however, had the more impressive night, from the very mature and physical forward Ahmed al Dein, who scored the first goal, to the speedy midfielder Saleh Badr and the ball-hawking midfielder Ali Abdullah, who also scored goals.

Al Obadily said he viewed Manchester CIty as "a very good test, because they are a strong team, in the English style, and we do not see that often in the Gulf". Qatar dealt with City's size advantage, however, with superior technical skills and greater speed.

Also in the tournament are the UAE national team and Valencia's youth team. The six teams are organized into two groups of three, and the top two in each group meet in the semi-finals Sunday. The final and third-place game are next Tuesday.

And the boys are getting the big-game experience, too. They are playing inside a massive stadium, and their matches are being televised locally, so everyone can watch them and dissect their games. Just as could be their lot in 2022 World Cup begins in Doha.