David Beckham didn’t come to watch from the sidelines. He came to play.
The football legend joined students from The First Assalam School and Sherborne Qatar on the pitch for a session they are unlikely to forget. He played football first with the boys, then stepped straight back on the pitch to join the girls, bringing the same energy and encouragement to both games.
“I used to be a football player,” Beckham joked as he introduced himself, before listing clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, and casually mentioning he once captained England. The kids needed no introduction and were instantly locked in.
Before kicking the football around, Beckham chatted with the students and asked what they had learned so far.
“Mental health,” one student said matter-of-factly.
That opened an easy conversation about eating well, drinking water and getting enough sleep. Sleep quickly became a favourite topic.
“Eight o’clock?” Beckham asked. “Nine o’clock,” came the answer.
Beckham laughed and shared that even his own kids struggle with bedtime, a moment that broke the ice between the global football icon and the group of 10- to 12-year-olds.
More than a guest appearance
The visit was part of the Healthy Cities Schools Programme, delivered through a partnership between the Ministry of Public Health and the Generation Amazing Foundation. The idea is simple: use sport to help students build healthier habits.
“We’re celebrating the end of this cycle of our partnership with the Ministry of Public Health,” said Nasser Al-Khori, Executive Director of Generation Amazing Foundation. “We’ve been working on this initiative since the World Cup.”
Six health challenges affecting school children were identified, he explained, and football-based activities were built around them. Around 30 teachers have been trained and now deliver the programme in their schools.
“They’re our ambassadors within their schools and communities,” Al-Khori said. “They take these ideas forward.”
Why role models still matter
Bringing someone like Beckham into that environment adds another layer.
“A lot of young people look up to David as a role model,” Al-Khori said. “It matters that they can speak to him, ask questions and hear about the challenges he faced and how he overcame them.”
He pointed out that Beckham does not just show up and leave.
“He’s genuinely interested. He asks about their lives, their school. That creates a different kind of energy.”
For a couple of hours on a winter morning in Doha, it wasn’t about trophies or accolades. It was about football, the simple joy of having a legend join your game and stories that will likely be told for years to come.
