The Arab world’s greatest soccer competitors kicks off on Monday, as 16 groups from throughout the area face off in Qatar.
Right here’s every little thing you could know concerning the match, which happens each 4 years:
Really useful Tales
checklist of 4 gadgetsfinish of checklist
What are the important thing dates?
The FIFA Arab Cup 2025 will start on Monday, with Tunisia going through Syria within the match opener.
The ultimate can be performed on December 18, marking the conclusion of the 32-match match.
- Group stage: December 1 to 9
- Quarterfinals: December 11 and 12
- Semifinals: December 15
- Third-place playoff: December 18
- Remaining: December 18
The place is the match being held?
Qatar is staging the Arab Cup for the third time; it hosted the 1998 and 2021 tournaments. It’s also the second successive FIFA match hosted by the Gulf nation after the lately concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Six venues have been chosen to host the regional showpiece, every of which was used throughout the FIFA World Cup three years in the past.
As was the case throughout Qatar 2022, Al Bayt Stadium, within the northern metropolis of Al Khor, will host the match opener, whereas the magnificent Lusail Stadium will host the ultimate.
The 2025 Arab Cup would be the second version underneath FIFA’s jurisdiction, with editions earlier than 2021 organised by the Union of Arab Soccer Associations (UAFA).
Listed below are the host cities and stadiums:
⚽ Lusail Metropolis: Lusail Stadium (capability: 88,966)
⚽ Al Rayyan: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium (capability: 45,032)
⚽ Al Khor: Al Bayt Stadium (capability: 68,895)
⚽ Doha: Stadium 974 (capability: 44,089)
⚽ Training Metropolis: Training Metropolis Stadium (capability: 44,667)
⚽ Doha: Khalifa Worldwide Stadium (capability: 45,857)
What number of groups are collaborating?
Sixteen nations, drawn from each the Asian Soccer Confederation (AFC) and the Confederation of African Soccer (CAF), will play within the match.
Hosts Qatar and defending champions Algeria, together with the seven highest-ranked nations on the time of the attract Could, all certified routinely.
The remaining seven slots had been stuffed by means of a sequence of single-leg qualification matches held in Qatar this week.
The collaborating nations have been divided into 4 teams, as follows:
⚽ Group A: Tunisia, Syria, Qatar, Palestine
⚽ Group B: Morocco, Comoros, Saudi Arabia, Oman
⚽ Group C: Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, United Arab Emirates
⚽ Group D: Algeria, Sudan, Iraq, Bahrain
How did Palestine qualify for Arab Cup?
Palestine edged Libya 4-3 on penalties on Tuesday to safe their place within the Arab Cup, bringing pleasure to Palestinians within the wake of Israel’s warfare on Gaza.
The playoff in Doha ended 0-0 after 90 minutes earlier than Palestine held their nerve within the shootout to succeed in the 16-team match.
“This was the hardest playoff match,” coach Ihab Abu Jazar instructed Al Kass TV. “Libya are sturdy. Our circumstances and absences made it more durable, however we’re proud. Soccer is among the few issues that may carry happiness to Palestinians.
“We’re completely different from different groups. They play to compete, however we play for 2 objectives: to ship messages by means of soccer and to develop Palestinian soccer. Our workforce has develop into an enormous identify in Asia and was near reaching the World Cup playoff.
“We play for greater than trophies – we play to ship a message and convey pleasure to our individuals,” he added.
What’s the prize cash for the Arab Cup?
The 2025 version can have a report prize cash of greater than $36.5m, becoming a member of the ranks of the world’s main worldwide soccer tournaments.
The final competitors, in 2021, had a reported prize purse of $25.5m.
What’s the match format?
The highest two groups in every group will qualify for the knockout stage, which options the quarterfinals, semifinals and the ultimate. There may be additionally a third-place playoff between the 2 dropping semifinalists.
Within the knockout levels, if a match is stage on the finish of regular taking part in time, it should go to half-hour of additional time and, if required, penalties.
Who’re the earlier champions?
Iraq are probably the most profitable workforce within the Arab Cup with 4 titles. Saudi Arabia are the second-most profitable nation with two titles, whereas Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco and Algeria have all gained as soon as every.
Algeria are the defending champions, having overwhelmed Tunisia 2-0 in further time on the 2021 last.
Traditionally, nations from the Asian Soccer Confederation (six titles) have gained greater than the Confederation of African Soccer groups (4 titles).
Why is the Arab Cup necessary?
That includes a few of the strongest groups, the Arab Cup will give followers a style of what to anticipate from Arab nations at subsequent 12 months’s FIFA World Cup.
Seven Arab Cup individuals – Qatar, Tunisia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Algeria – will even compete on the FIFA World Cup 2026, co-hosted by america, Mexico and Canada.
“The match performs an necessary function in showcasing Arab and Islamic tradition to the world,” Algeria striker Baghdad Bounedjah mentioned. “It’s a celebration of our id and a chance to showcase our shared ardour for the attractive recreation on such a worldwide scale.”
With the revamped World Cup set to function an expanded 48-team pool, the Arab Cup might be a proving floor for groups aiming to make a deep run on soccer’s greatest stage.
Who’re the favourites to win?
Primarily based on their latest efficiency within the 2026 World Cup qualification section, as many as 5 groups might be thought of frontrunners for the title.
Up there may be Tunisia, who gathered probably the most factors (28 from a potential 30) amongst all CAF nations throughout the World Cup qualifiers, successful 9 of the ten matches to complete high of their group.
Fellow North African neighbours Algeria and Morocco are sturdy contenders after each certified for the World Cup by ending high of their teams. Document seven-time African champions Egypt are additionally among the many favourites.
Jordan, who certified for the World Cup for the first time, are an underdog decide to win all of it.
Who’re the highest gamers to look at?
Jordan’s Ali Olwan, the third-highest scorer within the AFC World Cup qualifying with 9 objectives, can be one to look at within the match. Becoming a member of him on the checklist of forwards anticipated to pose a severe menace is Iraq’s Aymen Hussein, who was tied for fourth-highest objectives, with eight.
Followers also needs to keep watch over Tunisia’s dependable goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen, who saved six clear sheets as his facet went unbeaten with out conceding in all 10 of their qualifying fixtures.
Ahead Akram Afif, whose identify has develop into synonymous with Qatar’s footballing success prior to now decade, is a key participant for the host nation, whereas Saudi Arabia captain Salem Al-Dawsari has been in respectable type of late, sitting joint-fourth within the Saudi Professional League’s high help males.
The place to purchase tickets and watch the match?
Tickets for the FIFA Arab Cup went on sale on the official ticketing platform on the finish of September. Followers should buy tickets for particular person matches throughout three pricing classes, beginning at $7.
The match additionally had an choice of team-specific packs, which supplied three group video games of every nation, beginning at about $20. Nevertheless, these at the moment are unavailable.
Tickets for the ultimate, beginning at $14, have offered out.
Within the Center East and North Africa, you possibly can watch your entire match from December 1 by means of December 18, completely in Arabic and solely on beIN SPORTS PPV.
