With less than 100 days to go, preparations are accelerating for the return of the FIFA Arab Cup to Qatar. From December 1 to 18, the region’s leading national teams will gather once again for a tournament that celebrates Arab football.
The 2025 edition will be the second held under FIFA’s umbrella and follows the success of the inaugural event in 2021. That tournament drew over 600,000 spectators and reached a global television audience of more than 270 million, establishing a strong foundation for its continued place on the international football calendar.
This year’s competition will feature 23 teams, with nine of the highest FIFA-ranked Arab nations qualifying directly to the group stage. The remaining 14 will compete in qualification playoffs on November 25 and 26 to fill the final seven spots. Matches will be played across six stadiums, all of which hosted games during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The venues remain among the finest in global football, fully connected by modern transport networks and equipped to welcome fans of all backgrounds and abilities.
Minister of Sports and Youth and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee H E Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani described the tournament as a platform to unite the region and showcase its shared values. He noted that the Arab Cup is part of Qatar’s broader sporting legacy, one that continues to elevate regional football while promoting cultural pride.
Defending champions Algeria will begin their campaign in Group D, alongside Iraq and two teams emerging from the November qualifiers. In 2021, Algeria claimed their first Arab Cup title with a 2-0 win over Tunisia in front of more than 60,000 spectators at Al Bayt Stadium. Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah, a key figure in that victory, said the tournament serves as an opportunity to present Arab and Islamic culture to the world, adding that playing in Qatar’s world-class venues brought added meaning to the team’s success. He expects fans to turn out in strong numbers again as Algeria seek to defend its title.
Host nation Qatar, drawn into Group A, will face Tunisia and the winners of the Palestine vs Libya and Syria vs South Sudan qualifiers. The opening match will take place at Al Bayt Stadium, the same venue where the FIFA World Cup 2022 began. The Arab Cup will follow the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, taking place from November 3 to 27, making this a landmark period for football in the region.
