Algerian player Baghdad Bounedjah looks forward to the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025
Published: 23 Aug 2025 - 08:48 am | Last Updated: 23 Aug 2025 - 09:14 am
Doha, Qatar: The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 will kick off in 100 days from today. The Arab world’s biggest football competition will take place in Qatar from December 1 – 18, bringing together the best teams from across the region to compete for the coveted trophy.
This is the second time that Qatar will be hosting the prestigious tournament. In 2021, the country hosted the inaugural edition of the FIFA Arab Cup, which was the first time the competition was played under the auspices of FIFA. It proved to be a resounding success, with more than 600,000 tickets allocated and a global TV audience reach of 272 million.
A total of 23 teams will have a chance to lift the coveted FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 trophy. Nine of the highest FIFA ranked teams have qualified automatically, while 14 teams will vie for the remaining 7 spots in a series of qualifiers.
HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, Minister of Sports and Youth and Chairman of the tournament’s Local Organising Committee: "The FIFA Arab Cup holds a special place for the people of this region. This tournament’s significance goes beyond football; it’s a celebration of our passion and identity – one that unites players and fans alike. We are proud to host the tournament for the second time, which will celebrate the best of Arab football and once again showcase the powerof sports in bringing people together.”
“Qatar has demonstrated its capabilities in hosting mega-sporting events, year after year, and the FIFA Arab Cup is another chapter in this rich sporting legacy. This will be an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of Arab unity, while showcasing the rich culture of the Arab world and highlight the limitless ability of its people in sports and other fields. We are delighted to welcome the world once again, particularly fans from the regiontorevel in the excitement of the beautiful game.”
For Algeria’s talismanic striker Baghdad Bounedjah, the significance of the FIFA Arab Cup goes beyond football. Speaking to the Local Organising Committee (LOC), the 33-year-old, who was part of the winning squad in 2021 that made history with their first FIFA Arab Cup win, said: “The tournament plays an important role in showcasing Arab and Islamic culture to the world. It’s a celebration of our identity and an opportunity to showcase our shared passion for the beautiful game on such a global scale.”
“Qatar successfully hosted the Arab Cup in 2021, followed by the World Cup, which is the biggest tournament in international football. We take pride in this achievement, as it showcases the capabilities of the Arab world in hosting major sports events. Now the world will once again witness what the Arab world has to offer,” added Bounedjah, who plays as a striker for Al-Shamal in the Qatar Stars League.
Defending champions Algeria have been placed in Group D, alongside Iraq, and will be joined by the winners of Bahrain v Djibouti and Sudan v Lebanon, with the qualifying matches taking place in Qatar on 25 and 26 November.
Four years ago, The Greens clinched the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 trophy with a 2-0 victory over Tunisia, in front of 60,456 spectators at the world-renowned Al Bayt Stadium stadium.
“Winning the Arab Cup was a big achievement for the team, especially because we won in Qatar while playing in World Cup stadiums. I am grateful that I was part of the squad that lifted the coveted cup. It was surreal – celebrating with the team and fans after our win,” said Bounedjah.
After witnessing the strong fan support for the team in 2021, Bounedjah expects Algerian fans to once again turn out in large numbers to cheer for their team from the stands. “Algerian fans are immensely passionate about football and are always eager to support their national team. I want to deliver another great performance at the Arab Cup, and hope to make our fans proud once again,” he said.
The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 will be played across six stadiums that previously hosted matches during the historic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. All venues are connected seamlessly by public transport and will offer a barrier-free experience to disabled fans.
The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 is part of several tournaments that Qatar will be hosting up until the end of the year, including the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™ from 3-27 November.
In addition to this year’s edition, Qatar will be hosting the FIFA Arab Cup again in 2029 and 2033.
