A general view of the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 draw held in Doha yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: Reigning Asian champions Qatar will face Tunisia and two qualifier teams in Group A as the draw for the second edition of the FIFA Arab Cup revealed a series of exciting group stage matchups yesterday.
Following the huge success of its inaugural tournament in 2021, the FIFA Arab Cup is set to return with matches scheduled from December 1 to 18 across six world-class stadiums in Qatar. A total of 23 nations will compete for the regional crown.
The nine highest-ranked teams in April’s FIFA World Ranking including hosts Qatar and defending champions Algeria have received automatic qualification for the group stage, which will feature 16 teams divided into four groups. They will be joined by seven teams emerging from single-leg qualifying matches involving the 14 lowest-ranked nations. These qualifiers will take place in Qatar on November 25 and 26.
In the inaugural edition, Qatar reached the semi-finals while Tunisia finished as runners-up after a defeat to Algeria in the final. Group A will also include the winners of the Syria vs. South Sudan and Palestine vs. Libya matchups.
“This edition may be even more technical than the last. Many players and fans across the Arab world are eagerly anticipating it. With teams likely fielding local talent, especially Tunisia and Morocco, I expect a very close and highly competitive tournament,” said Qatar Football Association’s Head of Communications Ali Al Salat.
Tunisia’s assistant coach Hamadi Daou expressed confidence following the Arab Cup draw, highlighting the team’s ambitions and strong fan support in Qatar.
“Facing Qatar in Doha will be a classic, especially with strong Tunisian support. It’s our duty to make our fans proud. We aim to compete with our best squad and pursue excellence. We were runners-up in 2021 – why not go one step further and win the title this time, Insha Allah,” Daou said.
Qatar will open the tournament with a clash against the winners of Palestine vs. Libya at Al Bayt Stadium on December 1.
The draw, held at Raffles Hotel, was conducted by FIFA Director of Tournaments Jaime Yarza, who was joined by several past and present Arab football greats including Qatar’s Hassan Al Haydos, Algeria’s Rabah Madjer, Saudi Arabia’s Yasser Al Qahtani and Egypt’s Wael Gomaa.
Qatar’s Hassan Al Haydos selects the host nation during the Arab Cup 2025 draw.
Defending champions Algeria have been placed in Group D alongside Iraq, with the group to be completed following the outcomes of Bahrain vs. Djibouti and Lebanon vs. Sudan qualifiers.
Group B promises thrilling contests as FIFA World Cup semi-finalists Morocco are drawn with Saudi Arabia. The group will be finalised after the Oman vs. Somalia and Yemen vs. Comoros qualifiers.
Africa’s most decorated side Egypt lead Group C, joined by two other direct qualifiers - Asian Cup runners-up Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The group will be completed by the winners of Kuwait vs. Mauritania.
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 recently announced that the total prize money for the tournament will exceed $36.5m (QR132.9m).
Matches will be held at Al Bayt, Lusail, Khalifa International, Ahmad Bin Ali, Stadium 974, and Education City, with the final scheduled for December 18 at Lusail Stadium. The first edition was widely hailed as a major success.
Staged in the stadiums built for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the tournament showcased high-level football and drew a record attendance of around 571,605 fans across 32 matches, an average of nearly 18,000 spectators per game.
“The FIFA World Cup 2022 was an incredible success – the best FIFA World Cup ever – and it followed twelve months after another historic event in Qatar: the first ever FIFA Arab Cup. I know Qatar will once again brilliantly rise to the challenge of staging these exciting FIFA tournaments. The hospitality and facilities in this country are exceptional, and every team will have the best conditions in which to prepare,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a video message.
Undersecretary of Qatar’s Ministry of Sports and Youth and Board Member of the Local Organising Committee. H E Eng. Yasir bin Abdullah Al Jamal, said: “Qatar’s commitment to hosting major tournaments goes beyond football. It embodies our belief in the ability of these events to bring people together, break down barriers and promote cultural exchange.”
FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025
Group A: Qatar, Tunisia, Syria or South Sudan, Palestine or Libya
Group B: Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Oman or Somalia, Yemen or Comoros
Group C: Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait or Mauritania
Group D: Algeria, Iraq, Bahrain or Djibouti, Lebanon or Sudan
Qualifying matches
Qualifier One:
Oman (AFC #1) v Somalia (CAF #7)
Qualifier Two:
Bahrain (AFC #2) v Djibouti (CAF #6)
Qualifier Three:
Syria (AFC #3) v South Sudan (CAF #5)
Qualifier Four:
Palestine (AFC #4) v Libya (CAF #4)
Qualifier Five:
Lebanon (AFC #5) v Sudan (CAF #3)
Qualifier Six:
Kuwait (AFC #6) v Mauritania (CAF #2)
Qualifier Seven:
Yemen (AFC #7) v Comoros (CAF #1)
