History, heartbreak and hope shape Arab World Cup campaign

DOHA: As the FIFA World Cup reaches its knockout stages, the Arab world has already experienced every emotion football has to offer. 

From historic firsts and heartbreaking exits to dreams of ambitious tournament runs, supporters across the region continue to express support behind their nations, proving that success is not solely measured by lifting the trophy.

This year's tournament marked a milestone for Arab football, with a record eight Arab nations qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in history. While several teams have seen their run come to an end, many Arab teams have shown they belong on football's biggest stage, laying the foundation for what supporters hope will be an even brighter future. 

For Jordan's Al Nashama, simply reaching the World Cup was history in itself. Making their tournament debut, the Jordanians were placed in one of the competition's toughest groups alongside previous World Cup champions Argentina, Austria and Algeria. Despite their early exit, Jordan scored in every match and pressed hard until the final whistle. 

Jordan’s coach Jamal Sellami admitted costly mistakes and inexperience proved costly but insisted their first run would serve as an important learning experience.

Zaid, a 22-year-old supporter of Al Nashama, shared how he felt after Jordan’s exit: "The group was really difficult, but they still managed to score against Argentina. Ali Olwan played outstandingly, and considering most of our players play in local and regional leagues with only Mousa Al Tamari in one of Europe's biggest leagues, they did the best they could. I'm proud that my team tried."

Saudi Arabia also faced some tough competitors such as Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde. The Green Falcons bowed out having proved to be difficult to beat, with goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais garnering quite the acclaim on social media after his heroic feats between the posts against Uruguay and Cape Verde. 

With Jordan and Saudi Arabia eliminated, the attention has shifted to the Arab nations still carrying the region's hopes.

Leading the way are Morocco's Atlas Lions, whose remarkable run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals transformed expectations for Arab football. Entering this tournament as reigning African champions and recent Arab Cup winners, Morroco appear to be capable and confident in challenging the world's elite. 

For football player and lifelong fan Riad, 23, Morocco remain the most capable Arab team of making history once again.

"My ranking is Morocco first, then Egypt, then Algeria," he said about the remaining Arab countries’ chances in the tournament. "Morocco are genuine contenders. They've already reached a World Cup semi-final before, and they have consistently proven themselves in competitions like AFCON and the Arab Cup."

Egypt, nicknamed “The Pharaohs”, have perhaps been one of the tournament's biggest surprises. 

While Mohamed Salah remains the face of the team, players such as Emam Ashour and Mostafa Ziko have stepped up, helping Egypt qualify for the knockout stage for the first time in their World Cup history.

Their energetic midfield and balanced attack have shown that The Pharaohs are no longer dependent on Mo Salah alone, and that every player has significantly proved himself on the field.

"I have a soft spot for Egypt," Riad said. "As you could really feel they're playing with soul."

Algeria's Les Fennecs (Desert Foxes) also have come up impressively after a rocky start. Following an opening defeat to Argentina, they battled back to beat Jordan before securing qualification as one of the tournament's best third-placed teams with a 3-3 draw against Austria. Veteran captain Riyad Mahrez continues to lead by example, using his experience to inspire a younger generation. 

Across the Arab world, supporters now have plenty to anticipate as the Round of 32 is in play. The Atlas Lions face an intense clash with the Netherlands, Egypt’s Pharoahs take on Australia, while Les Fennecs is anticipating another challenge when they meet Switzerland.

Regardless of what happens next, this World Cup has already marked a turning point for Arab football. A record number of Arab teams, including Qatar, Iraq and Tunisia, qualified for the tournament, but were eliminated in the group stage. Even so, strong performances and several historic breakthroughs suggest the gap between Arab and global football is narrowing. For many fans, that is reason to believe the best chapters of Arab football are still to come.