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.
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.
For all information related to the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, follow @RoadtoQatar on all
major social media platforms.
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