Although relatively unknown to the general public, the Arab Cup remains an important competition in the Arab football landscape. Inaugurated in 1963 and launched under the impetus of the Lebanese Football Association (LFA), it was organised by the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) from 1985 onwards, before coming under the jurisdiction of FIFA in 2021.
As the event celebrates its 11th edition, Sports Talk United here brings you everything you need to know about the competition.
Which teams are participating in the 2025 Arab Cup?
Automatically qualified for the group stage as host country and winner of the 2021 edition, Qatar and Algeria were joined by the seven highest-ranked nations in the April 2025 FIFA rankings — Tunisia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, UAE and Iraq. Seven other nations (Kuwait, Palestine, Comoros, Syria, Bahrain, Oman and Sudan) secured their places after winning a qualifying round played in a single-match format.
A draw was held to determine the composition of the four groups, from which two teams will qualify for the final phase, consisting of quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final.
Teams and groups
- Group A: Qatar, Tunisia, Syria, Palestine
- Group B: Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Comoros
- Group C: Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait
- Group D: Algeria, Iraq, Bahrain, Sudan
Where and when will the 2025 Arab Cup take place?
Qatar, which previously hosted the competition in 1998 and 2021 and has already been designated as the host country for the 2029 and 2033 editions, is set to host the 2025 Arab Cup. The tournament will kick off on 1st December with Tunisia taking on Syria at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, while the final, scheduled for 18th December, will be played at Lusail Stadium, the venue for the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France.
Which stadiums will host the 2025 Arab Cup?
Six stadiums, all used during the 2022 World Cup, have been designated to host the competition’s matches. Three are located in Al Rayyan (Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Education City Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium), while Lusail (Lusail Stadium), Doha (Stadium 974) and Al Khor (Al Bayt Stadium) are the other three host cities for the event.
