LOC12:24
09:24 GMT
News report by Saud Al-Ajmi
DOHA, Nov 30 (KUNA) -- The 11th FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 will kick off in Doha on Monday with the participation of 16 national teams, including Kuwait.
The tournament returns to Qatar for the second time following the success of the 2021 edition, which was held for the first time under the umbrella of the Fأ©dأ©ration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
FIFA has also granted Qatar the hosting rights for the next two Arab Cup editions in 2029 and 2033.
This year's edition will feature record prize money totaling around USD 36.5 million, enhancing the tournament's status among major global competitions.
According to the organizing committee, the champions will receive USD 7.155 million, while the runners-up will earn USD 4.293 million. The third-place team will receive USD 2.862 million, and the fourth-place team will claim USD 2.146 million. Quarterfinalists will earn USD 1.073 million each, while all participating teams will receive USD 715,000.
FIFA has approved that Arab Cup matches will count towards the monthly FIFA World Ranking, giving added importance to the tournament, particularly for teams seeking to improve their global standing.
This edition will also see the application of a new proposal by FIFA Referees Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina, requiring any injured player to leave the pitch for two minutes, during which his team will continue with ten players.
On November 23, the Local Organizing Committee unveiled the official tournament mascot, inspired by the folkloric character "Juha," considered a cultural and literary icon in the region.
Matches will be held across six stadiums: Al-Bayt, Lusail, Khalifa International, Ahmad bin Ali, Stadium 974, and Education City Stadium. Al-Bayt Stadium will host the opening match, while Lusail Stadium will host the final.
N ine of the highest-ranked Arab national teams qualified directly for the group stage, while 14 teams competed for the remaining seven spots through playoff matches held in Doha on May 25.
Teams that qualified directly include Qatar (hosts), Tunisia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Algeria (titleholders), and Iraq.
Kuwait secured its place in the finals after defeating Mauritania 2-0 in a single-match playoff held in Doha on November 25, joining Group C alongside Egypt, the UAE, and Jordan.
Syria, Palestine, Bahrain, Comoros, Oman, and Sudan also advanced through the playoff round. Syria and Palestine joined Group A with Qatar and Tunisia; Oman and Comoros joined Group B with Morocco and Saudi Arabia; while Bahrain and Sudan joined Group D alongside Algeria and Iraq.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, which includes the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final.
The opening whistle will sound Monday at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in a match between Tunisia and Syria, followed by Qatar versus Palestine at Al-Bayt Stadium, which will also host the opening ceremony. The final is scheduled for December 18 at Lusail Stadium, coinciding with Qatar National Day.
Kuwait holds the record for most appearances in tournament openers, having featured in five opening matches across its eight historical participations-in 1963, 1964, 1966, 2002, and 2012.
Algeria won the 2021 Arab Cup after defeating Tunisia 2-0 in the final held at Al-Bayt Stadium before 60,456 spectators.
Historically, Iraq is the most decorated team in the Arab Cup, winning the title four times in 1964, 1966, 1985, and 1988. Saudi Arabia won twice in 1998 and 2002, while Tunisia (1963), Egypt (1992), Morocco (2012), and Algeria (2021) each claimed the title once. (end)
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