Qatar: 100-day countdown to FIFA Arab Cup 2025

The countdown to the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 has officially begun, with just 100 days remaining until the region’s premier football competition kicks off. The tournament will run from December 1 to December 18, bringing together the best national teams from across the Arab world.

This year marks the second time Qatar will host the tournament. In 2021, the country staged the inaugural FIFA-sanctioned edition of the Arab Cup, which proved a major success with more than 600,000 tickets allocated and a global television audience of 272 million.

A total of 23 teams will compete in the 2025 edition. Nine of the highest FIFA-ranked teams have qualified automatically, while 14 others will battle in late-November qualifiers for the remaining seven spots.

HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, Minister of Sports and Youth and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, said, "The FIFA Arab Cup holds a special place for the people of this region. This tournament’s significance goes beyond football; it’s a celebration of our passion and identity – one that unites players and fans alike".

"We are proud to host the tournament for the second time, which will celebrate the best of Arab football and once again showcase the power of sports in bringing people together", he added.

Defending champions Algeria, who lifted the 2021 trophy after a 2-0 victory over Tunisia before 60,456 spectators at Al Bayt Stadium, will begin their title defense in Group D. They will face Iraq and await the winners of Bahrain v Djibouti and Sudan v Lebanon in the qualifying rounds scheduled for November 25–26 in Qatar.

Algeria’s star striker Baghdad Bounedjah, who played a key role in the team’s 2021 triumph, emphasized the cultural weight of the tournament.

“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”, Bounedjah told the Local Organising Committee.

The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 will be played across six stadiums that previously hosted FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 matches. Organizers have confirmed that all venues are seamlessly connected by public transport and designed to offer a barrier-free experience for disabled fans.

The tournament will be one of several international competitions hosted in Qatar this year. Just weeks before, the country will stage the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 from November 3–27. In addition, Qatar has already been confirmed as the host of future Arab Cup editions in 2029 and 2033.