FIFA Arab Cup 2025: Complete Guide to Qatar's $36.5 Million Tournament
Qatar is gearing up to host the FIFA Arab Cup 2025, the most prestigious football event in the Arab world, following the tremendous success of the 2021 edition. This tournament will breathe new life into the World Cup stadiums that witnessed the 2022 global spectacle, bringing together the elite of Arab national teams in a fierce competition for the title and record-breaking prize money. Also Read FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 Official Awards Tournament Dates and Venues
The FIFA Arab Cup 2025 will kick off on December 1 and run through December 18, 2025, featuring 18 days of high-level competition. Matches will be played across six Qatari stadiums that previously hosted the 2022 World Cup fixtures: Lusail Stadium : Qatar's largest venue with an 80,000-spectator capacity, which hosted the 2022 World Cup final.
: Qatar's largest venue with an 80,000-spectator capacity, which hosted the 2022 World Cup final. Al Bayt Stadium : The distinctive venue inspired by traditional Arab tents, accommodating 60,000 fans.
: The distinctive venue inspired by traditional Arab tents, accommodating 60,000 fans. Khalifa International Stadium : One of Qatar's most historic and iconic sporting venues, with a capacity of 45,000.
: One of Qatar's most historic and iconic sporting venues, with a capacity of 45,000. Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium : Also known as Al Rayyan Stadium, holding 40,000 spectators.
: Also known as Al Rayyan Stadium, holding 40,000 spectators. Stadium 974 : The unique, dismountable venue constructed from shipping containers, with a 40,000-seat capacity.
: The unique, dismountable venue constructed from shipping containers, with a 40,000-seat capacity. Education City Stadium: Located in Doha's Education City, accommodating 40,000 fans. Participating Teams and Qualification Process
The FIFA Arab Cup 2025 will feature 16 Arab national teams. Nine teams have already secured direct qualification based on their FIFA rankings: Qatar (Host Nation) Algeria Morocco Egypt Tunisia Saudi Arabia Iraq Jordan United Arab Emirates
The remaining seven spots will be determined through qualifying matches scheduled for November 25–26, 2025 in Qatar, just days before the tournament begins. Other Arab nations will compete for these final seven berths in the championship. Record-Breaking Prize Money
The FIFA Arab Cup 2025 stands out for its substantial financial rewards. The organizing committee has announced that the total prize money will exceed $36.5 million (approximately 132.9 million Qatari Riyals), a record figure that positions the tournament among major global competitions.
This amount represents a significant increase compared to the previous edition held in 2021, which offered $25.5 million in prize money. This boost reflects the growing prominence of the tournament and the organizers' commitment to providing strong incentives for participating teams. Tournament Format and Groups
The competition will follow a group stage format, with the 16 participating teams divided into four groups of four. Teams within each group will play against each other in a single round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.
The tournament will then proceed with a knockout system, featuring quarter-finals, semi-finals, and ultimately the final match that will determine the champion of the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup. Tournament Significance and History
The Arab Cup is one of the oldest regional tournaments, with its first edition taking place in Lebanon in 1963. Since then, the competition has undergone various developments, culminating in FIFA taking over its organization starting with the 2021 edition, also held in Qatar, which saw Algeria crowned champions after defeating Tunisia in the final.
The 2025 edition holds special significance as it follows Qatar's successful hosting of the 2022 World Cup, providing an opportunity to reuse the world-class facilities and stadiums while reinforcing the sporting legacy of the World Cup in the Arab region. Expectations and Aspirations
As the tournament approaches, Arab teams are increasingly setting their sights on competing for the title and substantial prize money. Algeria enters as the defending champion and one of the favorites, alongside strong contenders such as Morocco, which made history at the 2022 World Cup, as well as Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and host nation Qatar.
The tournament will serve as an ideal platform for Arab teams to test their capabilities and gain experience in a highly competitive environment, especially with matches taking place in world-class stadiums that recently hosted football's biggest global event.
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