"An important tournament in showcasing Arab culture to the world" - 100 days to go for FIFA Arab Cup 2025 in Qatar

With the countdown to the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 reaching the 100-day mark, excitement is on the uprise in Qatar who will be hosting the tournament for the second time in a row. 

The Arab world's biggest competition will kick off on December 1 and run till December 18. Qatar also hosted the 2021 edition, the first time the tournament came under the ambit of FIFA. 

A total of 23 sides will compete to lift the FIFA Arab Cup 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.

The 2021 edition held in Qatar was a resounding success and the expectations are even higher this time around. Last time, more than 600,000 tickets were allocated and the global TV audience reached 272 million for the tournament. 

The 2025 edition will be held across six venues which were also used during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, also held in Qatar - Lusail Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Education City Stadium and Stadium 974. 

H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, Minister of Sports and Youth and Chairman of the tournament’s Local Organising Committee (LOC), 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.”

“Qatar has demonstrated its capabilities in hosting mega-sporting events, year after year, and the FIFA Arab Cup is another chapter in this rich sporting legacy. This will be an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of Arab unity, while showcasing the rich culture of the Arab world and highlight the limitless ability of its people in sports and other fields. We are delighted to welcome the world once again, particularly fans from the region to revel in the excitement of the beautiful game.”

Algeria won the tournament back then and will be looking to defend their crown against the region's best teams. The Greens' talismanic striker Baghdad Bounedjah, who was part of the 2021 team which won the Arab Cup, is looking forward to showcasing the Arab world's culture during the tournament in Qatar.

He 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."

The FIFA Arab Cup 2025 is only a part of a series of tournaments Qatar will be hosting in the near future, given their impresisve track record of organising global tournaments.

The FIFA Arab Cup this year will be preceded by the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar. Interestingly, the next two editions of the Arab Cup will also be held in Qatar (in 2029 and 2033).