FIFA Arab Cup 2025 Groups Revealed
TDT | Manama
The path to regional football glory is now clear as the draw for the second edition of the FIFA Arab Cup was conducted in Doha, setting the stage for a hotly contested tournament in December.
Held at the Raffles Hotel in the Qatari capital, the draw brought together representatives from 23 nations across the Arab world, with 11 teams from both the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Confederation of African Football (CAF) joining hosts Qatar in pursuit of the title. Defending champions Algeria enter the tournament as favourites, but they'll face stiff competition in a field rich with World Cup pedigree and regional talent.
Tournament Venues
The upcoming Arab Cup will be played across six iconic World Cup stadiums, previously used for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Al Bayt Stadium will host the opening match, while the final will take place at the legendary Lusail Stadium on December 18—a date that also marks the anniversary of Argentina's epic 2022 World Cup victory over France.
Teams were seeded into four pots based on the FIFA rankings released on April 3, 2025. Qatar (hosts), Algeria (defending champions), Egypt, and Morocco were placed in Pot 1, while Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Jordan occupied Pot 2. The UAE were seeded in Pot 3, with the remaining spots to be filled after the qualification round.
High-Stakes Qualifiers
Before the final group stage kicks off, 14 lower-ranked nations, based on April's FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking, must first navigate a single-leg qualification round. Scheduled for 25 and 26 November in Qatar, these fixtures pit the highest-ranked AFC teams against the lowest-ranked CAF teams, and vice versa, in a cross-confederation format designed to level the playing field.
Among the key ties:
The winners of these ties will advance to the final tournament, joining the top-ranked Arab nations and hosts Qatar in the group stage.
Group Stage Highlights
Once the qualifiers conclude, the group stage promises some standout clashes, with tournament heavyweights and traditional rivals poised to renew hostilities.
Group A sees hosts Qatar drawn alongside Tunisia—semi-finalists from the last edition—along with the winners of Syria/South Sudan and Palestine/Libya. The home side will also contest the opening match at Al Bayt Stadium on 1 December.
Group B offers a clash of World Cup performers, as Morocco and Saudi Arabia headline a competitive group. They'll be joined by the winners of Oman/Somalia and Yemen/Comoros.
Group C is set for fireworks, with Egypt and Jordan facing off in what could be one of the tournament's most fascinating rivalries. The United Arab Emirates round out the group, alongside either Kuwait or Mauritania.
Group D will see defending champions Algeria start their title defence against Iraq, as well as the winners of Bahrain/Djibouti and Lebanon/Sudan.
A Tournament on the Rise
Revived under FIFA's umbrella in 2021, the Arab Cup has grown in stature, offering a unique opportunity for Arab nations to compete in a FIFA-sanctioned format outside continental competition. With Qatar hosting just three years after the FIFA World Cup, the tournament benefits from world-class infrastructure and a passionate local fanbase.
Group Overview:
Group A: Qatar, Tunisia, Syria or South Sudan, Palestine or LibyaGroup B: Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Oman or Somalia, Yemen or ComorosGroup C: Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait or MauritaniaGroup D: Algeria, Iraq, Bahrain or Djibouti, Lebanon or Sudan
The FIFA Arab Cup 2025 will run from 1–18 December across six World Cup venues in Qatar.
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