Qatar boosts FIFA Arab Cup prize fund to record $36.5 million
The 2025 FIFA Arab Cup will have a record prize fund of more than $36.5 million, Qatar's Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the regional tournament announced on Thursday.
The competition, which features senior men's national teams from the 22-member Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA), representing both Asia and Africa, takes place from December 1 to 18.
"This announcement further elevates the stature of the FIFA Arab Cup, a tournament we reinstated in 2021, and reflects Qatar's leading role in developing football across the region and beyond," said Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani, Minister of Sports and Youth and LOC Chairman in a statement.
Having taken over the organisation from UAFA, which initially ran the event, FIFA has been in charge since the tournament's revival in 2021, when it had a reported prize fund of $25.5 million.
The draw will be held in Doha on Sunday, with defending champions Algeria among the favourites. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
37 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Messi magic needed for Inter Miami as injuries pile up
MIAMI - Inter Miami will have to rely heavily on Lionel Messi's firepower as they prepare for Saturday's Club World Cup opener against Al-Ahly, with coach Javier Mascherano forced to re-shuffle his backline due to a string of injuries. Fullback Jordi Alba, fellow defender Gonzalo Lujan and defensive midfielder Yannick Bright have all been ruled out of the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium. "They are not available for this game, hopefully they will be for the second game," Mascherano told a press conference on Friday. Alba, one of Messi's former Barcelona teammates, is sidelined with a hamstring issue. There were also concerns regarding the fitness of centre back David Martinez. "David had some kind of pain yesterday and we did not want to take any risks," said Mascherano. "The reality is that throughout the season, the team have dealt with injuries, but the players who stepped in rose to the challenge. That gives us peace of mind," he said. Miami have conceded 16 goals in their last six competitive games. Much of Miami's chances rest on Messi's shoulders. "He's in good shape this season. There were moments when we had to give him some time to rest, but he's played the last 15 games, except for the match against Dallas when we rested the entire squad," said Mascherano. "We were also fortunate he was able to rest during Argentina's last two games," he added referring to Messi playing 111 minutes in Argentina's World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia earlier this month. "It's our responsibility to create the right environment for him to shine." Miami will also take on Porto and Palmeiras in the 32-club competition. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
South Africa 69 runs away from winning World Test Championship
LONDON - Aiden Markram scored an unbeaten century as South Africa edged tantalisingly close to an unlikely success in the World Test Championship final, needing 69 runs to dethrone Australia after reaching 213-2 at stumps on the third day at Lord's on Friday. It was a dramatic turnaround in a gripping contest where Australia set their opponents a daunting 282-run chase but South Africa made full use of an increasingly benign wicket to chip away at the target. Markram, on 102, and captain Temba Bavuma, 65 not out, will return on Saturday and look to wrap up victory after putting together the highest partnership of the match (143 not out) in pursuit of the joint second-highest winning total in test history at Lord's. Markram, who had failed to get to three figures in his previous 16 test innings, knocked the ball to all corners and was more than ably backed up by Bavuma, whose runs came despite a hamstring strain that hampered his running between the wickets. Australia will be regretting dropping him when he was on two, not only for the runs he went on to score but the fact that slip fielder Steve Smith suffered a compound dislocation of his little finger as he spilled the catch. Fortunes in the contest fluctuated through a furious opening two days, dominated by the bowlers with 24 wickets falling, but the wicket went flat on Friday and there were only four wickets taken. The Aussies resumed on 144-8 with a 218-run lead overnight and modest ambitions of adding 20 to 30 runs more in the morning. However, an unbeaten 58 from Mitchell Starc saw them bat for two hours until lunch to the frustration of South Africa before eventually being dismissed for 207 in their second innings. Nathan Lyon was dismissed in the third over of the day, trapped leg before wicket by Kagiso Rabada, but Starc and Josh Hazlewood put on a 59-run last wicket partnership before part-time bowler Markram finally dismissed Hazlewood for 17. South Africa came out to bat after lunch and saw Ryan Rickelton out for six runs as a full delivery from Starc, angling away from the left-hander, hit the toe of Rickelton's bat and flew up for a diving catch from wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Wiaan Mulder made a lively 27 before spooning the ball to cover where Marnus Labuschagne had an easy catch off Starc for the only other wicket to fall before Markram and Bavuma settled in for more than a session to offer their country hope of what had appeared an unlikely triumph. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
'We called our pitches Old Trafford': Cunha's childhood fantasy becomes reality
MANCHESTER, England - Manchester United's stadium will not feel entirely unfamiliar to Matheus Cunha when the Brazilian makes his home debut for his new team next season. It is almost like he has been playing at Old Trafford for years. A day after United completed the signing of Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, the dynamic forward said he grew up in the Brazilian beach city of Joao Pessoa dreaming of one day playing for the club. "It is hard to find a way to explain this club to me," the 26-year-old said in an interview with United's in-house media. "My house didn't have the channel to watch the Premier League. My cousin's house didn't have the channel. "Only in my grandma's house, we can watch the Premier League, so we organised to go every weekend. And for me, it was always a bit inside of me, this club. When I play with (my cousin) in the street, on the beach, on the gravel pitch, we called these pitches 'Old Trafford.' Imagine. "So, wow, it's so hard to be here now, thinking about the past — it's very emotional for me." Cunha scored 15 Premier League goals for Wolves last season. He also helped Brazil qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, setting up the only goal in a decisive 1-0 win at home to Paraguay. His move to Manchester raised some eyebrows after United finished a woeful 15th in the Premier League and failed to qualify for any European football next season. But he said the club and its former stars had left a lasting impression. "It's hard to talk about because I remember the whole squad at the time that I started to watch," he said. "In the front, (Wayne) Rooney, wow. Someone that I think I have a lot of particulars in my game, because I always give everything. "I remember he was the No. 10 and everyone loved the skills of the player in his shirt, but he brings more. He goes to the grass (slide tackle) to take the ball, this kind of energy inside of him was a big example. "(Cristiano) Ronaldo, everyone knows, it is easy to talk about him. Ryan Giggs. Everyone. I can imagine the team, it started with (Edwin) Van der Sar in the goal, Rio Ferdinand, (Nemanja) Vidic, the defenders, Paul Scholes, wow, (Michael) Carrick. The team for me, honestly, was a big impact for my teenage years." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
