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Jordan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Jordan Times
U-23, U-17 squads eye Asian Cup football qualifiers
AMMAN — The national football teams have been going through challenging times as they undertake their respective qualifiers and competitions. While local competitions have already started and expected to be in high gear when the league kicks off this weekend, the U-23 national football held a training camp in Tunisia as they start the countdown for the U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers slated for Amman September 1-9 as well as the Arab Cup later in the year. Jordan will host Group A qualifiers grouping Bhutan, Chinese Taipei and Turkmenistan as a total of 44 teams play in 11 groups, with group leaders and 4 best second place teams for the final 16 spots. The Kingdom has taken part in the U-23 Asian Cup (previously the Asian Championship) 6 times with their best performance finishing 3rd in 2013. They reached the quarterfinals in 2016 and 2020 and were eliminated from the first round in 2018 and 2022 and 2024. The AFC has decided that as of 2028, the event will be held every four years, instead of every two. Previous champions are Iraq 2013, Japan 2016, Uzbekistan 2018, Korea 2020, Saudi Arabia 2022, Japan 2024. Jordan's U-23 players are expected to lead the Kingdom at the upcoming Arab Cup to be held in Qatar December 1-18where they were drawn in Group C alongside Egypt, UAE and the winner of the Mauritania vs Kuwait match. On the other hand, the U-17 team ended their training camp in Serbia for upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in November. The team was impressive beating Kuwait 3-1, Bosnia 4-1 and tying Montenegro 0-0. The AFC has changed the qualifying format whereby 9 teams will move to the finals: Uzbekistan, Saudi, South Korea, North Korea, Tajikistan, Japan, UAE, Indonesia, Qatar, while 34 teams will play in 7 groups with only the group winners qualifying. In other age groups, the U-20 team exited Round 1 of the 2025 Asian Cup, while the U-17 team had earlier exited the qualifiers for the U17 Asian Cup. In the women's game, Jordan now 75th in FIFA rankings,was eliminated from Group A qualifiers for the AFC 2026 Asian Cup after losing 2-1 to Iran where a draw could have been enough to qualify to the finals after they beat Lebanon 4-0, Singapore 5-0 and Bhutan 3-0. Coach David Nascimento, who was dismissed when he failed to advance the team for the 2022 finals, was surprisingly contracted to lead the team again ending with the same outcome this year. The Women's Asian Cup will no longer serve as Asian qualifying tournament for the FIFA Women's World Cup but as qualification for AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament as of 2028. On the other hand, the U-20 women's team will play qualifiers for the 2026 Asia Cup in Thailand. Jordan was drawn in Group G alongside hosts Uzbekistan, Bahrainand the Northern Mariana Islands as 33 teams play in 8 groups with group leaders and three best second placed teams advancing to the 12th edition of the event.


Arab Times
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Uncertainty looms over the 2025 Arab Cup
RABAT, July 16: New reports have surfaced regarding the status of the Arab Cup football tournament, originally scheduled for December next year. According to Moroccan newspaper Al-Mountakhab, the Arab Football Federation is leaning toward postponing the 2025 Arab Cup due to a heavily congested international calendar. The report highlights that the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and the physical and health toll on players throughout last season may adversely affect their performance and well-being. The local organizing committee had earlier announced that the tournament's prize fund would exceed $36.5 million, setting a new benchmark and positioning the Arab Cup among the world's premier international competitions. The draw, held in Doha last May, placed Kuwait against Mauritania in a playoff match set for late November. The winner will advance to the group stage (Group C), which also features Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates. The Arab Cup has re-emerged as a significant tournament after a long break since 2009, making a strong comeback in 2021 when Qatar hosted the event under FIFA's supervision. It was subsequently included in the international calendar to be held every four years.


Daily Tribune
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
National football team begin Slovenia Camp
TDT | Manama Bahrain's senior men's football team departed yesterday for Slovenia to begin a twoweek training camp running until July 24. This camp is the first major step in preparing for upcoming tournaments, including the Arab Cup 2025 in Doha, Qatar. 28-Player Squad At the end of last month, coach Dragan Talajić named a 28-player squad for the camp • Sayed Mahdi Baqer • Amine Benaddi • Waleed Al Hayyam • Mohamed Al Ghurabli • Yousif Habib • Abdulkarim Fardan • Ebrahim Lutfallah • Hazaa Ali • Hussain Jameel • Abdullah Al Khalasi • Ahmed Dhiyaa • AlSayed Mahmood Al Mousawi • Ahmed Bughamar • Hamad Shamsan • Omar Saber • Jassim AlShaikh • Komail Al Aswad • Sayed Diyaa Saeed • Hussain AlEker • Vincent Emmanuel • Ahmed Abdul - Hameed • Abdulla Al Sabeei • Hussain Abdulkarim • Mehdi Abduljabbar • Ebrahim Al Khattal • Mehdi Humaidan • Ali Madan • Ahmed AlSherooqi Eyes on the Arab Cup Bahrain's participation in the 2025 Arab Cup depends on winning a playoff against Djibouti scheduled for November 25 or 26. The winner will join Group D alongside Algeria, Iraq, and the winner of Lebanon vs. Sudan.


Daily Tribune
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
William Jones Cup kicks off
TDT | Manama The 44th William Jones Cup begins tomorrow in Chinese Taipei, running until July 20. Bahrain's senior men's basketball team is set to compete against nine top Asian teams. Bahrain will face tough competition including Japan, Australia, Malaysia, the UAE, and hosts Chinese Taipei. Also in the mix are Chinese Taipei's development squad, Qatar's B team, and defending champions Strong Group Athletics from the Philippines. From Paint to Presidency For Bahrain Basketball Association President Alaa Mudara, the William Jones Cup is a vital step in a long-term plan. 'This competition offers a different intensity from what we face in the Gulf, and that challenge is exactly what we need to prepare for the Arab Cup in Tunisia.' Mudara brings personal history to the moment, having represented Bahrain in the 1978 William Jones Cup as a player. 'That year, we were named best team of the tournament,' he recalled. 'Now, returning as president, I see the same hunger in this generation.' The Squad Greek coach Georgios Vovoras has named a near fullstrength roster. Key players include guards Mustafa Hussain and Ahmed Salman, forwards Mohammed Ameer, Subah Hussain, Mohammed Buallay, Ali Jaber, and naturalised stars Wayne Chism and JaKarr Sampson. The squad is completed by Mahmood Abbas, Ali Hussain, Ahmed bin Deina, and Abdulqader Thani. The William Jones Cup is a prestigious Asian tournament organised by the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association. Many teams use it as a warmup for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 in Jeddah next month. Tough Road Ahead Bahrain opens tomorrow against continental powerhouse Japan, followed by games against Chinese Taipei's development team, Malaysia, Australia, the UAE, Qatar's B team, Chinese Taipei's national team, and Strong Group Athletics. The team has prepared with local training sessions and won two recent friendlies against the UAE at Khalifa Sports City Arena.


Daily Tribune
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain's National Football Team Kicks Off Slovenia Camp
TDT | Manama Bahrain's senior men's football team departed yesterday for Slovenia to begin a two-week training camp running until July 24. This camp is the first major step in preparing for upcoming tournaments, including the Arab Cup 2025 in Doha, Qatar. 28-Player Squad At the end of last month, coach Dragan Talajić named a 28-player squad for the camp Sayed Mahdi Baqer Amine Benaddi Waleed Al Hayyam Mohamed Al Ghurabli Yousif Habib Abdulkarim Fardan Ebrahim Lutfallah Hazaa Ali Hussain Jameel Abdullah Al Khalasi Ahmed Dhiyaa AlSayed Mahmood Al Mousawi Ahmed Bughamar Hamad Shamsan Omar Saber Jassim AlShaikh Komail Al Aswad Sayed Diyaa Saeed Hussain AlEker Vincent Emmanuel Ahmed AbdulHameed Abdulla Al Sabeei Hussain Abdulkarim Mehdi Abduljabbar Ebrahim Al Khattal Mehdi Humaidan Ali Madan Ahmed AlSherooqi Eyes on the Arab Cup Bahrain's participation in the 2025 Arab Cup depends on winning a playoff against Djibouti scheduled for November 25 or 26. The winner will join Group D alongside Algeria, Iraq, and the winner of Lebanon vs. Sudan.