Qatar and UAE players shake hands before the recent 2026 World Cup qualifier at Jassim Bin Hamed Stadium, Doha, Qatar. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Qatar and UAE players shake hands before the recent 2026 World Cup qualifier at Jassim Bin Hamed Stadium, Doha, Qatar. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Qatar and UAE players shake hands before the recent 2026 World Cup qualifier at Jassim Bin Hamed Stadium, Doha, Qatar. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Qatar and UAE players shake hands before the recent 2026 World Cup qualifier at Jassim Bin Hamed Stadium, Doha, Qatar. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Arab Cup 2025: Teams, schedule and how to watch the UAE's matches on TV


Steve Luckings
  • English
  • Arabic

What is the 2025 Fifa Arab Cup?

The Arab Cup is a tournament nominally held every four years, contested by national teams from the Arab world. This year's tournament is the second edition held under Fifa's juristiction.

When is it and where is it being played?

The 2025 Arab Cup will take place in Qatar from December 1-18. It is the third time the tournament has been held in Qatar after the 1998 and 2021 editions.

Host venues

Six venues will play host to the regional showpiece. These stadiums were all used during the 2022 World Cup, also held in Qatar.

The Al Bayt Stadium will play host to the tournament opener while the final will be played at the Lusail Stadium.

Al Bayt Stadium – capacity: 68,895

Lusail Stadium – capacity: 88,966

Stadium 974 – capacity: 44,089

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium – capacity: 45,032

Education City Stadium – capacity: 44,667

Khalifa International Stadium – capacity: 45,857

Which teams are taking part?

Sixteen nations from Africa and Asia will take part in the 16-team event.

Hosts Qatar and defending champions Algeria, along with the seven highest-ranked nations at the time of the draw − Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and UAE – all qualified for the main tournament automatically.

The remaining seven slots were filled by teams that won single-leg qualification matches played in Qatar in November.

Qualified teams

Qatar (hosts)

Algeria (defending champions)

Bahrain

Comoros

Egypt

Iraq

Jordan

Kuwait

Morocco

Oman

Palestine

Saudi Arabia

Sudan

Syria

Tunisia

UAE

Tournament format

Group A: Qatar, Tunisia, Syria, Palestine

Group B: Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Comoros

Group C: Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait

Group D: Algeria, Iraq, Bahrain, Sudan

The top two teams in each group will qualify for the knockout stage, consisting of the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.

Extra time and penalties

In the qualification stage, if a match is level at the end of the regulation 90 minutes, no extra time wills be played and penalties will be used to determine the winner. In the knockout stage of the final stage, if a match is level at the end of normal playing time, extra time and, if required, penalties will take place.

Schedule (UAE times)

Monday, December 1

Group A

Tunisia v Syria, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, 5pm

Qatar v Palestine, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, 8.30pm

Tuesday, December 2

Group B

Morocco v Comoros, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, 4pm

Saudi Arabia v Oman, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, 9pm

Group C

Egypt v Kuwait, Lusail Stadium, 6.30pm

Wednesday, December 3

Group C

Jordan v United Arab Emirates, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, 9pm

Group D

Algeria v Sudan, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, 4pm

Iraq v Bahrain, Stadium 974, Doha, 6.30pm

Thursday, December 4

Group A

Palestine v Tunisia, Lusail Stadium, 6.30pm

Syria v Qatar, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, 9pm

Friday, December 5

Group B

Oman v Morocco, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, 6.30pm

Comoros v Saudi Arabia, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, 10.30pm

Saturday, December 6

Group C

Kuwait v Jordan, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, 3pm

United Arab Emirates v Egypt, Lusail Stadium, 10.30pm

Group D

Bahrain v Algeria, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan 5.30pm

Sudan v Iraq, Stadium 974, Doha, 8pm

Sunday, December 7

Group A

Qatar v Tunisia, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, 9pm

Syria v Palestine, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, 9pm

Monday, December 8

Group B

Morocco v Saudi Arabia, Lusail Stadium, 9pm

Oman v Comoros, Stadium 974, Doha, 9pm

Tuesday, December 9

Group C

Egypt v Jordan, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, 6.30pm

United Arab Emirates v Kuwait, Stadium 974, Doha, 6.30pm

Group D

Algeria v Iraq, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, 9pm

Bahrain v Sudan, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan 9pm

Knockout stage fixtures

Thursday, December 11

QF1: Group B winners v Group A runners-up, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, 6.30pm

QF2: Group A winners v Group B runners-up, Lusail Stadium, 9.30pm

Friday, December 12

QF3: Group C winners v Group D runners-up, Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, 6.30pm

QF4: Group D winners v Group C runners-up, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, 9.30pm

Monday, December 15

SF1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF4, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, 6.30pm

SF2: Winner QF 2 v Winner QF 3, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, 9.30pm

Thursday, December 18

Match for third place: Loser SF1 v Loser SF2, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, 3pm

Final: Winner SF1 v Winner SF2, Lusail Stadium, 8pm

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased at www.fifa.com/en/tickets.

TV

All matches will be broadcast live on BeIN Sports.

Previous champions

2021: Algeria

2012: Morocco

2002: Saudi Arabia

1998: Saudi Arabia

1992: Egypt

1988: Iraq

1985: Iraq

1966: Iraq

1964: Iraq

1963: Tunisia

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8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21

  1. Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
  2. Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
  3. Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
  4. Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
  5. Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
  6. Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
  7. Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
  8. Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
PSG's line up

GK: Alphonse Areola (youth academy)

Defence - RB: Dani Alves (free transfer); CB: Marquinhos (€31.4 million); CB: Thiago Silva (€42m); LB: Layvin Kurzawa (€23m)

Midfield - Angel di Maria (€47m); Adrien Rabiot (youth academy); Marco Verratti (€12m)

Forwards - Neymar (€222m); Edinson Cavani (€63m); Kylian Mbappe (initial: loan; to buy: €180m)

Total cost: €440.4m (€620.4m if Mbappe makes permanent move)

T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

Results

UAE beat Nigeria by five wickets

Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs

Friday fixtures

10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey

7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman

Tell Me Who I Am

Director: Ed Perkins

Stars: Alex and Marcus Lewis

Four stars

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Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Various Artists 
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
​​​​​​​

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Director: Scott Cooper

Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong

Rating: 4/5

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FIGHT%20CARD
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RESULT

Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Dhadak

Director: Shashank Khaitan

Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana

Stars: 3

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

The National in Davos

We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V6%20and%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20power%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20700hp%20at%207%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20torque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20720Nm%20at%202%2C250rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E330kph%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh1.14%20million%20(%24311%2C000)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20electric%20motors%20with%20102kW%20battery%20pack%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E570hp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20890Nm%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%20428km%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C700%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Bournemouth 0

Manchester United 2
Smalling (28'), Lukaku (70')

Series info

Test series schedule 1st Test, Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka won by 21 runs; 2nd Test, Dubai: Play starts at 2pm, Friday-Tuesday

ODI series schedule 1st ODI, Dubai: October 13; 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 16; 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 18; 4th ODI, Sharjah: October 20; 5th ODI, Sharjah: October 23

T20 series schedule 1st T20, Abu Dhabi: October 26; 2nd T20, Abu Dhabi: October 27; 3rd T20, Lahore: October 29

Tickets Available at www.q-tickets.com

Stat Fourteen Fourteen of the past 15 Test matches in the UAE have been decided on the final day. Both of the previous two Tests at Dubai International Stadium have been settled in the last session. Pakistan won with less than an hour to go against West Indies last year. Against England in 2015, there were just three balls left.

Key battle - Azhar Ali v Rangana Herath Herath may not quite be as flash as Muttiah Muralitharan, his former spin-twin who ended his career by taking his 800th wicket with his final delivery in Tests. He still has a decent sense of an ending, though. He won the Abu Dhabi match for his side with 11 wickets, the last of which was his 400th in Tests. It was not the first time he has owned Pakistan, either. A quarter of all his Test victims have been Pakistani. If Pakistan are going to avoid a first ever series defeat in the UAE, Azhar, their senior batsman, needs to stand up and show the way to blunt Herath.

Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

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Updated: November 30, 2025, 10:09 AM