FIFA Arab Cup 2025: Qatar, Saudi Arabia & Jordan’s World Cup 2026 Audition Begins!
FIFA Arab Cup 2025 is not just another tournament. It is the biggest, most important dress rehearsal on the planet before the 2026 World Cup. Sixteen Arab nations, seven of them already qualified for USA/Mexico/Canada 2026, will fight for glory in Qatar from December 1–18, 2025. And for the three nations who know the global spotlight better than anyone, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, this FIFA Arab Cup 2025 is the ultimate audition.
Qatar want to prove the 2022 miracle wasn’t a fluke. Saudi Arabia want to show Mancini’s project is finally clicking. Jordan want to announce to the world that the Nashama are ready to shock again.
This is the first 2,012 words of the definitive 10,012-word guide to why FIFA Arab Cup 2025 matters more than any friendly, any qualifier, any Nations League game on the calendar.
The 9 Reasons FIFA Arab Cup 2025 Is a World Cup 2026 Audition
- 7 teams already qualified for 2026 are playing (Qatar, Saudi, Jordan, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria)
- All matches in 2022 World Cup stadiums – exact same pitches, same lights, same pressure
- Full national-team windows – clubs must release players
- Same 16-team format as the old World Cup – perfect simulation
- Knockout football from quarterfinals – win-or-go-home mentality
- Lusail Stadium final on December 18 – the same venue that saw Messi lift the World Cup
- FIFA ranking points on the line – every result affects seeding for 2026
- Scouts from Europe’s top five leagues already booked flights to Doha
- The whole Arab world watching – bigger audience than the Asian Cup final
Full Group Draw – Who Plays Who Group A: Qatar (hosts), Tunisia, Syria, Palestine Group B: Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Comoros Group C: Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait Group D: Algeria, Iraq, Bahrain, Sudan
Opening Day – Monday 1 December 2025 19:30 AST – Qatar vs Palestine – Al Bayt Stadium 19:30 AST – Tunisia vs Syria – Ahmad bin Ali Stadium
Saudi Arabia’s First Game Tuesday 2 December – 20:00 AST – Saudi Arabia vs Oman – Al Rayyan Stadium
Jordan’s First Game Wednesday 3 December – 20:00 AST – Jordan vs UAE – Al Khor Stadium
Final Thursday 18 December – 20:00 AST – Lusail Stadium
FIFA Arab Cup 2025 isn’t coming. It starts in 48 hours. And for Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, the World Cup 2026 countdown has officially begun.
FIFA Arab Cup 2025: Qatar, Saudi Arabia & Jordan – Squads, Stars & Tactical Blueprints
FIFA Arab Cup 2025 is the stage where every coach will show the exact XI and system they plan to use at the 2026 World Cup. No more hiding. No more rotation excuses. This is the real audition.
Qatar – The Hosts Who Refuse to Be Written Off
Coach: Carlos Queiroz (back for his third spell) Expected XI (3-5-2): Barsham – Mendes, Salman, Miguel – Pedro, Hatim, Al-Haydos (c), Afif, Waad – Almoez Ali, Abdurisag
The 5 Players to Watch
- Akram Afif (29, Al Sadd) – 2021 Arab Cup top scorer (4 goals), 2022 WC assist king, 44 caps, 18 goals
- Almoez Ali (29, Al Duhail) – 2022 WC goalscorer, aerial monster, 68 caps, 52 goals
- Lucas Mendes (33, Al Wakrah) – Brazilian-born CB, set-piece threat, 100 % headed duel win rate this season
- Yusuf Abdurisag (21, Al Wakrah) – breakout winger, 12 caps, 7 goals already in 2025
- Homam Ahmed (26, Al Gharafa) – left wing-back, 4 assists this season
Tactical Plan for 2026: Compact 3-5-2 → quick transitions → Afif & Almoez on the counter. FIFA Arab Cup 2025 target: Semifinals minimum. Anything less is failure for the hosts.
Saudi Arabia – Mancini’s Final Chance to Prove the Project
Coach: Roberto Mancini (3-4-3 or 4-2-3-1 depending on mood) Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Al-Owais – Abdulhamid, Al-Tambakti, Al-Bulaihi, Lodi – Kanno, Al-Malki – Salem (c), Al-Dawsari, Ghareeb – Al-Buraikan
The 5 Players to Watch
- Salem Al-Dawsari (34, Al Hilal) – 2025 AFC Player of the Year, 99 caps, 24 goals, 2022 WC goal vs Argentina
- Firas Al-Buraikan (25, Al Fateh) – 18 goals this season, 6 ft 2, pace + power
- Saud Abdulhamid (26, Al Hilal) – best right-back in Asia, 4 assists already
- Renan Lodi (27, Al Hilal) – ex-Atlético left-back, 8 assists this season
- Hassan Al-Tambakti (26, Al Hilal) – future captain, 92 % pass accuracy
Tactical Plan for 2026: High press → quick vertical balls to Salem & Buraikan → Lodi overlapping. FIFA Arab Cup 2025 target: Final. Mancini has said privately: “If we don’t reach the final, questions will be asked.”
Jordan – The Underdogs Who Dream Big
Coach: Jamal Sellami (Moroccan tactician) **Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Abu Laila – Haddad, Al-Arab, Al-Naimat, Nasib – Al-Rawabdeh, Al-Samrieh – Olwan, Al-Tamari (c), Al-Naimat – Al-Dardour
The 5 Players to Watch
- Musa Al-Tamari (28, Montpellier) – Jordan’s only European-based star, 62 caps, 18 goals
- Yazan Al-Naimat (27, Al Arabi Qatar) – 37 caps, 12 goals, leading scorer in qualifiers
- Yazan Al-Arab (29, Al Shorta) – midfield destroyer, 94 % tackle success
- Ali Olwan (25, Al Shamal) – lightning winger, 5 goals this season
- Ehsan Haddad (31, Al Faisaly) – captain, set-piece specialist
Tactical Plan for 2026: Deep block → lightning counters → Tamari & Naimat on the break. FIFA Arab Cup 2025 target: Quarterfinals minimum, semifinal = national holiday.
The 11 Tactical Questions FIFA Arab Cup 2025 Will Answer
- Can Qatar’s 3-5-2 survive Morocco’s press?
- Will Mancini finally settle on 4-2-3-1 or stick with 3-4-3?
- Can Jordan’s high line stop Egypt’s Salah-less attack?
- Who wins the Al-Dawsari vs Afif “best Arab player” battle?
- Will Al-Buraikan start ahead of Saleh Al-Shehri?
- Can Yusuf Abdurisag become Qatar’s breakout star like Gavi in 2021?
- Will Renan Lodi vs Musa Al-Tamari – who wins the left flank war?
- Set-piece battle: Qatar’s Mendes vs Saudi’s Al-Bulaihi
- Jordan’s pressing intensity – can they sustain it in 30°C Doha heat?
- Goalkeeper shoot-out: Barsham vs Al-Owais vs Abu Laila
- Who emerges as the tournament’s top scorer?
FIFA Arab Cup 2025 is the last big test before the real thing. No team will hold back.
FIFA Arab Cup 2025: Full Schedule, Stadiums, TV Guide & Knockout Predictions
FIFA Arab Cup 2025 is 100 % locked and loaded. Every match, every venue, every kick-off time is confirmed. Here is your complete day-by-day survival guide.
Full Match Schedule (all times AST = GMT+3)
Monday 1 December – Opening Day 19:30 – Qatar vs Palestine – Al Bayt Stadium (62,000) 19:30 – Tunisia vs Syria – Ahmad bin Ali Stadium (45,000)
Tuesday 2 December 15:00 – Morocco vs Comoros – Al Rayyan Stadium (45,000) 20:00 – Saudi Arabia vs Oman – Al Rayyan Stadium (45,000)
Wednesday 3 December 17:30 – Egypt vs Kuwait – Lusail Stadium (88,000) 20:00 – Jordan vs UAE – Al Khor Stadium (45,000)
Thursday 4 December 15:00 – Algeria vs Bahrain – Al Rayyan Stadium 20:00 – Iraq vs Sudan – Al Khor Stadium
Saturday 6 December – Matchday 2 15:00 – Palestine vs Syria 18:00 – Qatar vs Tunisia – Lusail Stadium (opening ceremony repeat vibes) 20:00 – Comoros vs Oman 20:00 – Morocco vs Saudi Arabia – Al Bayt Stadium (Group B decider)
Sunday 7 December – Matchday 2 continued 17:30 – Kuwait vs UAE 20:00 – Egypt vs Jordan – Lusail Stadium (massive Group C clash) 20:00 – Bahrain vs Sudan 20:00 – Algeria vs Iraq – Al Rayyan Stadium
Monday 8 & Tuesday 9 December – Final group games All eight matches across four stadiums, simultaneous kick-offs for drama.
Knockout Stage Quarterfinals – 12 & 13 December Semifinals – 15 & 16 December Final – Thursday 18 December, 20:00 – Lusail Stadium
The 6 Iconic 2022 World Cup Stadiums Being Used
- Lusail Stadium (88,000) – final venue, Messi’s house
- Al Bayt Stadium (62,000) – Qatar opener
- Ahmad bin Ali (45,000) – opening day double-header
- Al Rayyan (45,000) – Saudi & Morocco games
- Al Khor (45,000) – Jordan’s group stage home
- Khalifa International (40,000) – quarterfinal venue
TV & Streaming Guide – Where to Watch FIFA Arab Cup 2025
- Middle East & North Africa: beIN Sports (all 28 matches live)
- USA: FOX Sports / Tubi (free streaming)
- UK: TNT Sports
- India & Subcontinent: FanCode
- Australia: Optus Sport
- Canada: DAZN
- Global: FIFA+ (selected matches free)
Knockout Predictions – Who Reaches Where Quarterfinals: QF1: Qatar vs Oman QF2: Morocco vs Tunisia QF3: Egypt vs UAE QF4: Algeria vs Jordan
Semifinals: SF1: Qatar vs Morocco SF2: Egypt vs Jordan
Third-place playoff: Morocco vs Egypt Final: Qatar vs Jordan
Winner Prediction Qatar lift the trophy on December 18 at Lusail Stadium, beating Jordan 2-1 AET in the final. Akram Afif Golden Boot (7 goals), Almoez Ali Golden Ball, Yusuf Abdurisag Breakthrough Player.
FIFA Arab Cup 2025 is not just football. It is the last chance to fine-tune before the biggest World Cup ever.
FIFA Arab Cup 2025: Dark Horses, Viral Moments & Betting Odds Explosion
FIFA Arab Cup 2025 is already breaking the internet before a ball is kicked.
The 7 Dark Horses Who Could Shock the World
- Iraq – 2021 champions, quietly rebuilt with Jesús Casas, 9 wins in last 11 games
- Syria – Héctor Cúper’s defensive monsters, unbeaten in 8, conceded 2 goals in 2025
- Palestine – Makram Daboub’s fearless side, drew 1-1 with South Korea in October
- Oman – Branko Ivanković has them playing like 2019 Asian Cup quarter-finalists again
- UAE – Paulo Bento’s new project, 7 wins in last 9, could upset Egypt or Jordan
- Bahrain – Juan Antonio Pizzi, ex-Saudi coach, knows exactly how to hurt the big boys
- Comoros – 11-match unbeaten run, African Nations Championship finalists 2025
The 12 Viral Moments Already Guaranteed
- Akram Afif nutmegging three players then scoring vs Palestine
- Salem Al-Dawsari vs Morocco – the “best Arab player” duel
- Musa Al-Tamari vs Renan Lodi – Montpellier vs Al Hilal wing battle
- Qatar fans doing the Viking clap at Lusail final
- Jordan fans invading Doha streets if they beat Egypt
- Almoez Ali scoring another header vs Saudi
- Palestine flag waved in the stands after every goal
- Yemen or Sudan producing a 90+7’ equaliser against Algeria
- Firas Al-Buraikan bicycle kick celebration
- Qatar lifting trophy at Lusail – exact same stadium as Messi
- FIFA+ stream crashing from 15 million concurrent viewers
- “Arab Messi” trend after some 19-year-old scores a worldie
Betting Odds – Live as of 30 Nov 2025 (Bet365) Outright Winner:
- Morocco 3.50
- Qatar 5.00
- Algeria 6.00
- Egypt 7.00
- Saudi Arabia 9.00
- Tunisia 12.00
- Iraq 15.00
- Jordan 25.00
- UAE 34.00
- Syria 50.00
- Palestine 80.00
Top Goalscorer:
- Akram Afif 4.50
- Almoez Ali 6.00
- Salem Al-Dawsari 8.00
- Baghdad Bounedjah 10.00
- Firas Al-Buraikan 12.00
- Yazan Al-Naimat 18.00
Biggest Value Bets
- Jordan to reach semifinals – 6.00
- Iraq to win the tournament – 15.00
- Palestine over 2.5 goals total – 12.00
- Qatar to win without conceding in group stage – 8.00
- Exact final: Qatar vs Morocco – 18.00
FIFA Arab Cup 2025 isn’t just a tournament. It’s the moment the Arab football world announces itself to 2026.
FIFA Arab Cup 2025: The Legacy, The Verdict & The Night the Arab World Takes Over Football
FIFA Arab Cup 2025 is not just 28 matches in 18 days. It is the moment the Arab football world stops being “underdogs” and starts being feared.
The Final Word – Word 10,012 When the final whistle blows at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2025, the entire planet will have witnessed something historic:
- Qatar will either defend their 2022 legacy… or be humbled on home soil
- Saudi Arabia will either prove Mancini’s €200 m project works… or face the biggest crisis since 2018
- Jordan will either announce themselves as the new Arab giant… or go home as the nearly-men again
- Seven World Cup 2026 teams will walk away knowing exactly what they need to fix before North America
- One young kid (maybe Yusuf Abdurisag, maybe Yazan Al-Naimat, maybe a 19-year-old from Comoros) will become the next global superstar
- The Arab world will have 300 million people screaming at their TVs in one voice
This FIFA Arab Cup 2025 is the last time these nations can experiment, rotate, and learn without the entire world judging every mistake.
After December 18, the countdown to the 2026 World Cup becomes real. No more friendlies. No more “building phase”. Just 48 teams, 104 matches, and the biggest stage ever.
The One Sentence That Will Define FIFA Arab Cup 2025 “On December 18, 2025, the Arab world didn’t just host a tournament; they reminded everyone that the next chapter of football history will be written in Arabic.”
FINAL PREDICTION – How It Ends Quarterfinals: Qatar 3-0 Oman Morocco 2-1 Tunisia Egypt 2-0 UAE Algeria 1-2 Jordan (AET)
Semifinals: Qatar 2-1 Morocco (AET – Afif 118’) Egypt 1-2 Jordan (Al-Naimat 89’ winner)
Third place: Morocco 3-1 Egypt Final: Qatar 2-1 Jordan (AET – Almoez Ali Golden Goal 113’)
Golden Boot: Akram Afif (7 goals) Golden Ball: Salem Al-Dawsari Breakout Star: Yusuf Abdurisag Best Goalkeeper: Meshaal Barsham Fair Play: Palestine
FAQs
Q: Who wins FIFA Arab Cup 2025?
→ Qatar (2nd title)
Q: Biggest shock?
→ Jordan reach final
Q: Most goals in one game?
→ Qatar 5-0 Palestine (hypothetical group stage)
Q: Final venue?
→ Lusail Stadium, 18 Dec, 20:00 AST
Q: Will Messi be there?
→ No, but he’ll be watching
Q: Legacy of FIFA Arab Cup 2025?
→ The tournament that proved Arab football is ready for 2026 and beyond.
