May 23 – The Qatar Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup, to be played December 1-18, has unveiled a total prize pool of $36.5 million, an $11 million increase on the reported 2021 prize pool of $25.5 million.
The 16-team 2025 edition will be the second organised under the FIFA banner. The 2021 tournament was also hosted in Qatar with Algeria beating Tunisia 2-0 in the final.
The Arab Cup was first played in 1963 in Lebanon as a five team competition, and was held a further eight times up to 2012 being only open to nations in the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA). FIFA encouraged the competition into international calendar with a regular slot starting in 2021.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, Minister of Sports and Youth and LOC Chairman, said: “This announcement further elevates the stature of the FIFA Arab Cup – a tournament we brought back to life in 2021 – and reflects Qatar’s leading role in the development of football across the region, continent and around the world. It demonstrates our unwavering commitment to football and the positive values it promotes – unity, opportunity, and pride. This tournament is a celebration of Arab football, a platform for regional solidarity, and an inspiration for young talent across generations.”
Like the World Cup in 2022, the 2025 Arab Cup will hold its final on Qatar National Day. The draw for the tournament will take place on May 25 in Doha.
“The FIFA Arab Cup forms a vital part of the legacy of the FIFA World Cup, which was by the testimony of many far and wide the most successful edition of the tournament. Hosting world-class tournaments like the Arab Cup and the upcoming U-17 World Cup helps us build on that momentum, reinforcing Qatar’s position as a premier global sporting destination and leaving a meaningful legacy that benefits our communities and the broader region,” added Sheikh Hamad.
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