2025 FIFA Arab Cup to Introduce Significant Regulatory Changes
The 11th edition of the FIFA Arab Cup, scheduled to take place in Doha from next Monday to December 18, will witness important and influential regulatory changes aimed at strengthening the tournament's position on regional and international stages.
This is the second consecutive edition organized by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) after the 2021 edition in Doha, which marked a historic turning point with FIFA's recognition of the tournament for the first time since its launch in 1963, thereby giving it an international dimension and increased interest.
The success of the previous edition encouraged FIFA to continue supporting the tournament for the next three editions, in 2025, 2029, and 2033, on the condition that they take place in Doha, to ensure the same resounding success as the tenth edition.
The Qatar News Agency (QNA) stated on Saturday that the current edition will see numerous changes in line with FIFA's efforts to develop the tournament in terms of regulations, systems, and match value, to give it more dynamism.
Key Changes
The most significant change is that the matches in this edition will be considered official and not friendly. The points from these matches will be counted in the monthly world ranking of national teams published by FIFA. This is a historic development that gives the tournament an official dimension it previously lacked.
In accordance with this decision, teams participating in Arab Cup matches will receive the same ranking points as those awarded to teams in international friendly matches. This reinforces the importance of the tournament and increases its value for participating teams, especially those seeking to improve their ranking.
The second change in the new edition concerns the modification of instructions for settling ties between teams in the event of a draw for qualification from the group stages to the quarterfinals, a modification that FIFA has never applied in any of its competitions.
Tournament System
According to the tournament system, 16 teams are divided into four groups of four teams. The teams ranked first and second in each group qualify for the quarterfinals. The 2025 edition introduces a fundamental change in paragraphs (a, b, c) of Article 13:
- The first criterion becomes the goal difference in the results of direct confrontations between the concerned teams, instead of the total goal difference in all group matches, as was the case in the previous edition in 2021.
- Then, the highest number of goals scored in direct confrontations between the concerned teams.
- In the event of a persistent tie, the total goal difference in the group is used.
- Then, the highest total number of goals scored in all group matches.
- Finally, fair play (yellow and red cards).
FIFA has also modified the last criterion for settling ties between teams in the event of a persistent tie after fair play: it has canceled the principle of drawing lots as the ultimate option. Instead, it will be based on the position in the last monthly FIFA ranking published before the tournament, so that the best-ranked team will qualify, a step that confirms the integration of Arab Cup points into the international team ranking.
Prize Money Increase
The tournament has also seen an evolution in terms of prize money, with an increase in its financial value to $36.5 million, a move that reflects the growing interest in the competition and motivates participating teams.
Jassim Abdulaziz Al Jassim, the CEO of the tournament, stated during a press conference today that the opening match between the teams of Qatar and Palestine will take place at the Al Bayt Stadium, one of the six stadiums that hosted the 2022 World Cup, and that the final will be held at the Lusail Stadium.
He added that 30% of the tickets sold so far come from outside Qatar. He emphasized that supporters from Jordan and Saudi Arabia are the most numerous in buying tickets.
Group Composition
- Group A: Qatar, Palestine, Syria, and Tunisia.
- Group B: Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Comoros.
- Group C: Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
- Group D: Algeria (title holder), Bahrain, Iraq, and Sudan.
