7 teams are vying for Arab Cup qualification spots

The seven teams that will qualify for the 2025 Arab Cup, to be hosted by Qatar for the second consecutive time from December 1st to 18th, will be decided next Tuesday and Wednesday. Qatar, the Gulf nation that hosted the 2022 World Cup, will host seven matches for the 14 lowest-ranked teams over two days, with the winners joining the nine teams that have already qualified. Group A includes Qatar and Tunisia, as well as the winners of the matches between Syria and South Sudan, and Palestine and Libya. However, the Syrian national team will face difficulty in fielding its top professional players due to the tournament coinciding with non-official FIFA match days, which could affect the team's performance should they qualify. Senegalese coach Aliou Cissé, who manages Libya, expressed his ambitions, stating that his team's goal is to build a strong squad capable of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, considering participation in the Arab Cup a valuable opportunity to gain experience. In Group B, Morocco and Saudi Arabia will be joined by the winners of the matches between Oman and Somalia, and Comoros and Yemen. The Yemeni national team is enjoying a good run of form despite the challenges, having secured a resounding 7-1 victory over Bhutan, bringing them closer to qualifying for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. Yemeni player Haroun Al-Zubaidi spoke about the difficult situation in the country, noting that the absence of a domestic league provides an opportunity for players to showcase their abilities in the tournament despite the challenging circumstances. In Group C, the winner of the Mauritania-Kuwait match will play alongside Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE. Kuwait is aiming for a strong comeback after a period of absence, while Mauritanian player Sidi Bouna Ammar emphasized the importance of thoroughly studying Kuwait's performance to prepare for the match. In Group D, Algeria and Iraq will be joined by the winners of the matches between Bahrain and Djibouti, and Sudan and Lebanon. The Sudanese national team appears strong after their impressive performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, despite some challenges due to injuries, according to goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Nour Abuja. The Lebanese national team, which has undergone significant changes to its roster, appears fully prepared both technically and physically, according to player Walid Shour. The addition of new players has raised the team's level, particularly in attack. All eyes are on these crucial qualifiers, which will witness fierce competition among the Arab teams, amidst intensive preparations and a clear desire to qualify for the tournament to be held in Qatar. This underscores the importance of the Arab Cup as a platform that brings together national teams and provides them with an opportunity to prepare and shine in continental and international competitions.