Four years later, Algeria is putting its crown back on the line. Crowned in 2021 for the first edition of the Arab Cup under the aegis of Fifa, the Fennecs return to Qatar this winter to try to defend their title acquired against Tunisia (2-0, December 18, 2021). Facing Madjid Bougherra’s men are the fifteen best nations in the Arab world that are part of the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA). Instructions for use.
The Arab Cup, creation and history
Created at the end of the 1950s after the idea of the Lebanese journalist Nassif Majdalani and the secretary general of the Lebanese Football Federation (LFA) Izzat Al Turk, the competition saw the light of day in April 1963 in Lebanon.
Wishing to bring together the largest Arab countries in a tournament modeled on the Euro or the CAN – with the difference that the Arab Cup concerns two continents, Africa and Asia – the UAFA was responsible for organizing the event until 2021, despite several interruptions linked to the political context.
Arab Cup results:
1963: Tunisia
1964 : Irak
1966 : Irak
1985 : Irak
1988 : Irak
1992: Egypt
1998: Saudi Arabia
2002: Saudi Arabia
2012: Morocco
2021: Algeria
Relaunched by Fifa after a gap of nine years without an edition, the competition took on a facelift by serving as a dress rehearsal before the World Cup in Qatar. Adapted format, increased media coverage, infrastructure… The new model has generated unprecedented enthusiasm. Enough to revive interest in a long-neglected tournament.
Which teams affected?
The host country (Qatar), the defending champion (Algeria) as well as the seven teams best placed in the Fifa world rankings in April 2025 automatically qualified for the group stages. The big names in the Arab world, such as Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, will therefore defend their chances in the Persian Gulf this winter.
Qualifications were organized to determine the names of the seven other participants, allowing more modest nations, such as the Comoros or Syria, to validate their ticket. Palestine also qualified by emerging from a shootout against Libya (0-0 + 4-3 tab).
Which stars are present?
Like the Euro Espoirs or the Olympic Games, the Arab Cup is not considered part of the Fifa dates, which means that clubs are not obliged to release their players for the competition.
The biggest stars of the Arab world, like Riyad Mahrez, Achraf Hakimi or Mohamed Salah will therefore not be present, especially as the African Cup of Nations (December 21 – January 18) starts just three days after the final.
The big nations therefore rather send their A’ team to participate in the tournament. In general, these are not led by the usual selectors but rather by the coaches of the Olympic teams. Thus, Tarik Sektioui, who led Morocco to a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, will be in charge of the Atlas Lions in Qatar.
This will not be the case for Saudi Arabia, which will be able to rely on the majority of its senior staff and on its coach Hervé Renard.
Despite everything, the Arab Cup, which gives pride of place to young players from local championships, will still mobilize certain names known to the general public. Algeria, for example, called on Youcef Atal, Yacine Brahimi, Islam Slimani and Adam Ounas, all four members of the team crowned African champions in 2019. Ismaël Gharbi, the left winger trained at Paris Saint-Germain, will participate with Tunisia.
The draw
The 16 participants were divided into four groups of four teams. The opening match will pit Tunisia against Syria this Monday, December 1 at Al Rayyan (2 p.m.), while the host country, Qatar, will enter the fray in the afternoon against Palestine (5:30 p.m.).
The draw
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
Morocco was placed in the same group as Saudi Arabia. The two big fish will meet for a clash at the summit on December 8 (6 p.m.). Algeria will face Iraq, Bahrain and Sudan and will start on Wednesday December 3 (1 p.m.).
