Arab Cup Opener: Qatar and Palestine Eye an Even Start on Home Soil
30 November 2025
Preview
The Arab Cup's 11th edition opens with a Group A clash between Qatar and Palestine at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on Monday evening, a match that kicks off a tournament also featuring Tunisia and Syria.
Qatar, known as Al Annabi, are chasing a perfect start in their fourth Arab Cup appearance and their first title. Their best finishes include a runners-up spot in 1998 when the event was hosted by Qatar, a fourth-place finish in 1985 in Saudi Arabia, and a third place in 2021 on home soil. They arrive buoyed by their qualification for the 2026 World Cup after topping the Asian fourth-round playoff, finishing first in the Doha-hosted group ahead of Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
Palestine enter the tournament with the aim of progressing beyond the group stage for the first time in their sixth Arab Cup appearance, riding the momentum of recent World Cup qualifying performances despite not earning a World Cup berth. They reached the Arab Cup group stage by beating Libya on penalties after a goalless draw in the playoff in Doha last week.
Coaches, squad news and stakes
Qatar’s head coach, Lopetegui, has said the squad prepared thoroughly for the Palestine match and that the opener is expected to be a balanced contest. He stressed the importance of staying focused on the present Arab Cup journey and keeping a pool of options for the road to the next World Cup cycle.
On the Palestine bench, coach Ihab Abu Jazar highlighted the challenge of a tough group but pledged to defend Palestine's chances and to represent the country with pride on the big stage.
Team news from Qatar points to a 23-man squad mixing youth with experience. Notable players include Akram Afif, Mohammed Muntari, Edmilson Junior and goalkeeper Meshal Barsam, while Almoez Ali is sidelined by a recent surgery. The coach has also named emerging talents such as Khaled Al-Hussein, Hamad Al-Nabri and Mohammed Khaled as part of a broader renewal drive.
Palestine conducted a Spain-based training camp with two friendlies against regional selections before a Doha camp a week before the Arab Cup qualifiers. The squad features professionals from Arab leagues, including Mohammad Saleh, Amid Mahajneh, Musab Battat, Michael Termamani, Tamer Siyam, Adeeb Al-Dabag, Bader Musa, Hamid Hamdan and Khaled Al-Nabri, among others, who will shoulder the responsibilities in the group-stage test.
Two extra notes
Qatar’s campaign for the Arab Cup will be monitored by a mix of youth and experience, with the host nation hoping to blend ambition with judicious game management as they plot a route toward a potential continental crown.
Palestine, meanwhile, will rely on a tough mindset and a plan built around team cohesion, ready to contest every ball and maximize chances in a group that also includes two teams that have recently reached the World Cup finals. The task is formidable, but the players and staff believe in their capacity to make a statement on days like this.
Punchline 1: If parity were a goal, this match would already be the league champion—two teams, one scoreboard, and a coin toss away from glory.
Punchline 2: In football, optimism travels faster than the ball—let's hope it finds the net before the goalkeeper finds a way to save the day.
