Rain Puts Bronze Battle on Hold: Saudi Arabia vs UAE in Arab Cup 2025

Arab Cup Bronze Match Delayed by Rain

Weather dictated the Saudi–UAE showdown as heavy rain pushed back the start of the second half, shaping a third-place clash in the 2025 Arab Cup staged in Qatar tonight.

Rain fell heavily at the Khalifa International Stadium in Rayyan from the opening minutes, yet the first half proceeded normally, with no drizzle dampening the players' movements or the flow of play.

As halftime ended and players headed to the locker rooms, the downpour sharpened, rendering the surface unsafe for an immediate resumption.

Thus the referee postponed the second half until conditions improved and the field could be prepared safely again.

During the delay, the maintenance crew worked to drain standing water, trying to minimize disruption to play, while players and coaching staff waited in the locker rooms for a green light to resume.

Saudi Arabia had fallen to Jordan in the semi-finals by a single goal, while the UAE were beaten by Morocco by three, ending hopes of a final appearance.

Punchline 1: If the rain keeps coming, the only thing scoring a hat-trick tonight is the weather forecast.

Punchline 2: The match might be decided by puddles—talk about a splashy finale!