Saudi Dreams, Qatar Ambitions: Musab Al-Juwair Aims High in the Arab Cup 2025

Musab Al-Juwair, a forward for the Saudi national team, dreams of lifting the Arab Cup trophy in Qatar, which will take place from December 1 to 18.

Speaking with FIFA.com, he described the Arab Cup atmosphere as extraordinary, praising Qatar's ability to host major events and noting that Saudi fans always create a strong presence. He believes the 2025 edition will be better and stronger on every level.

He also recalled that he was not part of the World Cup 2022 squad, but that memory remains etched in the hearts of Saudis. Each trip to Qatar rekindles pride in the Argentina match and serves as motivation to keep raising the team's level.

He added that all groups are tough, but the team is well prepared and possesses the desire and quality to make a difference in such tournaments; their goal is always to win titles.

Furthermore, he emphasised that the ambition is to compete for the title in every tournament. He reminded listeners that the team had previously won a title before FIFA's oversight and expressed confidence in reaching the final and competing strongly.

Praise for the Arab Cup's level

Al-Juwair praised the level of the participating teams, saying the matches carry a special spirit with fierce competition and high motivation from both sides, making the tournament both entertaining and challenging.

He added that the Arab Cup has a unique aura, and the team will enter determined to contend for the title while also preparing early for the World Cup, aiming to deliver a performance that honors the Saudi national team and pleases the fans.

When asked whether Asian Arab teams differ from African Arab teams, he replied that differences lie more in playing styles than in quality; African sides bring physical power and speed, whereas Asian Arab teams rely more on organization. Facing both helps the team sharpen its tools.

A Bright Saudi Future

He spoke about the wealth of talent in Saudi football, saying the national team has a young group that adds a lot and makes the future bright. He personally aims to continue evolving and establish himself as an influential player, contributing to new achievements for the Green.

He noted that he wasn't part of the initial period with coach Hervé Renard, but the second period was very clear: Renard arrived with energy, paid close attention to details, and built a strong rapport with the current generation. His approach helped the team grow and play with more confidence, and he personally benefited from his guidance.

Saudi Squad List

Renard named 23 players for the Arab Cup 2025.

The Saudi squad participating in the Arab Cup 2025 includes the following:

Goalkeepers: Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Ragid Nagar, Abdulrahman Al-Sanabi.

Defenders: Abdulrahman Al-Omari, Walid Al-Ahmad, Nawaf Boshl, Mohammed Suleiman, Jihad Dakri, Hassan Al-Tembkati, Ali Mujrshi.

Midfielders: Murad Al-Housaoui, Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat, Musab Al-Juwair, Mohammed Kano, Abdullah Al-Khubayri, Ayman Yahya, Nasser Al-Dosari.

Forwards: Salem Al-Dosari, Abdulrahman Al-Aboud, Abdulrahman Al-Hamdan, Saleh Al-Shehri, Firas Al-Breikan, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat.

Renard also excluded six players: Saud Abdul Hamid, Sultan Mundash, Muteb Al-Harbi, Mohammed Al-Rubaei, Ziyad Al-Jehni, Marwan Al-Sahafi.

The draw placed Saudi Arabia in Group 2 alongside Morocco and the winners of the Oman-Somalia and Yemen-Comoros matches. The Green open their campaign on December 2 against the winner of Oman-Somalia at Education City Stadium. The tournament will be hosted by Qatar at six World Cup-style venues: Al Bayt, Lusail, Ahmad bin Ali, Education City, Khalifa International, and 974 Stadium. Sixteen teams compete for the title, with nine qualifying automatically and 14 nations vying for the remaining spots in the November qualifiers in Qatar.