Doha, Qatar: Hosts Qatar enter the highly-anticipated FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 as one of the tournament favourites. The competition kicks off today, promising excitement and fierce battles across the 16-team lineup.
Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui has assembled a squad blending experience and youth, keeping an eye on the broader picture ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Meanwhile, Palestinian coach Ihab Abu Jazar expressed confidence in his team despite a tough group draw.
“The Arab Cup is a very important milestone. We faced the Libyan national team in the toughest match in the play-offs and we were able to qualify. We will play in a very difficult group with two teams that qualified for the World Cup, and we know that the task is difficult. We trust all our players despite the absences, and we are confident that our national team will be different, knowing that our players have two or three seasons in the Qatari league.”
Stay tuned as The Peninsula brings you the live match updates from the stadium.
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65' Palestine's Ahmed Mehajneh connects with the cross but his header does not bother Qatar's GK Abunadah.
64' Corner for Palestine
61' Double substitution for Qatar as Mohammed Muntari and Khaled Binsabaa come in for Mohammed Khaled and Ahmed Alaa
59' Double substitution for Palestine with Oday Dabbagh replace Mustafa Zeidan and Ameed Sawafta replacing Emilio Saba.
50' Edmilson Junior does well to dance around the Palestine defence but Sultan Al Brake could not connect with the low cross. Qatar dangerous.
46' Qatar substitution. Edmilson Junior comes in for Manai
WATCH: Highlights from the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 opening match
45' Four minutes of added time given.
43' Seyam whips one in for Palestine but falls to Qatar's goalkeeper Abunada in perhaps his first appearance in the match,
40' Qatar's Lucas Mendes tries with a left footed long range effort but Hamadeh is able to get a hold on itl.
38' Palestine are beginning to control the ball more.
25' Qatar's Afif dinks in into the area but Madibo's volley on the rebound sails wide.
24' Manai wins a foul for Qatar in a promising area
23' Stoppage in play for an injury on Palestine's Emilio Saba
21' Almost halfway through the first 45' with no clear cut chances from either sides.
16' Afif snatches the ball in Palestine's box and attempts to lob it over the keeper but was judged to have fouled before the play.
14' Corner for Palestine
11' Akram Afif curls one from the corner but Palestine's Rami Hamadeh palms it out of the danger zone before Fathy's header from outside the box goes out for a goal kick.
10' Qatar's Manai receives the ball, turns and takes a shot from outside the box but is deflected into a corner kick.
3' Qatar's Afif whips it in high from the corner flag but Ahmed Fathy hit it too high. Goal kick for Palestine.
2' Corner for Qatar
1' Kick off
Qatar line-up
#AlAnnabi team lineup ???????? for the opening match of the #FIFArabCup journey against Palestine. ???? pic.twitter.com/zTNuxKdDzj
— Qatar Football Association (@QFA_EN) December 1, 2025
HH the Amir arrives
The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrives at Al Bayt Stadiumpic.twitter.com/zSp07Aavbq
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) December 1, 2025
Fan vibes
Fan vibes at Al Bayt Stadium ahead of the Qatar versus Palestine match.
