Photo by Mahmoud Elmazaty/ The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: As the Arab Cup heads into the quarterfinals, Palestine, the tournament’s dark horse, is set to face powerhouse Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium.
Palestine delivered one of the most impressive group-stage performances, topping their group after defeating Asian champions Qatar and securing two draws against Syria and Tunisia. Their resilience, teamwork, and fighting spirit have made them one of the standout stories of the tournament.
Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, opened strongly with wins over Bahrain and Comoros. In their final group match, the Green Falcons missed a 90th-minute penalty and fell to Morocco, a game in which the coach opted to rest several key players ahead of the knockout round.
If you haven’t secured your tickets yet, stay tuned! The Peninsula will bring you live coverage, including pre and post match fan reactions, fan zone vibes, stadium atmosphere, highlights, and match updates.
______________________________________________________________________
95' Both teams are showing caution as extra time begins.
FULL TIME! TO EXTRA TIME!
Palestine 1-1 Saudi Arabia
90+ 4 VAR confirms there is no penalty for Saudi Arabia.
90+2 VAR disallows a Saudi goal as Mohammed Kano is flagged offside.
Five minutes of additional time have been announced by the referee.
A crowd of 77,197 packed Lusail Stadium tonight to witness Palestine take on Saudi Arabia in the FIFA Arab Cup quarter-finals.
85’ Both teams are pressing relentlessly in search of the decisive goal.
70'Saudi Arabia comes close as Ali Majrashi’s shot smashes against the bar.
66'GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL A clinical finish from Palestinian forward Oudai sees him turn a cross into a goal from inside the box.
58' GOAAAAAAAAL Saudi Arabia takes the lead with a penalty awarded after VAR review.
51'Palestinian midfielder H. Himdan unleashes a long-range effort, but it sails off target.
48' The Saudi goalkeeper thwarts a dangerous attempt following a foul by Palestine.
SECOND HALF STARTED!
Palestine 0-0 Saudi Arabia
FANS PREDICTION!
HALF-TIME!
Half-time: Palestine 0–0 Saudi Arabia
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) December 11, 2025
Despite chances for both teams, the match reaches the interval goalless after an energetic and evenly contested half.
⚽️???? LIVE UPDATES: https://t.co/6rI3Bhe1Dv#saudiarabia #palestine #FIFAArabCup pic.twitter.com/Qoe0boU9Pq
42'The Palestinian goalkeeper and defence combine to avert a dangerous effort from Salem Al-Dawsari.
35' Saudi player Majrashi fires a shot from outside the Palestine box, but the effort flies well wide of the target.
29' Palestinian defender H. Himdan unleashes a long-range effort, but his shot sails over the Saudi goal.
27'Palestine’s defence clears a dangerous Saudi cross from inside the box.
23' The Saudi goalkeeper denies a close-range attempt from the Palestinians with a sharp save.
20' With twenty minutes played, the match continues to be evenly poised and fiercely contested.
10'Ten minutes in, the deadlock persists as both teams adopt an open approach, trading early opportunities.
Match Started!
LINE-UP!
Fan Reactions
WARMING-UP!
