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The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 kicked off on Monday at Arbayt Stadium in a grand ceremony that blended culture, politics and performance, with Palestine registering a shock 1-0 victory over hosts Qatar in their first Group A match.
More than 60,000 fans filled Al Khor Stadium for the opening show, which was themed around unity, peace and rebirth. The 15-minute performance, produced by Katara Studios, unfolded as a three-chapter narrative that traced the rise, fall, and rebirth of Arab unity through music, choreography, and large-scale visual storytelling.
The show began with footage of Jerusalem and two doves of peace, followed by a narration by Syrian actor Rashid Assaf.
British actor Jeremy Irons made a surprise appearance as the Stranger. This character’s whispered questions are a symbolic figure that causes the story’s great monument to collapse, serving as a metaphor for the division of the Arab world.
A children’s choir then performed the Arab national anthem, with a section highlighting hope and the role of future generations.
The ceremony also featured singers from across the region and performed the two official songs of the competition, Makani and Zamani, which were released as part of the competition’s official soundtrack.
This year it will once again be held in Qatar, with 16 teams competing from December 1st to 18th, marking the second consecutive time the country has hosted the tournament. Interest has been high, with organizers announcing that more than 700,000 tickets have been sold so far, including more than 210,000 tickets purchased by fans who traveled from outside Qatar.
The contest has also attracted significant attention from regional media, with approximately 4,000 journalists applying for certification. Match-day travel is free for Doha Metro ticket holders, and all six stadiums, including Lusail, Ahmad Bin Ali, Education City, Khalifa International and Stadium 974, are linked by Qatar’s rail network.
This edition also highlights the growing Arab Cup under FIFA. Following the 2021 tournament, the competition has been officially recognized internationally, match points count toward the world rankings, and new tie-break rules make it more competitive. Prize money has increased to a record $36.5 million (€33.5 million), reflecting the growing importance of the tournament both regionally and internationally.
Palestine achieves historic victory
After the opening ceremony, attention shifted to the group stage match between the hosts and Palestine, which ended in one of the biggest surprises in the tournament’s history.
In the 95th minute, Qatari defender Sultan Al-Break slotted the ball into his own net, giving Palestine their first Arab Cup victory in 59 years. Their last victory in this tournament was against North Yemen in 1966.
Qatar dominated possession for much of the match, but were unable to overcome a disciplined Palestinian team that defended with numbers and grew more confident as the night progressed.
The late goal sent the Palestinian bench into emotional jubilation, and Qatar were immediately put under pressure for the next game.
What’s next for Group A?
Earlier on Monday, Syria defeated Tunisia 1-0 in Al Rayyan, leaving the Eagles of Carthage early in the group.
Following Monday’s result, Palestine and Syria will now top their group, with Qatar facing Syria and Tunisia facing Group A’s fourth team ahead of Thursday’s match. Palestine will get off to a historic start when they face Tunisia on Sunday.
A total of 16 countries will participate in the tournament in four groups, with the top two countries in each group advancing to the quarterfinals.