Doha, November 25 (QNA) - Qatar is moving at full pace to host the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, scheduled for December 1-18, with preparations across all operational areas advancing as planned, said Jassim Abdulaziz Al Jassim, CEO of the Local Organizing Committee for Football Events.

In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Jassim, who also serves as CEO of the tournament, affirmed that all organizational elements are progressing on schedule and are designed to deliver one of the strongest editions in the championship’s history. He highlighted the strong public interest surrounding the event, noting that ticket sales have already surpassed 500,000, even before the identities of seven of the 14 teams competing in the preliminary rounds have been confirmed.

Al Jassim said the finals will feature 16 teams divided into four groups, in line with the results of an earlier draw. He added that 30% of the tickets sold were purchased from outside Qatar, reflecting the lasting appeal of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the success of subsequent tournaments hosted by the country. This momentum, he noted, reinforces Qatar's position as a preferred destination for football fans from across the GCC and the wider Arab region.

He said the strong demand for tickets reflects the deep passion of Arab fans for football and their eagerness to be in Doha, particularly after the success of the 2021 edition, which became the first Arab tournament to be officially recognized by FIFA and held under its umbrella. He stressed that the upcoming edition will follow the same format and organizational framework, expressing confidence that it will surpass the previous tournament.

Al Jassim explained that the 2021 edition served as a key operational test ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and achieved exceptional success, prompting FIFA to accord the tournament greater attention. He described this as a qualitative leap for Arab football, elevating it to a broader international platform.

He revealed that there is now significant demand from broadcasters outside the Arab world to air matches from the 2025 edition, underscoring the growing global interest in football across the region. He added that several Arab broadcasters have already secured rights to the tournament, while others are awaiting the results of the preliminary qualifiers, ensuring wide regional viewership and further enhancing the tournament’s prospects for success.

Al Jassim said that, following the success of the previous edition, Qatar and FIFA agreed to continue organizing the Arab Cup, with Qatar set to host the next three editions in 2025, 2029, and 2033. He noted that this decision reflects confidence in the tournament's potential to achieve sustained success as a sporting event that strengthens Arab unity, while its FIFA-sanctioned status elevates its competitive value.

He added that, as the host nation, Qatar carries a major responsibility -- shared with FIFA -- to ensure the success of the tournament across the upcoming three editions. Each edition, he said, will introduce further development and enhancements across all organizational aspects, with the aim of raising the Arab Cup to a level that meets the aspirations of fans and stakeholders alike.

Al Jassim also pointed out that holding the tournament in December offers ideal timing, as it coincides with Qatar National Day celebrations and the anniversary of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. He noted that the matches will once again be staged in six of the same World Cup stadiums, a factor that will give the tournament added momentum through strong spectator turnout and a high level of competition on the field.

He stressed that the fan experience remains a top priority, noting that organizers are committed to ensuring an exceptional experience both inside and outside the stadiums. Extensive coordination, he said, is underway with partners across Qatar's major tourist destinations -- including Katara Cultural Village, Doha Port, Msheireb, Lusail, Souq Waqif, and The Pearl -- to host special events for the Arab Cup in cooperation with Qatar Tourism, Visit Qatar, and other tourism entities. This will enable fans to enjoy a rich cultural and entertainment program throughout the country, offering a unique and memorable experience for all visitors.

CEO of the Local Organizing Committee for Football Events Jassim Abdulaziz Al Jassim confirmed that the State of Qatar will facilitate the entry process for fans attending the matches of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 through the Haya platform, which was launched during the FIFA 2022 World Cup finals. The application process will be as easy as it was for the World Cup, and approvals will be granted quickly, ensuring smooth procedures. He noted that Qatar is currently hosting more than one event, and there is a great understanding of the process of fans arriving from outside the country.

Regarding the opening ceremony of the 11th edition of the FIFA Arab Cup, which has become highly anticipated after the dazzling ceremony of the 2021 edition and remained a source of great admiration for Arab fans for a long time, Al Jassim said the details of the opening ceremony are usually kept secret in order to be a surprise for everyone. What he could say was the ceremony will have a different touch, and will then include the match between Qatar and the winner of the Palestine-Libya match.

Regarding competition in the tournament, Al Jassim pointed out that the upcoming edition has a special feature due to the fact that seven of the Arab countries participating qualified for the first time in their history for the FIFA 2026 World Cup. He added that the number is likely to increase if Iraq reaches the finals, stressing that this will reflect positively on the Arab Cup tournament and give it technical and popular momentum, after it has become seen as a major competitive stop, and an opportunity to test technical capabilities in order to prepare optimally for the FIFA World Cup.

Al Jassim explained that the announcement of the official lists of most of the teams participating in the tournament gave clear indications that all the teams aspire to the title, which expands the competition in light of the close technical levels. He pointed out that most Arab teams are currently in their best form, and this was reflected in the qualification of seven teams for the World Cup finals, while other teams competed strongly until the last moments in order to reach the World Cup, which bodes well for the tournament to be one of the most competitive editions ever.

The announced match schedule provides fans with the opportunity to follow major matches between Arab teams daily, which contributed to an unprecedented demand for match tickets, as some match tickets sold out just hours after they were released, he added.

Regarding the Under-17 FIFA World Cup, which Doha has been hosting since Nov. 3 and will conclude with a final between Austria and Portugal on Thursday, Al Jassim confirmed that Qatar achieved great success in hosting the expanded version of the junior World Cup. It is the largest tournament in the history with the participation of 48 teams for the first time, as the number of matches played so far has reached 102 matches during 21 days and a record number, as 8 matches were held daily since the early rounds, in addition to the teams having 32 training sessions per day, which is unusual at the global level.

Al Jassim explained the benefits of the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar in regard to experience, especially concerning distance by holding the competitions in one city, where fans could attend more than one match in a day. Therefore, the experience was replicated for the Under-17 World Cup, and any fan could attend 8 matches at one time on foot. It was the first experiment of its kind, to be repeated in the same way during the next four editions, given that FIFA granted Qatar the right to host five editions until 2029.

Al Jassim stressed that FIFA praised the success of the Under-17 World Cup and the quality of the sports facilities at the Aspire Academy complex, noting that the tournament being held in this location reflects the great success, after the academy contributed to Qatar winning the Asian Cup twice, in 2019 and 2023.

Al Jassim concluded to QNA by emphasizing that the final match of the Under-17 World Cup between Portugal and Austria will be fantastic in all technical and fan aspects, especially with the great demand for tickets to the match, which will be held at Khalifa International Stadium on Nov. 27th. (QNA)