Doha, May 22 (QNA) - The Local Organizing Committee for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 has announced that the total prize money for the tournament will exceed $36.5 million (approximately QR 132.9 million), setting a new benchmark and placing the Arab Cup alongside the world’s major international football tournaments.

HE Minister of Sports and Youth Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani, who is also the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, said that this announcement reinforces the significance of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 (a tournament that Qatar revived in 2021) and reflects the country’s leading role in advancing football both regionally and globally.

He added that allocating this record-breaking amount for the upcoming tournament underlines the firm commitment to elevating football and the positive values it promotes while offering real opportunities for personal and community development.

He expressed the country's pride at hosting the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 as a platform to celebrate Arab football, strengthen regional solidarity, and inspire young talent.

He also said the competition was an essential part of the legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which was widely recognized as the most successful edition in the tournament’s history. He noted that hosting such events enhances Qatar's status as a premier destination for global sporting events and a capital of world sports.

Doha will host the official draw ceremony for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 this coming Sunday. The tournament itself will run from Dec. 1 to Dec. 18 of 2025, with the final match set to take place on Qatar’s National Day, an occasion to celebrate Arab football in its finest form.

The 2025 edition is expected to draw even more interest from fans across the Arab world, who will come together to celebrate their shared culture and passion for the sport. This follows the successful hosting of the inaugural Arab Cup in 2021, which captured the attention of the regional football community and showcased Qatar’s vibrant, modern stadiums.

Qatar’s continued track record of hosting major global football tournaments reflects its strategic investment in sports, a key pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030 and its long-term development goals. The nation continues to achieve world-class hosting milestones, from the historic FIFA World Cup 2022, to the AFC Asian Cup 2023, the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2024, and recent international events like the FIFA Club Confederation Cup 2024. (QNA)