Preview: Qatar vs. Palestine (2025 FIFA Arab Cup)
Palestine return to Al-Bayt Stadium to face the opponent that ended their Asian Cup run 23 months ago.
What: 2025 FIFA Arab Cup Group match
When: December 1st, 2025
Kickoff: 18:00 Jerusalem Time
Where: Al Bayt Stadium, Al-Khor, Qatar
TV/Streams: Our Substack subscribers will receive an email with a link to a live stream on the day of the game. Subscribe here:
Previous Encounters:
10.01.1972: Palestine 7:2 Qatar (1972 Palestine Cup)
20.08.1999: Palestine 1:0 Qatar (1999 Pan Arab Games)
31.03.2000: Palestine 0:1 Qatar (2000 Asian Cup Qualifying)
08.03:2001: Palestine 1:2 Qatar (2002 World Cup Qualifying)
23.03.2001: Palestine 1:2 Qatar (2002 World Cup Qualifying)
24.09.2003: Palestine 1:1 Qatar (2004 Asian Cup Qualifying)
27.09.2003: Palestine 1:2 Qatar (2004 Asian Cup Qualifying)
09.08.2008: Palestine 0:1 Qatar (2008 WAFF Championship)
28.05.2012: Palestine 0:0 Qatar (Friendly)
17.04.2013: Palestine 0:2 Qatar (Friendly)
25.12.2013: Palestine 0:1 Qatar (2014 WAFF Championship)
11.09.2018: Palestine 0:3 Qatar (Friendly)
29.01.2024: Palestine 1:2 Qatar (2023 AFC Asian Cup)
Palestine gets the party started
The moment the final whistle blew at Al-Gharafa Stadium everyone knew what Palestine had just earned- A date in the opening game against hosts Qatar. The occasion will carry extra significance for the seven players that ply their trade in the country including the team captains: Musab Al-Battat, Tamer Seyam, and Rami Hamadi.
The Arab Cup had been dormant for a decade before it was resuscitated by FIFA. After the stunning success of the 2021 edition, attitudes towards the tournament have shifted considerably.
Saudi Arabia who sent a reserve squad to participate are now sending their first team. The same goes for the other Gulf nations who are all at full strength. Jordan, Syria, and Iraq are only missing a handful of names. While the African teams have gone to great lengths to field a competitive squad. Mohammed El Neny will captain Egypt. Islam Slimani, Adam Ounas, and Yacine Brahimi are with the Algeria team. Palestine’s group stage opponents Tunisia will field several players that will be at the AFCON tournament later this month.
A $36.5 million prize kitty is on offer for the participating teams up from $25 million that was doled out in 2021. Advancing to the finals has netted Palestine $715,000 and should they make it out of the groups they will garner an additional $1 million.
From a marketing perspective, Qatar’s tournaments have improved with every edition. The 2025 FIFA Arab Cup has already launched a more memorable official song and has the best selected a culturally appropriate mascot in Juha.
Palestinian singer Rola Azar is set to participate in what organizers have promised to be captivating opening ceremony. The 2021 ceremony was simple- but a rousing rendition of the national anthems of all participating nations has proved more memorable than the glitzy ceremony that preceded the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Big Names Miss Out
For hosts Qatar the tournament arrives in perfect circumstances. After a turbulent qualification campaign, Julen Lopetegui was parachuted in and the nation’s fourth manager in two years. The former Spain manager qualified Qatar to the World Cup for the first time on merit. The FIFA Arab Cup now provides Al-Annabi a chance to get more competitive game action ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
In spite of its official status, the FIFA Arab Cup’s place in the calendar means that clubs are under no requirement to release their players. As such, there will be several names missing for Palestine. Injuries are also set to deny both Palestine and Qatar several key players. For Qatar, their all-time top scorer Almoez Ali is set to miss out in addition to winger Ahmad Al-Ganehi and budding star striker Ahmed Al-Rawi.
There is no place for wily veterans Hassan Al-Haydos, Pedro Miguel, and Boualem Khoukhi who played a key part in the team’s World Cup clincher against UAE. Karem Boudaif also misses out. These moves are by design as Lopetegui has to find new blood to replace aging members of Qatar’s golden generation. Successful qualification to the World Cup means the Basque tactician has some leeway to experiment.
For Palestine, their squad has also been beset by injury. Ataa Jaber is still recovering from a torn ACL. Wessam Abou Ali, Mohammed Hebous, and Adam Kaied have only just returned to training and while the coaching staff hoped to include them at the eleventh hour they have missed the deadline.
The names of in form Muhamed Alghoul and Mohammed Balah could not be added as they were both not part of an expanded list of players submitted to FIFA earlier in the year.
As this tournament is not hosted during a FIFA stipulated window Assad Al-Hamlawi and Agustín Manzur have not been allowed to leave their clubs.
Palestine Squad
What to make of a squad that includes nine defenders in light of so many absences? Well, it might be worth considering that Amid Mahjana could be used in midfield. Granted he never took up that role under Ehab Abu Jazar but he was very effective when played there during the Daboub era. Khalid Abu El Haija can also provide cover in midfield should injuries and suspensions play a factor.
By placing Mahajna in midfield you have two players for each position. Palestine’s enviable depth in attack is not available for this tournament so it will be extremely important for the likes of Oday Dabbagh to stay healthy.
Keys to the Game
When these two sides met at the same ground in January 2024 it was a far closer encounter than many expected. Palestine’s doubters were in full voice after they were battered 4-1 by Iran in their first game. In spite of their 1-1 draw against UAE there were still doubts who were quick to point out that the Emiratis played a man down for half the match.
In fact, many had Palestine faltering against Hong Kong in the final group game only for them to emerge emphatic 3-0 winners. A score that nearly saw them climb into second place in the group.
Low expectations meant Palestine were able to spring a surprise on the hosts and holders. Palestine ceded possession but were by far the more dangerous side in the first half. Oday Dabbagh became the first player to score on Qatar at an Asian Cup in ten matches- a time span that stretched back to Australia 2015.
Palestine’s joy was short lived as the hosts scored on a well-worked corner kick at the stroke of halftime. Mohammed Saleh’s needless tackle on Almoez Ali generated a penalty kick that Akram Afif duly converted and Qatar saw out the match.
If Palestine are to get anything out of this game they will need to avoid those types of mistakes. While Oday Dabbagh is unlikely to start he could be a winning card in the game’s final stanza should the score remain deadlocked.