As the dust settles on an unpredictable group stage of the FIFA Arab Cup, the tournament now moves into the knockout phase, with eight teams vying for regional supremacy.
The quarter-finals kick off today with tournament favourites Morocco facing Syria at Khalifa International Stadium at 5:30 pm, followed by Saudi Arabia taking on a momentum-fuelled Palestine at 8:30 pm at Lusail Stadium. Tomorrow, Jordan will take on Iraq, while Algeria meet the United Arab Emirates in the remaining quarter-final fixtures.
Morocco enter the knockout stage believing they are among the front-runners for the title, especially following the early exit of two-time Asian champions Qatar, who were eliminated on home soil after a disappointing show.
Morocco reached the last eight by topping Group B with seven points, securing a 3-1 win over Comoros, a goalless draw with Oman, and a 1-0 victory against Saudi Arabia. The 2012 champions are aiming to return to the semi-finals after exiting the previous edition at this stage on penalties to eventual winners Algeria.
Coach Tariq Sektioui said his team is ‘ready and fully aware of the responsibility’ ahead of the tricky tie. “We aspire to reach the semi-finals. We respect our opponents, and our goal is to represent Moroccan football and make our fans proud,” he added.
Despite several absences, Morocco will rely on key performers from the group stage, including Karim El Berkaoui, Redouane Berkane, Tariq Tissoudali, and Soufiane Bouftini. Goalkeeper Salah Eddine Chehab echoed his coach’s confidence, noting that the team’s camp atmosphere is ‘very positive’and that the squad is prepared to face a ‘strong opponent,’ despite the short turnaround between matches.
Syria enter the quarter-finals as one of the tournament’s surprise packages, finishing second in Group A with five points. Jose Lana’s side opened with a 1-0 win over Tunisia, followed by draws against Qatar (1-1) and Palestine (0-0), securing qualification at the expense of the hosts.
“We are facing a strong team with great experience,” Lana said. “We must focus on every detail and play in a style that suits this opponent.” The Spanish coach praised his team’s resilience in a demanding group and highlighted the technical progress of Arab teams across the tournament.
Syria will look to standout forward Omar Khribin, who scored twice in the group stage, along with threats from Mahmoud al-Mawas and Mohammad al-Hallaq. Defender Ahmed Faqa expressed the team’s determination: “The Syrian team is capable of anything. We must maintain this mentality to reach the level we want.”
Tomorrow’s clash marks the first-ever Arab Cup meeting between Morocco and Syria.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia progress to the knockout stage after finishing second in Group B with six points, beating Oman 2-1 and Comoros 3-1 before losing 1-0 to Morocco. The two-time Arab Cup champions (1998 and 2002) are seen as strong contenders in this edition, buoyed by a squad rich in experience and their qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Coach Herve Renard said the ‘real competition begins now,’ insisting that victory is the only acceptable outcome. “The task is not easy against Palestine, but we will do our best to qualify without going to penalties,” he added. Renard also emphasised the importance of consistent playing time in the domestic league to strengthen the national team’s long-term competitiveness.
Saudi Arabia are expected to field a full-strength side, including Salem al-Dawsari, Saleh al-Shehri, Mohammed Kanno, Nawaf al-Aqidi, Nawaf Boushal, Saleh Abu al-Shamat, Ali Majrashi, and Abdul-Ilah al-Amri.
Palestine arrive with momentum after topping Group A with five points, marking their first-ever progression to the Arab Cup quarter-finals. They stunned hosts Qatar 1-0 in the opener before drawing with Tunisia (2-2) and Syria (0-0).
Coach Ihab Abu Jazar praised his players’ commitment, saying they have shown ‘honour, belonging, and loyalty’ throughout a demanding group stage. “We will play a strong match to make our fans proud. We know Saudi Arabia’s strength and history, but we believe in our ability to overcome challenges,” he said.
Midfielder Hamed Hamdan added that the team will play ‘to win, because our people deserve moments of joy,’ while standout performers Zaid Qanbar, Oday Dabbagh, Musab al-Batat, and Mohammad Saleh are expected to play central roles once again.
Saudi Arabia and Palestine have met three times previously in the Arab Cup, with Saudi winning once and two matches ending in draws.