FIFA has settled the controversy surrounding the third-place and fourth-place prizes for the 2025 Arab Cup, following the exceptional weather conditions that led to the cancellation of the third-place match scheduled between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This decision was made in accordance with international regulations concerning force majeure, ensuring the rights of both teams in the highly competitive tournament.
Details of the financial prize for the Saudi Green
Based on the official decision, the Saudi national team received 9.5 million Saudi riyals, the amount resulting from splitting the third and fourth place prizes equally between them and the Emirati national team. This decision came after the match could not be held at Khalifa International Stadium due to heavy rain, which prevented the kickoff. This necessitated swift intervention from the organizing committee and FIFA to declare the result a draw and to share the prize money and bronze medals.
Morocco's crowning and the closing scene in Lusail
In the final match, the Moroccan national team clinched the title of the 2025 Arab Cup in its exceptional edition, after achieving a thrilling and well-deserved victory over the Jordanian national team by a score of three goals to two. The final match was held at the iconic Lusail Stadium, a World Cup venue and considered one of the most prestigious stadiums in the Arab world and globally, where a huge crowd was in attendance and jubilant celebrations erupted as the Atlas Lions secured the coveted Arab title.
The importance of the tournament and the historical context
The Arab Cup, under the FIFA umbrella, has gained increasing importance since its inaugural edition in 2021, becoming a key platform for testing the readiness of Arab national teams for international and continental competitions. The successful organization of the 2025 edition, despite the climatic challenges on the final day, underscores Qatar's immense organizational capabilities and its continued ability to build upon the legacy of the 2022 World Cup by utilizing world-class stadiums such as Khalifa International Stadium and Lusail Stadium.
FIFA's decision to split the prize money reflects the international federation's commitment to promoting sportsmanship and fairness in the distribution of financial rewards, which are a vital resource for national federations to develop football. With this conclusion, the curtain falls on a tournament that has once again demonstrated the progress of Arab football and the convergence of technical levels between Asian and African national teams.
