The FIFA Arab Cup began on Monday with a huge upset as Palestine beat hosts Qatar in a nail-biting opening match.
A spectacular opening ceremony took place at Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar on Monday, December 1, 2025. A total of 61,475 fans were present in the stadium to witness the ceremony built around the themes of unity, peace and renewal.
After the ceremony, Palestine delivered one of the biggest surprises of the opening day of the tournament, securing their first Arab Cup victory in almost 6 decades. Palestine won its last victory against North Yemen in 1966.
Both teams failed to score a goal during the 90 minutes of play. Qatar dominated possession for most of the match but failed to break through.
During stoppage time, exactly in the 95th minute of the match, Qatari defender Sultan Al Brake accidentally scored an own goal, which resulted in an iconic victory for the guests.
Palestine celebrated the goal with Cristiano Ronaldo’s signature “Suiii” celebration.
In another Group A clash on the opening day, Syria beat Tunisia 1-0. Now, Syria and Palestine now lead the group points table.
Qatar is now scheduled to face Syria on Thursday, November 4, 2025.
This year’s FIFA Arab Cup will feature 16 teams across four different groups. It is scheduled from December 1 to December 18, 2025.
