A star-studded ceremony revealed groups for two FIFA tournaments in Qatar set for November and December.

Qatar were handed a formidable draw for the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 as they were paired with the previous edition’s runners-up Tunisia.

Winners of the qualifiers between Syria and South Sudan will fill the third slot. Either Palestine or Libya will then complete the bracket.

The host nation got a tougher group over at the FIFA U-17 World Cup as they were pitted alongside defending U-17 European champions Italy, South Africa and Bolivia.

Draws for both tournaments set to be held in Qatar in November and December later this year was held together on Sunday.

Hosts Qatar eye better finish in Arab Cup

After finishing third in the previous edition at home, expectations for Qatar will be to improve the standings this time around.

The focus, however, will be on doing well at the soon-approaching World Cup qualifier fixtures against Iran and Uzbekistan, new head coach Julen Lopetegui told a group of reporters after the draw ceremony.

Lopetegui’s side will start the 16-team tournament facing the winner of the fixture between Palestine and Syria at the Al Bayt Stadium on December 1.

It was in Doha that Tunisia managed to stun then-defending World champions France in 2022 but the hosts will bank on their previous record against the Eagles of Carthage.

The two sides will face eachother for the first time since 1986 and Tunisia are yet to claim a victory against Qatar. While Qatar boast a positive record against Syria with five wins and three losses in 13 matches, they will face South Sudan for the first time if the Africa nation manages to get through from the qualifiers.

Tough groups were scattered across the draw in the competition set to be held until December 18 with defending champions Algeria and four-time Arab Cup winners Iraq in the same group.

Six World Cup stadiums including Education City, Khalifa International, 974, Ahmad bin Ali and Al Bayt, will host the tournament leading to the the finale at the Lusail Stadium on Qatar National Day.

Testing ground for Aspire-assembled U-17 squad

Contrary to the Arab Cup draw, Qatar are more likely to find it tough in the youth competition with a tricky group consisting the likes of Italy, South Africa and Bolivia.

The first-ever 48-team tournament of its kind is set to be hosted predominantly at the Aspire Academy’s facilities and it is exactly there that Al Annabi will look for inspiration.

Qatar’s current U-17 pool entirely consists of Aspire-developed talent and like previous youth competitions, will look to bank on the cohesion developed in the facility.

Ahead of the draw on Sunday, Zaid Faisal Ktit, who will lead the junior Annabis in the November tournament, said the team’s confidence comes from their “co-existence” at the academy.

Elsewhere, defending champions Germany were drawn alongside Colombia and Korea DPR whereas heavyweights Argentina and Belgium are in same group.

Full draw:

Cheers for Palestine

Palestine’s name was met with momentary cheers and applause at the draw hall, a different reaction compared to the rest of the sides set to compete in the qualifiers.

The Palestinian national team will have to overcome Libya to secure a spot in Group A as fourteen lower ranked team from either confederations are not guaranteed an automatic spot. Seven Asia-versus-Africa showdowns on November 25 and 26 will the final line-up.

Palestine managed to salvage a point against Saudi Arabia in the 2021 edition, also held in Doha, but crashed out of the group stages following defeats against Jordan and Morocco.

Nicknamed Al-Fida’i, the side is still in contention for a historic spot in the World Cup next year. Favourable results in the two remaining matches will put them in the fourth round, which could trace an indirect route to the tournament in North America.

A win against Libya will see them face Qatar, whom they faced and lost 3-1 in their first-ever appearance at the AFC Asian Cup knockout appearance in early 2024.