(MENAFN- Gulf Times)

• Saudi Arabian player Manaf Abushgeer reflects on the pride and responsibility of representing one's country at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025

As excitement builds ahead of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, former Saudi player Manaf Abushgeer says the tournament is a powerful reminder of what it means to represent one's country on the regional stage.
In an interview with the tournament Local Organising Committee (LOC), he said:“It's a tremendous source of pride for any player to represent their country. Wearing the national team jersey is a major achievement, it's a feeling you can't fully describe. The moment you step onto the pitch, you carry a responsibility that you must honour.”
Abushgeer, who earned 37 caps for Saudi Arabia and spent over a decade with Al Ittihad during one of the club's most successful eras, was part of the squad that won the AFC Champions League back-to-back in 2004 and 2005. The team then qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup 2005 in Japan, where they finished in fourth place, marking one of the club's most significant global achievements.
“The passion of our Saudi fans is incredible. We've witnessed it time and time again here in Qatar during the 2022 World Cup and even the U-17 World Cup. Our fans always show up and their support creates an atmosphere that any team would be proud to play in.”
For Abushgeer, the Arab Cup carries a significance that goes beyond competition:“This tournament puts our teams on the world stage. It's a chance to prove ourselves, compete at the highest level and show what Arab football is capable of.”
Abushgeer also reflected on Qatar's role in elevating football across the region through hosting world-class events:“We all saw what Qatar achieved during the 2022 World Cup and it was historic. The stadiums, architecture and facilities, everything was impressive.”
Saudi Arabia have been drawn into Group B alongside Morocco, the winners of Oman v Somalia and the winners of Yemen v Comoros. The team will kick off their campaign when facing the winner of Oman v Somalia on December 2 at Education City Stadium, 8pm.
As the team prepares to compete in this year's edition, Abushgeer is clear about their objective:“For the Saudi team, simply participating is never the goal. Our aim in any tournament is to compete for the title. No matter who we face in the final, we're going for the win.”
The Arab Cup will take place from December 1–18 across six stadiums used during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Al Bayt Stadium, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Education City Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Stadium 974 and Lusail Stadium.
A total of 16 teams will compete for the tournament trophy, with nine of the highest-ranked teams qualifying automatically, while 14 nations will contend for the remaining seven spots during qualifiers on 25–26 November in Qatar.
Tickets, starting from QR 25, are available at Throughout the tournament, fans will also enjoy a diverse programme of cultural and entertainment activities. All venues are connected seamlessly by public transport and offer accessible, barrier-free experiences for disabled fans.
The Arab Cup forms part of a series of major tournaments hosted in Qatar this year, including the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 (3–27 November) and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup (10, 13, and 17 December).

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