Alkass English
Bahrain forward Mahdi Al Humaidan sees the upcoming FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 as a vital opportunity for his national team to make amends after missing out on qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Set to take place in Qatar from December 1 to 18, the tournament provides Bahrain with a stage to prove their strength in regional football. Before reaching the group stage, however, they must first overcome Djibouti in a November qualifier, also in Qatar. The winner will join defending champions Algeria, Iraq, and either Lebanon or Sudan in the group stage.
“The Arab Cup is a really important competition for us,” said Al Humaidan, 32, in an interview with FIFA’s website. “We didn’t qualify for the World Cup, so this gives us a chance to show what we can do.”
Currently playing for Iraqi giants Al Zawraa, Al Humaidan highlighted the tournament’s competitiveness:
“The last edition was very strong, maybe even tougher than the Asian Cup, with teams like Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.”
Bahrain exited at the group stage in the 2021 Arab Cup in Qatar, but Al Humaidan believes this squad is more prepared after spending four to five years playing together.
“We’re not saying we’ll win the title, but we can definitely reach the later stages.”
The veteran forward also credited his experience in Iraq for his growth, noting the pressure and intensity of the league. Above all, he underlined the spirit of his nation:
“We’re a small country but very ambitious. It’s in our spirit.”