Abderaouf Cheniouni
For Mayes, attending the Arab Cup marked a first. Despite living in Qatar during the FIFA World Cup three years ago, she had never been to a live football match. That only served to add another dimension to a deeply personal occasion as she walked into Lusail Stadium alongside her father who had travelled all the way from Canada to watch Palestine play.
As the teams lined up ahead of Palestine’s match against Tunisia and the national anthem rang out, moved by seeing his country represented on the pitch thousands of kilometres away from home, the emotion of the moment came to the fore. “He was crying, and it just made me so emotional”. A shared moment with family that has been a common theme throughout this tournament, and a big reason why it has been dubbed ‘the people’s tournament’.
By the end of the quarter-final stage, more than one million fans had passed through the gates in Qatar. With four matches still to come, every remaining fixture is sold out, while thousands more are still hopeful of snagging a ticket. The demand has been incredible but what truly sets this Arab Cup apart is the connection it has created with and between the fans.
Mayes’ experience reflects a broader trend. The Arab Cup has drawn in first-time fans, families and supporters, and is creating new fans every day. After her first game, she was back in the stands just three days later to watch Palestine take on Syria at Education City Stadium. Her father attended more. “It was so fun . I can’t believe I’ve never been to one. Why have I never been to one?!”.
Part of the success of this tournament over the last two weeks is in how it feels fundamentally different. While the World Cup here in Qatar was undoubtedly a resounding success, the Arab cup is rooted in identity shaped by community and belonging. Fans are not neutral observers. They come to support their countries, stories and shared histories. The emotional investment is unmistakable and difficult for a global spectacle like the World Cup to recreate.
That connection extends beyond the pitch. Stadiums are filled with families, different generations of football fans, and supporters from across the region and, indeed, the world. For Mayes, the sense of unity and togetherness stood out clearly and left a strong impression. “We were all united, different Arab cultures, we may have differences but we put them aside and I just felt we were unified.. we were all together and we all want the best for each other”.
The atmosphere is as much social as it is sporting. At halftime of every match, a “family of the match” is recognized. The initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF), intends to foster familial values, rewarding winners with prizes to encourage family values and social cohesion at sporting events.
Accessibility in Qatar has also played a crucial role. At a time when ticket prices have sparked widespread debate— particularly around the upcoming World Cup— the Arab cup has offered fans the opportunity to attend matches for as little as QAR 17 (less than 5 USD). Fans are not only able to attend multiple matches without breaking the bank, they can also enjoy all the surrounding attractions the tournament has to offer. Fan zones buzzing with music, conversation, and colour turning match days into shared cultural gatherings for all.
“There were so many kids, it was a safe environment, you didn’t have to worry if they wandered off a bit....it was nice”.
Many have travelled to Qatar to see their countries play; for a sense of belonging, a sense of community. With the final matches of the Arab Cup still ahead, the tournament’s impact is clear. It has strengthened bonds between generations, welcomed new fans into football, and reminded us all of the game’s social power. For Mayes and her father, it will always be remembered as a first match shared together. “My dad is on the plane right now, and he’s like, ‘I’m so upset I’m going to miss the semifinals!’”
For many others, this tournament has been a reminder that football is more than just entertainment— it is identity, connection and belonging. At the very least, this Arab Cup has earned football a new fan in Mayes.
“I’m going to start taking advantage of what Qatar organizes, it’s so fun”