Mohammed bin Thaloub Al Darei: Al Ain is a global sports destination with unlimited support

10.Nov.2025

Welcoming the national teams participating in the Al Ain International Football Cup

27 countries around the world will broadcast the event from “Dar Al Zain”

His Excellency Mohammed bin Thaloub Al Darei, Board Member of Al Ain Club, affirmed that the unlimited support from the UAE’s wise leadership, and under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region, has made Al Ain a global sports destination and a hub for major national teams and stars across all individual and team sports. This comes as the city continues to host major tournaments that achieve successive success. He expressed his hope that the upcoming Al Ain International Cup, scheduled to be held at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium from 13 to 18 November, will follow the same path of excellence and distinction.

Al Darei welcomed the national teams participating in the Al Ain International Football Cup — Egypt, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Cape Verde — which have arrived in Al Ain to begin their training camps during the international break and prepare for their upcoming matches. He stressed that all capabilities have been mobilized to enhance the experience of these teams and the fans expected to attend from across the UAE and abroad to watch the matches at one of the best stadiums in the world, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

He noted that the participation of these teams with their first-team squads and global stars — including, for example, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush, along with other top players — underscores the strong technical level of the matches. He added that the competition will resemble one of the World Cup groups, given that all four participating teams have secured qualification for the upcoming World Cup.

Al Darei revealed the scale of international interest in this tournament, as more than 27 countries have requested to broadcast the matches from the heart of “Dar Al Zain.” The tournament will be aired on FOX in the United States, streaming services across Europe, and “Direct” on 12 different channels across South America in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Meanwhile, ESPN will broadcast it in Brazil, Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. In the Middle East and North Africa, the coverage will be led by Abu Dhabi Sports Channels, along with the channels of the participating nations.

The tournament consists of four matches:

Iran will face Cape Verde in the semifinals on 13 November.
Egypt will face Uzbekistan on 14 November.
The two losing teams will play for third place on 17 November.
The final match will be held on 18 November.
All matches will kick off at 8:00 PM UAE time.

Tickets for the tournament have been made available through Platinumlist, with accompanying family-friendly activities that offer a special experience for fans attending to support their national teams, while also enjoying the exceptional facilities of Al Ain City.