Doha, Qatar – Severe weather conditions and torrential rainfall in Doha on Thursday led to the cancellation of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 third-place match between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The first half of the contest concluded in a scoreless draw. However, heavy flooding on the pitch at Khalifa International Stadium prompted Chilean referee Cristian Garay to initially delay the start of the second half.
Upon the teams’ return to the field, referee Garay further postponed the resumption of play due to the deteriorating condition of the playing surface. Maintenance crews immediately began working to clear the water using specialized equipment.
Despite their efforts, the continuous downpour hampered the technical teams’ progress, leading the referee to extend the delay by an additional hour.
Following consultations between the referee and team officials, a final decision was made to cancel the match entirely. The tournament’s organizing committee will now determine the appropriate course of action. The unprecedented weather event brought an abrupt end to what was anticipated to be a competitive clash for third place in the prestigious tournament.
DZWatch will continue to provide updates as they become available.
