Palestine’s historic run at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 came to an end after a 2–1 extra-time defeat to Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals at Lusail Stadium.

Mohamed Kanno delivered the decisive moment in the 115th minute with a low, stooping header that sealed Saudi Arabia’s place in the Arab Cup semifinals after a tense match that was level 1–1 at the end of regulation.

Earlier, Firas Al-Buraikan opened the scoring for Saudi Arabia in the 58th minute from the penalty spot, but Palestine — who made history this year by reaching the AFC Asian Cup knockout stage for the first time — responded just six minutes later through Oday Dabbagh, whose stunning control and finish reignited the contest.

Saudi Arabia will face Jordan or Iraq in Monday’s semifinal showdown.

The first half was tight and tactical, with Saudi Arabia generating the only shot on target and most of the pressure. Salem Al-Dawsari nearly broke the deadlock after cutting into the box and forcing goalkeeper Rami Hamada into a dangerous parry that almost fell to Al-Buraikan, only for a heroic last-ditch tackle by Hamed Hamdan to save Palestine.

Saudi Arabia eventually earned their breakthrough when Al-Dawsari surged into the box and was tripped by Mohammed Saleh, leading to Al-Buraikan’s confidently converted penalty.

But Dabbagh’s equalizer quickly shifted momentum, as he controlled a deep cross with his left foot before firing a right-footed shot past the keeper in one fluid motion.

Saudi Arabia nearly regained the lead when Ali Majrashi struck the top of the bar, and Kanno even thought he scored in stoppage time, only for VAR and the offside flag to intervene. A second VAR review overturned a late penalty call against Saleh, adding even more drama.

Extra time was tense until Kanno finally struck, ending Palestine’s remarkable run — though Dabbagh came close to forcing a penalty shootout with a late volley that drifted just wide.

Earlier in the day, Morocco reached the Arab Cup semifinals with a 1–0 win over Syria, thanks to Walid Azaro’s 79th-minute goal at Khalifa International Stadium. Despite playing with 10 men after Mohamed Moufid was sent off in stoppage time, Morocco held on and will face the winner of Algeria vs UAE.

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