Another imperious defensive display from Morocco secured their place in the FIFA Arab Cup final with a 3-0 victory over UAE in Al Rayyan. The Atlas Lions will face fellow FIFA World Cup 2026 participants Jordan in Thursday’s showpiece, after Jordan edged past Saudi Arabia 1-0 at the Al Bayt Stadium. UAE and Saudi Arabia will meet in the third-place match.

Morocco’s goals came from Karim El Berkaoui in the 28th minute, Achraf El Mahdioui in the 83rd, and Abderrazzaq Hamdallah in the second minute of stoppage time, with Hamza El Moussaoui named Player of the Match.

True to their tournament pattern, once Morocco took the lead, they never looked back; they have been driven by outstanding defensive form in Qatar, conceding only a single goal – an own goal – in the first hour of their opening match, and none since.

They were again clinical, with the breakthrough arriving just before the half-hour when El Moussaoui delivered a precise cross from the right that El Berkaoui met with a firm header to give his side the advantage.

UAE struggled to find a way through the middle of Morocco’s compact shape and were repeatedly forced into long-range efforts and hopeful crosses, most of which were comfortably handled by the excellent central defensive pairing of Soufiane Bouftini and Marwane Saadane.

As the game moved into its closing stages, Morocco applied the decisive touch with two late goals: first, substitutes Abderrazzaq Hamdallah and Achraf El Mahdioui combined in the 83rd, with Hamdallah squaring the ball for El Mahdioui to steer his shot home from inside the box, before, deep into added time, Hamdallah turned finisher by tucking away a Mohamed Boulacsout cross to seal a comprehensive 3-0 win and book Morocco’s place in the final.​

In the other semifinal, Jordan defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0 to set up their Arab Cup decider against Morocco, with Nizar Al Rashdan scoring the only goal of the match in the 66th.

Jordan were without key forward Yazan Al Naimat, who had suffered a serious knee injury in the quarterfinal win over Iraq, but still showed why they have been one of the tournament’s most productive attacking teams by grinding out a deserved victory over the Green Falcons.

After a first half of few clear chances and cautious attacking from both sides, the deadlock was finally broken when Al Rashdan met an in-swinging cross from Mahmoud Al Mardi with an excellent leaping header to give Jordan the lead.

Saudi Arabia responded strongly, with Feras Al Brikan producing a smart turn and shot that was well saved by Jordan goalkeeper Yazid Abu Leila, who went on to be named Player of the Match.

The drama continued into stoppage time when Saudi defender Waleed Al Ahmad received a straight red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, and Jordan held firm against ten men to secure their place in the final and confirm a title clash with Morocco.

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