Founded | 1963 |
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Region | Arab World (UAFA) |
Number of teams | 19 |
Current champions | Morocco (1st title) |
Most successful team(s) | Iraq (4 titles) |
2012 Arab Nations Cup |
Tournaments | |
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The Arab Cup of Nations (Arabic: كأس الأمم العربية) is a football competition held between Arab countries. The first edition took place in Lebanon in 1963. Iraq is the most successful team in the history of the tournament with four consecutive titles in 1964, 1966, 1985 and 1988, while Saudi Arabia has won twice in 1998 and 2002. Other winning sides were Tunisia in 1963, Egypt in 1992, and Morocco in 2012.
The Lebanese Football Association was the first to call for the establishment of the tournament, thanks to its president M. Georges Debbas who called to organize a general Arab assembly in 1962 for the organization of the Arab cup of nations. The competition has done in Beirut in October 1963, with the participation of five teams. However, the tournament has seen after the first edition many packages as well as a large number of problems that have prevented the organization steadily.
^n/a A round-robin tournament determined the final standings.
Note: Iraq was banned from the competition from 1991 to 2003 due to international sanctions.
Note: Iraq was banned from the competition from 1991 to 2003 due to international sanctions.