The UAE Football Federation's Federation Cup is set to return tomorrow, kicking off the preliminary rounds for the 2025-2026 season. A total of 46 teams from the First, Second, and Third Divisions will participate. The preliminary round matches will be held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, featuring teams from the Second and Third Divisions in a single-match knockout format. Fourteen teams will advance to the next round, joining the three teams that received direct entry during the draw. In the Round of 32, these 17 teams will face the 15 clubs from the First Division. Obaid Salem Al-Shamisi, Vice Chairman of the UAE Football Federation and Head of the Competitions Committee, stated: "The return of the Federation Cup is part of our federation's goals for the current season. We are keen on developing competitions for amateur clubs to ensure sustainable competition and enhance the technical and physical performance of players. This tournament will help increase the number of official matches, which is crucial for gaining experience and elevating the players' technical and physical levels." He added: "We are focused on developing competitions for clubs in the First, Second, and Third Divisions, always seeking to expand the participation base across all categories. This serves our goal of building a new generation of players at a higher level of professionalism. The return of the Federation Cup also aims to revive the memory of the strong competitions that have always been associated with this tournament." Al-Shamisi concluded: "We look forward to the new edition of the Federation Cup being a quality addition to the current season's competitions and a platform for presenting entertaining football that reflects the development of amateur clubs and their great ambitions to compete and achieve success."
