Tripoli, January 3, 2026 – The draw conducted by the Competitions Committee of the Libyan Football Federation for the preliminary round of the Libya Cup for the 2025-2026 sports season resulted in several matchups in the first and second zones.
In the first zone, Al-Tarsana will meet Al-Qadisiyah, while Al-Sabah team will face Al-Dhahra, and Al-Shumoo’ team will meet Abi Al-Ashhar. The Ittihad Gharyan team qualified directly for the round of 32.
In the second zone, Khalij Surt team will meet Al-Ittihad Al-Askari. The teams of Wefaq Ajdabiya, Al-Muruj, and Al-Afriqi secured direct qualification to the round of 32 without playing in the preliminary round.
The competition regulations stipulate that teams exempt from the preliminary round qualify directly for the round of 32 of the Libya Cup tournament, in accordance with the competition rules.
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city of Libya, with a history dating back to the 7th century BC when it was founded by the Phoenicians. It later became a major Roman city and a significant center under various rulers, including the Ottomans and Italians, which is reflected in its historic medina and Red Castle (Assai al-Hamra).
Libyan Football Federation
The Libyan Football Federation is the governing body for football in Libya, founded in 1962. It oversees national teams and domestic competitions, though its operations have been periodically disrupted by political instability and conflict in the country since the 2011 revolution.
Libya Cup
The Libya Cup is the premier domestic football knockout competition in Libya, first organized in 1975. It has been contested by clubs across the country, though its history has been interrupted by periods of political instability and conflict affecting the national football schedule.
Al-Tarsana
Al-Tarsana is a traditional wooden boat-building workshop located in the Old City of Damascus, Syria, preserving the centuries-old craft of constructing *dhows* and other vessels. Historically, this artisanal hub has been a center for maritime craftsmanship, reflecting the region’s trade connections and cultural heritage along the Mediterranean and the Levant.
Al-Qadisiyah
Al-Qadisiyah is a historically significant city in modern-day Iraq, best known as the site of the 7th-century Battle of al-Qadisiyyah, where the Rashidun Caliphate’s forces defeated the Sassanian Empire, leading to the Islamic conquest of Persia. Today, it is the capital of Iraq’s Al-Qadisiyah Governorate and serves as an administrative and cultural center in the region.
Al-Sabah
Al-Sabah is the ruling family of Kuwait, having governed since the mid-18th century when the Al Sabah clan first established a sheikhdom in the region. The family’s leadership was formally recognized in the 1899 Anglo-Kuwaiti Agreement, and they have overseen the country’s transformation into a modern state following independence in 1961.
Al-Dhahra
Al-Dhahra is a historical region in Qatar, traditionally known for its inland desert landscapes and Bedouin heritage. It has been a significant area for nomadic tribes and is recognized for its archaeological sites that reflect ancient settlements and early human activity in the Arabian Peninsula.
Al-Shumoo’
Al-Shumoo’ is a cultural and social center located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which opened in 2023 as part of the city’s JAX District development. It serves as a vibrant hub for art exhibitions, workshops, and community events, reflecting the Kingdom’s contemporary cultural vision under its Vision 2030 program to diversify its cultural landscape.
Abi Al-Ashhar
Abi Al-Ashhar is an ancient archaeological site located in Jordan, believed to date back to the Nabataean and Roman periods. It features well-preserved ruins including tombs, water channels, and structural foundations that reflect the engineering skills of its historical inhabitants.
Ittihad Gharyan
Ittihad Gharyan is a Libyan football club based in the city of Gharyan, founded in 1954. The club has a significant local following and has competed in various tiers of Libyan football throughout its history.
Khalij Surt
Khalij Surt, also known as the Gulf of Sidra, is a large body of water on the coast of Libya in the Mediterranean Sea. Historically, it has been a significant maritime region since antiquity, known for trade and as the site of naval battles, including a major conflict during World War II. In the modern era, it gained geopolitical importance due to territorial claims by Libya under Muammar Gaddafi.
Al-Ittihad Al-Askari
Al-Ittihad Al-Askari is a historic military fortress located in the city of Aleppo, Syria. It was originally constructed in the 12th century during the Ayyubid period, primarily under Sultan Al-Zahir Ghazi, to serve as a key defensive structure for the city. The fortress has undergone several modifications and expansions throughout its history, reflecting the various ruling powers in the region.
Wefaq Ajdabiya
Wefaq Ajdabiya is a cultural and social organization based in the city of Ajdabiya, Libya. It is historically known for its role in fostering community cohesion and preserving local heritage, particularly during and after the 2011 Libyan revolution. The group has been involved in various civic initiatives aimed at dialogue and development in the region.
Al-Muruj
Al-Muruj, also known as the Muruj al-Thaliya or “The Shining Rocks,” is an expansive archaeological landscape in Saudi Arabia’s Hail Region, famous for its vast collection of ancient petroglyphs and rock inscriptions. These carvings, created over millennia from the Neolithic period through the Islamic era, depict scenes of hunting, wildlife, and daily life, offering a profound record of human history in the Arabian Peninsula.
Al-Afriqi
“Al-Afriqi” is a historical name for the continent of Africa, derived from the Latin “Africus” and famously used by the medieval Islamic scholar Al-Idrisi in his 12th-century geographical work “Kitab Rujar” (The Book of Roger). The term reflects the early Islamic world’s cartographic and cultural understanding of the region.
