Republic Cup Draw Completed; Preliminary Round to Kick Off April 23
The draw for the 2025/2026 Republic Cup was completed this Wednesday at the Yemen Football Association (YFA) headquarters in Sana'a. The process involved distributing 26 provincial champions from the Third Division into the qualifying rounds, bringing the total number of participating teams in the tournament to 64
The provincial champion clubs participating in the final stage of the draw included: *Radfan Socotra, Al-Salam Saada, Qarnaw Al-Jawf, Shabab Markha Shabwa, Shabab Sayhut Al-Mahra, Al-Mina Mokha, Shuqra Abyan, Sharara Lahj, Al-Mina Aden, Al-Shorta, Shabab October Shabwa, Seiyun Hadramout, Al-Jeel Al-Sa'id Abyan, Rahban Harad Hajjah, Shabab Urayb Al-Bayda, Tadamun Al-Mahwit, Ittihad Al-Udayn, Najm Saba Dhamar, Shabab Al-Quds Ibb, Al-Orouba Al-Shabariq Al-Hodeidah, Shabab Hamdan Sana'a, Shabab Al-Zaidiyah, Al-Nasr Raymah, Shabab Juban Al-Dhale, Al-Wahda Amran, and Hilal Awain Al-Bayda.*
Following the draw, the Competitions Committee approved the schedule for the first round of the Cup, which is set to begin on **Thursday, April 23, 2026**, as follows
| **Azal vs. Al-Fath Dhamar** | Al-Tharafi Stadium | Thursday, April 23 |
| **Shabab Al-Jeel vs. Shabab Abs** | Al-Olofi Stadium | Thursday, April 23 |
| **Ahli Hodeidah vs. 22 May** | Al-Olofi Stadium | Sunday, April 26 |
| **Al-Rasheed vs. Shabab Al-Mahwit** | Al-Shuhada Stadium | Friday, April 24 |
| **Al-Husseini Lahj vs. Al-Ain Ahwar** | Al-Hubaishi Stadium | Thursday, April 23 |
| **Ahli Aden vs. Khanfar Abyan** | Al-Hubaishi Stadium | Friday, April 24 |
| **Tadamun Shabwa vs. Al-Nasr Al-Dhale** | Al-Khalifi Stadium | Thursday, April 23 |
| **Wahda Al-Mukalla vs. Irfan Abyan** | Baradem Stadium | Friday, April 24 |
| **Shabab Al-Zaidiyah vs. Al-Nasr Raymah** | Al-Olofi Stadium | Saturday, April 25 |
| **Al-Mina Aden vs. Al-Sharara Lahj** | Al-Hubaishi Stadium | Saturday, April 25 |
The Higher Competitions Committee is scheduled to release the dates for the remaining fixtures next week.
Last week, the committee conducted the first phase of the draw, which included clubs from the First and Second Divisions, as well as teams relegated from the playoffs and the Second Division. Today’s proceedings finalized the bracket based on the same organizational structure.
The event was attended by: * **Ahmed Al-Sharafi** (YFA Board Member) * **Bashir Al-Jassami** (Assistant Secretary General) * **Captain Amin Al-Sunaini** (YFA Technical Director) * **Dr. Abu Ali Ghalib** (Head of the Higher Competitions Committee) * **Captain Ahmed Qaid Saif** (Head of the Higher Referees Committee) * **Ahmed Al-Sahli** (YFA Manager) * Various representatives from participating clubs and provincial YFA branches.
The provincial champion clubs participating in the final stage of the draw included: *Radfan Socotra, Al-Salam Saada, Qarnaw Al-Jawf, Shabab Markha Shabwa, Shabab Sayhut Al-Mahra, Al-Mina Mokha, Shuqra Abyan, Sharara Lahj, Al-Mina Aden, Al-Shorta, Shabab October Shabwa, Seiyun Hadramout, Al-Jeel Al-Sa'id Abyan, Rahban Harad Hajjah, Shabab Urayb Al-Bayda, Tadamun Al-Mahwit, Ittihad Al-Udayn, Najm Saba Dhamar, Shabab Al-Quds Ibb, Al-Orouba Al-Shabariq Al-Hodeidah, Shabab Hamdan Sana'a, Shabab Al-Zaidiyah, Al-Nasr Raymah, Shabab Juban Al-Dhale, Al-Wahda Amran, and Hilal Awain Al-Bayda.*
Following the draw, the Competitions Committee approved the schedule for the first round of the Cup, which is set to begin on **Thursday, April 23, 2026**, as follows
| **Azal vs. Al-Fath Dhamar** | Al-Tharafi Stadium | Thursday, April 23 |
| **Shabab Al-Jeel vs. Shabab Abs** | Al-Olofi Stadium | Thursday, April 23 |
| **Ahli Hodeidah vs. 22 May** | Al-Olofi Stadium | Sunday, April 26 |
| **Al-Rasheed vs. Shabab Al-Mahwit** | Al-Shuhada Stadium | Friday, April 24 |
| **Al-Husseini Lahj vs. Al-Ain Ahwar** | Al-Hubaishi Stadium | Thursday, April 23 |
| **Ahli Aden vs. Khanfar Abyan** | Al-Hubaishi Stadium | Friday, April 24 |
| **Tadamun Shabwa vs. Al-Nasr Al-Dhale** | Al-Khalifi Stadium | Thursday, April 23 |
| **Wahda Al-Mukalla vs. Irfan Abyan** | Baradem Stadium | Friday, April 24 |
| **Shabab Al-Zaidiyah vs. Al-Nasr Raymah** | Al-Olofi Stadium | Saturday, April 25 |
| **Al-Mina Aden vs. Al-Sharara Lahj** | Al-Hubaishi Stadium | Saturday, April 25 |
The Higher Competitions Committee is scheduled to release the dates for the remaining fixtures next week.
Last week, the committee conducted the first phase of the draw, which included clubs from the First and Second Divisions, as well as teams relegated from the playoffs and the Second Division. Today’s proceedings finalized the bracket based on the same organizational structure.
The event was attended by: * **Ahmed Al-Sharafi** (YFA Board Member) * **Bashir Al-Jassami** (Assistant Secretary General) * **Captain Amin Al-Sunaini** (YFA Technical Director) * **Dr. Abu Ali Ghalib** (Head of the Higher Competitions Committee) * **Captain Ahmed Qaid Saif** (Head of the Higher Referees Committee) * **Ahmed Al-Sahli** (YFA Manager) * Various representatives from participating clubs and provincial YFA branches.
