Arab Championship - U20 2022/23

The Arab Championship for U-20 national teams is an international football tournament organized by the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA). It is a pan-Arab competition open to the 22 member associations of the Arab League, distinguishing it from regional confederations like the WAFF (West Asian Football Federation) or CAF-specific youth tournaments. The tournament sits outside the national league pyramid; it is a standalone international championship for youth national teams.

The competition was founded in 1983. The inaugural edition was held in Morocco under the name "Palestine Cup of Nations for Youth" (or Palestine Cup for Youth). It was organized by the UAFA (then in its earlier forms or predecessor structures) to foster Arab unity in football. The tournament was held sporadically in the 1980s and early 1990s (1983, 1985, 1989, 1992), with a significant hiatus following the 1992 edition. It was revived in 2011 under the current name, Arab Cup U-20.

The format has varied across editions. The 2022 edition, hosted by Saudi Arabia, featured 18 teams divided into six groups of three. The six group winners and the two best runners-up advanced to the quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and a final. The 2021 edition in Egypt had 16 teams in four groups of four. The 2026 edition is scheduled to be hosted by Iraq; while the exact format is not yet officially confirmed, it is expected to follow the recent structure of group stages leading to a knockout phase. There is no promotion or relegation system, as it is an invitational or qualifying-based international cup rather than a league.

Saudi Arabia is the most successful team in the tournament's history with three titles (1985, 2021, 2022). Morocco has two titles (1989, 2011). Iraq won the inaugural 1983 edition. Tunisia won in 2012. Senegal won the 2020 edition as an invited non-Arab nation. The current holder is Saudi Arabia, having won the 2022 final against Egypt (1-1, 5-3 on penalties). Notable chapters include the name change from the Palestine Cup to the Arab Cup, the 20-year hiatus, and the inclusion of non-Arab guests like Senegal in 2020. The key distinction from neighboring competitions is its pan-Arab scope, including North African and West Asian nations, unlike the WAFF U-20 Championship which is restricted to West Asia.