Gulf Cup Kicks Off in Jeddah: Iraq Face Oman in Opening Match
The 27th Arabian Gulf Cup begins Wednesday in Jeddah with Iraq facing Oman, the first of 15 matches in a tournament Saudi Arabia is hosting for the first time.
First Time in Jeddah
The 27th Arabian Gulf Cup (Khaleeji 27) kicks off Wednesday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia — the first time the city has hosted the tournament, according to Heavy.com. Running through October 6, the competition packs 15 matches into two weeks across two venues: King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (referred to by Heavy.com as Al-Inma Stadium) and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium. According to the Saudi Press Agency, cited by UA.News, preparations at both venues — pitches, infrastructure, spectator entry and exit areas, and security and medical services — have already been completed.
Opening day features two matches: Iraq play Oman at 5:30 p.m. local time, followed by hosts Saudi Arabia against Kuwait at 9 p.m. The Saudi-Kuwait match falls on Saudi National Day, adding extra significance to the fixture.
Groups and History
Group A includes hosts Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Kuwait, while Group B contains the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, defending champions Bahrain and Yemen. The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals on October 3, with the final set for October 6. The tournament dates back to 1970; Kuwait leads the all-time standings with ten titles, Iraq has four, and Saudi Arabia and Qatar have three each. Bahrain are defending their 2024 title, while Yemen have never won the competition.
Hosts' Ambitions
Saudi Arabia coach Georgios Donis told a pre-match press conference that the team's goal is to win the tournament, stressing the responsibility of playing on home soil. He confirmed midfielder Musab Al-Juwair had been excluded from the squad for disciplinary reasons but expressed confidence in the players available. Donis said the team needed to improve its decision-making after the World Cup and noted that a strong domestic league does not automatically translate into a strong national team.
As Heavy.com reports, other coaches with bigger tournaments ahead include Iraq's Graham Arnold and UAE's Zlatko Dalić, both preparing for the 2027 Asian Cup. Iraq are looking to rebound from a disappointing World Cup campaign, while Oman are chasing their first title since 2017. Coverage in the United States will air on ESPN+, and DAZN will broadcast in German-speaking Europe.
