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Hosts Saudi Arabia Drawn With Iraq Oman and Kuwait for 2026 Gulf Cup Opener
Saudi Arabia was drawn into Group A with Iraq, Oman and Kuwait for the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup, setting up an opening match against Kuwait on Sept. 23 at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah, organizers said after the ceremony held on May 19, 2026. Defending champions Bahrain head Group B with the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Yemen for the tournament that runs through Oct. 6, according to the official draw results. The competition returns to Saudi soil with all matches staged in the Red Sea city across three venues.
The draw ceremony at Culture Square determined the two groups of four based on recent FIFA rankings, with one team selected from each of four pots. Organizers confirmed that King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium will join Al-Inma Stadium in hosting the 27 matches. The announcement underscored Jeddah’s readiness to stage the regional showcase over the two-week period.
Tournament records show Kuwait has won the title a record 10 times since the first edition in 1970 while Saudi Arabia has secured three victories and Iraq has claimed four. Bahrain enters the competition as defending champions after lifting the trophy in 2019. These tallies highlight the depth of competition in both groups, especially Group A which features three of the competition’s most decorated sides.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Gulf_Cup)
The Arabian Gulf Cup, also known as Khaleeji, has operated as a flagship regional tournament for more than five decades and serves as vital preparation for participating national teams. Saudi Arabia previously hosted in 2014 when Qatar took the title. The 2026 edition will once again bring together the eight member federations from the Arabian Gulf region for intense derby fixtures.
Organizers have scheduled the full group stage across the three Jeddah venues with the opening Saudi Arabia versus Kuwait encounter expected to draw capacity crowds. Later knockout rounds will follow the initial phase though exact dates for semifinals and the final have not yet been published. Additional fixtures will be released by the tournament committee in the coming weeks to allow teams sufficient preparation time.
