Agencies
Kuwait
His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah on Saturday inaugurated the 26th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup Football Championship at the Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City before Kuwait met Oman in the opening match.
The ceremony was attended by a number of dignitaries from Kuwait and the Gulf region including Qatar Olympic Committee President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamaad Al Thani.
The event featured a spectacular opening ceremony that showcased artistic performances reflecting both the Gulf heritage of the past and the vision for the future.
The ceremony began with an inspiring speech by the tournament sponsor, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, followed by the national anthem of Kuwait.
Throughout the opening ceremony, the lives of the people of Kuwait and other Gulf countries were depicted, focusing on their historical relationship with the sea, which served as a source of livelihood for previous generations.
Desert life, symbolized by the camel, was also highlighted in a captivating presentation that embraced the tournament’s slogan: “The Future is Gulf.” The event showcased stunning artistic displays that represented the ancient heritage of the Arab Gulf countries, infused with modern artistic elements that conveyed a unified Gulf vision for a bright future.
Notably, Gulf boats were featured, symbolizing the region’s present and future.
The ceremony merged traditional Gulf folk arts with modern technology, engagingly presenting a common Gulf identity. Kuwaiti artist Bashar Al Shatti and Saudi artist Ayed performed a beautiful artistic operetta set against vibrant backgrounds featuring the championship cup, coffee pot, and incense burner. The event conveyed powerful messages through visual displays that illustrated the unity of the Gulf’s destiny and the shared vision connecting the region’s peoples under one banner. It concluded with a stunning fireworks display that captivated the audience.
After 25 glorious tournaments since its inauguration in 1970, the eight national teams of hosts Kuwait, reigning champions Iraq, along with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Yemen and Oman, are all expecting to make an impact from December 21-January 3.
Hosts Kuwait have won the tournament an incredible 10 times, but have not lifted the coveted trophy since 1990.
Formerly known as the Arabian Gulf Cup, the tournament has been renamed the Khaleeji Zain 26 following a sponsorship agreement signed with the leading technology and digital lifestyle company, Zain, prior to the 25th edition held in Basra two years ago.
The first tournament featured four teams – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the eventual champions Kuwait, and, with the event is organised every two years, four more teams were added over the decades with the UAE in 1972, Oman in 1974, Iraq in 1976, and, finally, Yemen in 2003.
Only Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar have featured at every edition of the tournament since inception, with the trio making their 26th appearances in Kuwait from December 21 to January 3.
While Kuwait’s 10 titles place them well ahead as the most successful nation, Iraq have won it on four occasions, while Saudi Arabia and Qatar have won it three times each. The UAE and Oman have won it twice, Bahrain have one trophy to their name while Yemen are aiming to make it out of the group stage for the first time in Kuwait this year.
Kuwait have hosted the Khaleeji Zain on four previous occasions, the last time coming in 2017/18, and they have won it twice as hosts in 1974 and 1990, the last time they lifted the trophy.
The tournament is organised by the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) in co-ordination with the host nation with a total of 15 matches to be held across the impressive 60,000-capacity Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium and the 15,000-capacity Jaber Al Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah Stadium.
Some of the best Arab players of all time have featured at the tournament, with the all-time top-scorer being Kuwait’s legend Jasem Yaqoub who has scored 18 goals, closely followed by Saudi Arabia’s Majed Abdullah and Iraq’s Hussein Saeed who have scored 17 goals each. Saeed scored an incredible 10 goals at the 1979 tournament, the most by a golden boot winner.
