Jeddah to host 27th Gulf Arabian Cup in September 2026

Preparations are underway for the 27th Gulf Arabian Cup, scheduled to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from September 23 to October 6, 2026. The tournament will feature eight national teams competing in 15 matches across two stadiums: King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium.

Saudi Arabia's head coach, Giorgos Donis, has announced a 26-player squad for the host nation, introducing eight new players to the roster. Saudi Arabia will compete in Group A alongside Iraq, Oman, and Kuwait. Meanwhile, Qatar's head coach, Julen Lopetegui, has named a 24-player squad for the tournament. Qatar is placed in Group B with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Yemen.

The Gulf Arabian Football Federation has also finalized the list of participating referees, which includes officials from Gulf nations as well as international representatives from Morocco, Jordan, China, the Netherlands, and Portugal. The event is expected to provide significant professional development opportunities for Saudi nationals in sports management and logistics, while also boosting local tourism and hospitality in Jeddah.