UAE defeats Yemen 4-0 in Arabian Gulf Cup opener

The United Arab Emirates secured a dominant 4-0 victory over Yemen in their opening Group B fixture of the 2026 Arabian Gulf Cup at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah. Led by coach Zlatko Dalic, the Emirati side delivered what has been described as the most impressive performance of the tournament thus far.

Nicolas Gimenez led the scoring with two goals, finding the net in the 26th minute and adding a header in the 51st minute. The UAE's lead was bolstered by an own goal from Nader Sahal in the 36th minute and a strike from Luanzinho in the 43rd minute following a cross from Ala Zouhir.

The win establishes the UAE as strong contenders for the title, contrasting with their winless performance in the previous edition of the tournament. Yemen, who have never progressed past the group stage of the Gulf Cup, struggled to contain the Emirati attack despite recent positive form in friendly matches.