# Saudi Arabia national football team Gulf Cup preparations

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/saudi-arabia-national-football-team-gulf-cup-preparations
> Updated: 2026-09-21T19:29:00.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

As the Saudi Arabian national football team prepares for the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup in Jeddah, head coach Georgios Donis has made several roster decisions.

Midfielder Musab Al-Juwayr was excluded from the national team camp for disciplinary reasons. Al-Juwayr issued a public apology to the Minister of Sport and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. To address his absence in the midfield, the team called up Mukhtar Ali, though analysts noted that Ali possesses different tactical characteristics than Al-Juwayr.

In the goalkeeping position, Donis selected veteran Mohammed Al-Owais as the starting goalkeeper over Nawaf Al-Aqidi, citing Al-Owais’s international experience. This tournament marks Donis’s debut as a manager in the Gulf Cup, as the team seeks its fourth title.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-21: Saudi Arabia selects Mohammed Al-Owais for Gulf Cup 27

Saudi Arabia coach Georgios Donis has named Mohammed Al-Owais as the starting goalkeeper for the 27th Gulf Cup in Jeddah, as the team seeks its fourth regional title.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/saudi-arabia-selects-mohammed-al-owais-for-gulf-cup-27

### 2026-09-20: Musab Al-Juwayr excluded from Saudi national team camp

Saudi midfielder Musab Al-Juwayr has been excluded from the national team camp for disciplinary reasons ahead of the 27th Gulf Cup, forcing coach Georgios Donis to adjust tactical plans.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/musab-al-juwayr-excluded-from-saudi-national-team-camp

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Cite as: Saudi Arabia national football team Gulf Cup preparations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/saudi-arabia-national-football-team-gulf-cup-preparations