The 26th edition of the Arab Gulf Cup (Gulf Cup), taking place in Kuwait, has seen exciting action and drama from the very first whistle. With 8 teams competing for the prestigious title, the group stage delivered surprises, intense matches, and significant milestones. After a series of compelling fixtures, the teams have been sorted into the semi-finals, with some major upsets and historical achievements along the way.
Group A: The first group saw Oman top the table, playing some of the most impressive football in the tournament. Oman and Kuwait qaulified with 5 points. UAE and Qatar, both highly-rated teams coming into the tournament, were eliminated after disappointing results. Oman opened their campaign with a crucial 1-1 draw against the hosts, followed by a 2-1 win over Qatar. Qatar and UAE opened the campaign with a draw. Kuwait had a dominant 2-1 win against UAE. Their solid defense and tactical discipline earned them a and they were the top team from the group. These results lead Oman and Kuwait a chance to qaulify for knockout with even a draw match in last group stage fixture. Oman and Kuwait, with a tough draw to UAE and Qatar in their final group match deserved spot in the semi-finals. UAE, despite a strong squad, were unable to get past the group stage, finishing with only 2 point. Qatar, the asian chmapions, also failed to make it out of the group, earning only 2 points and finishing last.
Group B: Group B provided its own share of drama, with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia emerging as the top two teams. Both teams qualified for the semi-finals, while Iraq and Yemen were eliminated. However, one of the most heartwarming stories of the group stage came from Yemen, who secured their first-ever victory in Gulf Cup history. Bahrain, as expected, topped Group B with a 6 points. They started their campaign with a solid 3-2 win over Saudi Arabia and followed it up with a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Iraq. Their final match saw them taken down by Yemen 1-2. Saudi Arabia, who had a more challenging road to qualification, finished in second place with 6 points. They defeated Yemen 3-2 in a tense encounter. Going into the final match with a classic rivalry against Iraq, Saudi with weak form secured an impressive 3-1 victory over Iraq, which was enough to ensure they progressed. Although Saudi finished second, they were solid throughout the group stage and earned their spot in the semi-finals. Iraq, the host nation of the previous Gulf Cup, and the defending champions, were eliminated after a disappointing group stage. Their loss to Saudi Arabia spelled the end of their tournament. Yemen made history by securing their first-ever victory in Gulf Cup history. This historic win was a monumental achievement for the Yemen national team, who had always struggled in the Gulf Cup. Despite the win, Yemen still finished bottom of the group with 3 points and were eliminated, but their victory will remain a bright moment in the tournament’s history.
