Gulf Cup 2026: As domestic football takes a break for almost three weeks and fans turn their attention to international football, there is one tournament you must catch up on.
Yes, we have the UEFA Nations League, where World Champions Spain will be in action alongside some top teams and Argentina and Brazil will be playing other teams in friendlies, but none of these will drive the same passion and stakes as the Gulf Cup.
First held in 1970, the tournament consists of top teams from the Gulf Football Federation. The competition is held against the backdrop of regional rivalries and a lot of history both on and off the field. The fact that an entire international tournament can squeeze into the calendar during the current break means you will have the chance to witness a different flavour of football.
For the 2026 edition, eight teams are placed in two groups of four, with two teams from each group advancing to the semis. Not only does the Gulf Cup provide an opportunity for the likes of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and UAE to win a trophy, but it also offers vital preparation for the 2027 Asian Cup. Let’s take a look at what awaits us in the 27th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup.
Gulf Cup 2026: Hosts and schedule
The Gulf Cup 2026 will be hosted by Saudi Arabia, making it the fifth time the event has been held there. All the matches will be held in the city of Jeddah. This will mark the first time it has hosted the tournament since its inception in 1970.
Matches will be played at King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City from September 23 to October 6, 2026. The event will be another big step for Saudi Arabia in its push as a global sporting destination.
The previous four times Saudi Arabia has hosted the tournament, they have gone on to win twice, in 1972 and 2014.
Gulf Cup 2026: Teams and groups
Eight teams have been divided into two groups of four. Group A will see a tight group pitting four-time champions Iraq against Kuwait, who have won the Gulf Cup a record 10 times. The group will also contain hosts Saudi Arabia and Oman, who have won the competition four and two times respectively.
Group B will have defending champions Bahrain up against three-time winners and current Asian Cup holders Qatar. Two-time champions UAE will also be in the group alongside Yemen, who are the only team not to have won the trophy.
Gulf Cup 2026: Fixtures
Gulf Cup action will begin in Group A on Wednesday, 23 September when Iraq play Oman. The Lions of Mesopotamia had a disappointing World Cup 2026 campaign, losing all three of their group games. Still, Australian coach Graham Arnold has stayed on and will hope to do much better in the regional competition.
On the same day, hosts Saudi Arabia face Kuwait in a mouth-watering clash. Saudi’s Greek coach Georgios Donis is in charge and will be expected to add to the country’s four Gulf Cup titles. The team is brimming with talent, with a good blend of youth and experience. Home advantage will be key and will offer ideal preparation for the Asian Cup in January 2027, which will be held in Saudi Arabia.
Kuwait will also have a point to prove, and their coach Helio Sousa is confident that his players have the ability to progress further in the competition. The nation has 10 Gulf Cup titles to their name but haven’t won the tournament since 2010.
On Thursday, September 24, the focus will shift to Group B. UAE will take on Yemen in the first game of the group. Yemen’s participation in the tournament is intriguing given the missile attack by Houthi rebels on the Saudi capital. This adds more tension and drama to the tournament itself, and who knows what the scenes will be if Yemen and Saudi Arabia meet in the knockout rounds.
The other game that day sees Bahrain begin the defence of their trophy against Qatar. Statistically, this is the meeting of two of the region’s best sides recently. Bahrain won the Gulf Cup’s previous edition, while Qatar are the current Asian Cup holders. Julen Lopetegui has remained Qatar’s coach, and even though the team failed to win a game at the World Cup, they did earn a historic point against Switzerland.
The group stage will end on September 30, and the semi-finals will begin three days later on October 3. The winners of the semis will compete in the final on October 6 at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
Where to watch Gulf Cup 2026?
Many of the nations participating in the Gulf Cup 2026 will broadcast the tournament live for their fans. Apart from that, fans in Australia and the United States will also be able to savour the action through exclusive partners. In Europe, fans can also get a taste of the tournament through certain networks.
Gulf Cup 2026 official broadcasters
| Country/Region | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia (host) | SBA, MBC |
| Australia | SBS |
| Austria, Germany, Switzerland | Sportdigital |
| Bahrain | BRTC |
| Iraq | IMN, Al-Rabia’a |
| Kuwait | Shasha |
| Oman | PART |
| Qatar | Al-Kass |
| United Arab Emirates | ADMN, DMI, SBA |
| United States | ESPN+ |
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