Jeddah Set to Host Gulf Cup 27 Draw Today

Football fans across the Gulf region are turning their attention to Jeddah on Tuesday as Saudi Arabia prepares to host the official draw ceremony for the 27th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from September 23 to October 6, with anticipation building ahead of the announcement of the two groups and the path toward the regional title.

According to a statement released by the Arabian Gulf Cup Football Federation, the draw ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. local time at the Cultural Square inside the Red Sea International Film Festival Arts Center in Historic Jeddah.

The event is expected to feature several high-profile guests, including Arabian Gulf Cup Football Federation president Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani and Saudi Arabian Football Federation president Yasser Al-Misehal, alongside federation officials, representatives of the participating national teams, and a number of former Gulf football stars.

Tournament organizers confirmed that all participating federations have completed preparations for the draw, with national team coaches and administrators arriving in Saudi Arabia as coordination meetings continue ahead of the competition.

The upcoming edition will be the fifth Gulf Cup tournament organized under the Arabian Gulf Cup Football Federation. Matches will be played at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah.

Eight teams will compete in the tournament: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Yemen.

Based on the latest FIFA rankings issued on April 1, Qatar and Iraq were placed in Pot 1, while Saudi Arabia and the UAE occupy Pot 2. Oman and Bahrain are in Pot 3, with Kuwait and Yemen placed in Pot 4.

Under the tournament format, the eight teams will be divided into two groups of four, with one team drawn from each pot into every group to ensure balanced competition during the group stage.

Saudi Arabia, as host nation, will head Group A, while the UAE will lead Group B, according to the tournament seeding system.

The group stage will be played in a single round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semifinals. The winners of the semifinal matches will then meet in the final to determine the Gulf Cup champion.