Selections for the 'Gulf 2027' are vying for the title

However, the list chosen by Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui included a large group of players who have been in the national team since before the 2019 Asian Cup and participated in the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The goal... the final

Former star of the 'Blue' and its top scorer, Meshal Abdullah, told Agence France-Presse: 'You must be a contender in the Gulf Cup. The current lineup has a lot of accumulated experience, having participated in two World Cups and winning two consecutive continental titles. Otherwise, neither the critics nor the fans will spare you.'

His former teammate, Raed Yaqoub, agrees with him, saying, 'We are required to compete for the title, especially as our team enters the tournament with the advantage of technical stability and formation stability, which it lacked in the previous two versions of the tournament. Reaching the final should be the goal.'

Lopetegui did not take the risk of making drastic changes in the team despite the unsatisfactory performance in the 2026 World Cup, where they were eliminated from the first round with poor results.

The coach is betting on regaining confidence first, then returning to playing final roles, after an absence of 12 years from winning, or even appearing in the recent Gulf scene.

Meshal Abdullah says in this regard, 'The current phase should witness a renewal process in order to provide alternative options for elements that have long formed the backbone of the team. However, the change was limited to the entry of only three elements, and the process may expand further before the 2027 Asian Cup.'

On the other hand, Yaqoub says, 'The lack of young elements may be negative, especially as competition is a wide field for gaining experience. However, the presence of the usual lineup raises the bar and makes the title the main demand.'

Lopetegui faced widespread criticism after the World Cup, leading to speculation about a possible change in the coaching staff, before the Executive Director of the Qatari National Teams, Talal Al-Kaabi, put an end to it.

Al-Kaabi confirmed that 'quick judgments on results do not serve the development process, as focusing on details is the best way to build on successes and address shortcomings.'

He pointed out that 'the previous stages witnessed challenges, including instability due to changes in technical staff, which necessitates giving the current technical staff all the time needed to achieve the desired goals.'

On the technical level, the 'Blue' is counting on its star player Akram Afif, along with its historical top scorer Al-Maaz Ali, who has been fasting from scoring since the beginning of the season, and Brazilian-born Edmilson Junior, as well as experts Khoukhi Boualam and Pedro Miguel.

Lopetegui kept the captain Hassan Al-Haydos, who returned from retirement before the World Cup, along with Abdulaziz Hatem, and gave up the Brazilians of origin Lucas Mendes and Guilherme Torres.

The Gulf Cup is not just a preparatory station for the continental competition for the technical staff, as it represents a test that may open the door to change if the results are negative, as happened before the 2023 Asian Cup, when the team won the title with Spanish 'Tintin' Marques Lopes, who replaced Portuguese Carlos Queiroz.

Qatar's national team will start the competition by facing the Bahraini team, the defending champion, next Thursday at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, within Group Two, which includes the UAE and Yemen.

Saudi Arabia... to restore pride

Former midfield star Saleh Khalifa called on the Saudi national team to 'restore the lost pride' when they play in the 27th Gulf Cup in football, considering the city of Jeddah to be the 'ideal theater' for reshaping the identity of the team that has been absent from winning for more than two decades in the regional competition.

Khalifa stressed to Agence France-Presse the importance of restoring the 'Green' to its technical identity that distinguished it in past decades 'when we talk about the Saudi national team's participation in the 27th Gulf Cup, we are not just talking about tactical matches or offensive and defensive plans, but primarily about restoring the lost technical pride.'

Saudi Arabia has won the title three times, but the last one dates back to the beginning of 2004 in Kuwait.

The former star of Al-Ittifaq Club continued, 'Recently, the team has suffered from a clear fluctuation in the football identity on the field, and we no longer see that confident personality that imposed its style and controlled the pace of matches against any competitor in the region.'

Khalifa, 72, explained, 'The technical vision of the team must go beyond the idea of just winning the cup, to reach the construction of a strong system capable of imposing its technical authority for years to come, and imposing the absent football identity and restoring the technical pride on the field.'

Khalifa stressed that 'excellence in football starts from the psychological aspects and imposing field control, and the Saudi fans not only demand winning titles, but also yearn to see enjoyable football characterized by high discipline and fighting spirit.'

He added, 'This version should be a new starting point for restoring those technical features that made the 'Green', at one time, a difficult number that could not be surpassed in the Asian continent.'

Unlimited support

The former international did not overlook the historical record of the 'Green' in the competition and its long absence from its podiums, as he confirmed that 'everyone knows that the Gulf Cup is absent from the Saudi football treasury for many years, and this regional retreat does not match at all with the huge leaps and unlimited support witnessed by the sports sector in the Kingdom.

He added, 'The 'Green' has been absent from its Gulf throne for a long time, and the continuation of this distance is a negative indicator that must be addressed immediately, and it is no longer acceptable for us as athletes or as fans to follow the podiums from afar, or to be satisfied with the role of the observer, it is time to rise and return things to their natural course.'

Tactical coldness

Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the 2027 Asian Cup for the first time in its history, knowing that Khalifa won the title in its colors in 1984.

Khalifa warned against relying on the time factor, saying, 'It is very wonderful to see our country preparing for an exceptional continental event like the Asian Cup finals after a short period, but this expected organization must be an incentive to double the responsibility placed on the players and the technical staff now, not an excuse for relaxation or dealing with the tournament with 'tactical coldness.'

He added, 'The biggest mistake we may fall into is postponing goals and saying that we are building for 2027, as the great edifice is built only with solid foundations laid today before tomorrow, and great teams do not grow in closed experimentation rooms, but hone their strength in official confrontations and crowd pressure.'

He explained, 'If we cannot instill a culture of winning and a thirst for touching gold in this regional tournament, how can we demand players to stand firm and ascend the continental podium?'

Jeddah, the ideal theater

Regarding Jeddah on the Red Sea hosting the matches of the eight teams, the former captain of the Saudi national team said, 'Jeddah is the ideal theater for reshaping this identity and building a generation that possesses the charisma capable of successfully steering the ship.'

He continued, 'The Jeddah stand has a unique encouraging sense and a sophisticated football culture capable of igniting enthusiasm in the hearts of the players and motivating them to give their best.'

Khalifa considered that winning this title specifically for Saudi Arabia would represent a practical step to break the deadlock, and 'a clear declaration that the Saudi national team has returned to take its natural place as the leader of football in the region.'

The UAE to restore its prestige

The UAE is looking to restore its prestige, which has been affected in the last three editions of the Gulf Cup of football, relying on the experience of its new coach, Croatian Zlatko Dalic, who comes from a remarkable nine-year stint at the helm of his country's national team.

The 'White', the champion of 2007 and 2013, left the competition from the group stage in the last three editions, and has not tasted victory in the last eight matches, since surpassing Yemen with a clean three in 26 November 2019 in the 'Gulf 24' in Doha.

In the 2023 edition in Iraq, it recorded its worst participation in its history, after collecting only one point from a draw and two losses, to return and earn two points in the last edition in Qatar.

The UAE has high hopes for Dalic (59 years old) after signing him in August, replacing Romanian Cosmin Olaru, to restore its Gulf prestige, compete strongly in the Asian Cup, and try to return to the World Cup, in which it participated only once in 1990 in Italy.

However, the most successful coach in the history of the Croatian national team, thanks to his leadership to the runner-up of the 2018 World Cup and the third place in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, will not meet his players until seven days before the start of the tournament, due to the pressure of the local league and the participation of UAE clubs in the Asian tournaments.

Dalic admitted after signing him, 'The first challenge I will face is preparing for just one week before the Gulf Cup, and this requires cooperation from everyone to make the most of the available time.'

Gulf expert

The Croatian, who knows the Gulf football well after having led Al-Faisaly Saudi (2010-2012), his fellow Al-Hilal (2012-2013), and Al-Ain UAE from 2014 until 2017, confirmed that «the goal will be to compete for the titles of the Gulf and Asia Cups, but the most important ambition will be to build a strong team and qualify for the 2030 World Cup».

He added, «I trust the new project, as there are talents and young elements alongside experienced players, which forms a base to build a strong team capable of competing and achieving the set goals».

Sultan Rashid, the former international and scorer of the goal in the UAE's 2-0 victory over Kuwait in 'Gulf 16' in 2003, told Agence France-Presse, «Yes, the preparation was very short, but Dalic will compensate for that with his vast experience after having participated in major tournaments and three World Cups with Croatia, in addition to his complete knowledge of the UAE league after having coached Al-Ain».

Human weapons

He agrees with the Croatian coach's view that there is an abundance of good players in the team currently.

Rashid, who knows Dalic well from his administrative work after retiring at Al-Ain, continued, «He is a lucky coach and has an abundance of good players in all positions, which makes his mission, or any other coach's mission, easier».

The UAE enacted a law in 2018 allowing clubs to sign foreign players under the age of 21, to benefit from them after five years of residence in the Gulf state in national teams, according to the duration specified by the International Football Association (FIFA) regulations.

The UAE also worked to naturalize foreign professionals who had spent long periods in its stadiums, and the squad called up by Dalic to play in the Gulf Cup in Saudi Arabia included 16 naturalized players.

Eye on the title

Alaa Zuhair (26 years old), a Tunisian-born defender and one of the beneficiaries of the foreign players law, who has been playing in the UAE league with Al-Wahda since 2020, said, «Our coach is well-known, and the current team is all distinguished and has great experience, so our eyes will be on the Gulf Cup title».

He continued in an interview with Agence France-Presse, «The Gulf Cup is important to us as players, and it is one of the tournaments characterized by competitiveness, and it will be the first for us under the leadership of a new coach, and we consider it a strong preparation station for the 2027 Asian Cup».

He added, «Honestly, our ambition is the cup of the tournament, because we have all the tools to achieve that, from an experienced and well-known coach, distinguished players with wide experience and expertise, and looking at all these factors, our ambitions remain great and our goal is clear, which is to ascend to the podium in the upcoming events».

Bahrain to retain its title

The Bahraini team seeks to retain its title when it enters the Gulf Cup of Football, and hopes to win its third title in the history of the competition that was born on its land when it hosted its first edition in 1970.

Bahrain, the champion of 'Gulf 26' in Kuwait, enters the competition in Group Two, which includes the teams of Qatar, the UAE, and Yemen.

Their first match will be against Qatar next Thursday, followed by a match against the UAE (27), then Yemen (30).

Stability with Talayitch

The technical stability of the Bahraini team is a positive factor during its participation in the tournament, as Croatian coach Dragan Talayitch played a prominent role in the team's victory in the last edition.

Talayitch said in a statement to Agence France-Presse, «The task will not be easy this time, we will face very strong teams with desire, and the chances are equal to win the Gulf title».

He added, «We will face strong teams that have been present in the recent World Cup finals, namely Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, in addition to the UAE team, which was on the verge of qualifying as well».

He continued, «I will not forget the moment of crowning in Kuwait in the presence of 50,000 Bahraini spectators in the stands, which is the weapon (the audience) that gives you the motivation and desire to win and make everyone happy, whether in the stands or in Bahrain».

The Croatian confirmed his confidence in all the players, «I am proud of all the players, and they are all my sons, and I have confidence in everyone without exception, they impressed everyone in the last edition».

However, he added, «Other factors and difficult circumstances affected the team in the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup».

Regarding the short preparation for the tournament, Talayitch said, «The preparation period before the tournament is only seven days, and any coach would like a longer period, but this will not discourage our determination and insistence».

Talayitch considered Jeddah «my third home after my country Croatia and Bahrain. Beautiful memories I spent in Jeddah, and (Al-Ittihad) is the first club in the region that trusted me more than 20 years ago as a young coach, and I won the AFC Champions League with them in 2004».

Guardian of the castle

The name of Bahraini goalkeeper Ibrahim Lotfallah stands out as one of the most prominent names among the goalkeepers of the Gulf region, after his remarkable performance in 'Gulf 26', during which he won the title of best goalkeeper in the tournament.

The 36-year-old goalkeeper began his career as a promising player from the Bahraini Al-Shabab Club, and then moved between local clubs.

However, he suffered an injury last season in the Bahraini national team in the Arab Cup competitions held in Qatar.

After returning to the field, he returned to represent Al-Ahli Club, on loan from Al-Muharraq, to continue his brilliance before Talayitch called him up to the Bahraini 'Red' team.

Lotfallah said in a statement to Agence France-Presse, «Our intentions this time will not be different in the competition, but since Bahrain holds the title, this makes our task more difficult, and the most important thing to retain the title is high concentration and great effort from everyone in every match».

He continued, «Being the title holders will have a positive impact on everyone, and will give us a strong desire and motivation to retain the title, which requires everyone to double the work on the field and strive with all their strength and concentration to win every match».

Yemen.. The search for the first qualification

The Yemeni team aspires to «develop» its participation in the Gulf Cup of Football competitions and ensure qualification for the knockout stages for the first time in its history, after concluding its matches in the last edition in 'Gulf 26', in Kuwait with an honorable first victory.

The Yemeni team will start its matches at the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah against the UAE, within Group Two, which also includes Qatar and Bahrain.

Despite the «marginal» first victory in Kuwait over the Bahraini team, which topped the group, it «reflects the development of the team and the escalation of performance» according to its Algerian coach Noureddine Ould Ali.

Ould Ali told Agence France-Presse, «I seek for the team to continue the development journey starting from the last edition», adding, «This is the duty of every coach to try to develop the team's performance and results».

The coach, who has been leading Yemen since 2024, believes that the last edition is a benchmark, «The team developed from the first match, which we lost narrowly to Iraq with a single goal, to a second hard-fought loss to Saudi Arabia (2-3) until achieving victory in the third match over Bahrain».

He continued, «This confirms that the team has been progressing gradually, and this is what we aspire to in the next edition».

In its twelfth participation, the Yemeni team is still looking for its first qualification after playing 36 matches, winning one, drawing six, and losing the rest.

The Yemenis were not part of the competition at its inception in 1970, before the decision to participate was made starting from the 2003 edition in Kuwait.

Regarding the preparations in light of the circumstances in Yemen, Ould Ali, the former coach of the Palestinian national team, said that the work in the initial period was limited to the province of Aden, «The circumstances were good and suitable in terms of the hotel, restaurant, and stadium».

Ould Ali emphasized the importance of the Asian Cup, in which Yemen participates for the second time after the 2019 edition, «Every competition has its time and importance. Our main focus will be on the Gulf Cup now, and every incident will have a separate discussion in the Asian Cup».

Ould Ali (54 years old) led the Yemeni team to an exciting qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup after defeating Lebanon 2-0 in the last round in Doha, topping their group by one point ahead of Lebanon, which needed a draw to qualify.

The Yemeni team's delegation was the first to arrive in Jeddah to participate in the Gulf Cup, where they joined a camp that lasted from Friday, September 11 until the start of the tournament.

The delegation, which came from Aden, included 19 players, before the professionals, most notably Adel Abbas (Saudi Al-Shabab), Tariq Shahab (Icelandic Kopavogur), and Nasser Mohammed (Kuwaiti Kazma), joined the Jeddah camp in preparation for the tournament.

In their last friendly match before the tournament, the Yemeni team achieved their first-ever victory over Kuwait 2-1.