ShareThe Khaleeji Zain 26 is one of the world’s foremost regional football competitions held every two years featuring eight nation members of the Arabian Gulf region
Why is it called the Khaleeji Zain 26?
Formerly known as the Arabian Gulf Cup, the tournament will carry the Khaleeji Zain name for the second time following an agreement signed between the tournament and the leading technology and digital lifestyle company, Zain, prior to the 25th edition held in Basra two years ago.
Where is it being held?
The tournament will be held in Kuwait.
When is it being held?
The opening ceremony and first match will take place on Dec 21, and the tournament will run through until Jan 3 when the final will be played.
Who is competing?
The Khaleeji Zain 26 will feature the eight national teams of Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
What stadiums are being used?
Matches will be played in Kuwait City at two stadiums – the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium (57,000 seats) and the Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah Stadium (15,000 seats).
What is the format?
The eight nations are split into two groups of four. The winners of each group will play the runners-up of the other group in the semi-finals, with the two victors going through to the final.
Who has been the most successful team in the tournament’s history?
Kuwait have recorded the most tournament victories with 10, starting with the inaugural event back in 1970. Their last win came in 2010.
What is the story behind the actual trophy?
The original Arabian Gulf Cup trophy was first designed in the Bahraini capital, Manama, and manufactured in Lebanon from pure silver. It was hexagonal and consisted of two olive branches along both sides.
In the fourth edition of the Cup in 1976, Qatar presented a new design, made of pure gold.
But the trophy changed again in 1988 when Saudi Arabia revealed a new tree trunk-like trophy with a map of the Arabian Gulf states on top that was made in France.
It changed again in 1992 at the 11th edition of the tournament when Qatar unveiled a magnificent design by local artist Suleiman Al-Malik. The Cup was in the form of an incense burner carried by two falcons on each side. The flags of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries were engraved and it was manufactured in Italy.
Saudi Arabia presented a fifth trophy for their Riyadh tournament in 2002, designed in the form of an incense burner carrying a soccer ball, with the colors of the Gulf nations along its sides.
The current – and sixth - version was again presented by Qatar. This design is also in the form of an incense burner that carries a pearl, with the ghutra and the Gulf shemagh wrapping from the bottom to top, indicating unity despite what may be happening politically in the region. The Cup was made by the famous Bertone company in Italy, the same factory that made the current FIFA World Cup, and it is made of pure gold with a height of 47cm.
What/Who is the tournament mascot?
The Khaleeji Zain 26 mascot was unveiled at the official draw in November. It is called Haydo the Camel, who symbolizes the Gulf’s environment and rich culture. The mascot will serve as a dynamic focal point for engaging with fans, especially families, and youngsters.
Haydo has been popular with fans of the Kuwaiti national team since the early 1980s when, following derogatory remarks made by New Zealand fans and media and about The Blues and their desert origins around a FIFA World Cup qualifying match, four camels were paraded around the pitch prior to the return leg in Kuwait. Kuwait had the last laugh by qualifying for the 1982 FIFA World Cup and a song written specially has echoed around the stadiums since. The ‘Haydo’ song’s lyrics were written by poet, Abdul Latif Al-Bannai, composed by Youssef Al-Mahna and originally sang by Abdul Karim Abdul Qader, Abdul Mohsen Al-Mahna and Ghraid Al-Shate.
How much are tickets?
For the opening ceremony and match (Kuwait v Oman) on Dec 21 and the final on January 3 at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium:
Gold........................KD 30
Silver.......................KD 20
Category One .........KD 10
Category Two .........KD 8
Category Three ......KD 6
Category Four ........KD 4
For all other matches at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium:
Gold........................KD 20
Silver ......................KD 15
Category One .........KD 8
Category Two .........KD 6
Category Three ......KD 4
Category Four ........KD 2
For all matches at Jaber Al-Mubarak International Stadium:
Category One ........KD 6
Category Two ..........KD 4
Where you can buy tickets?
Download the ‘Hayakom’ application where there will be a clearly marked ‘ticket’ link to take you through to the special page set up in both English and Arabic. Tickets are also available to buy from ticket box offices located in the 360 Mall and the Avenues Mall.
What is the situation regarding volunteers?
We can expect up to 5,000 volunteers to be working on the event in a variety of roles both at the stadiums as well as elsewhere at official venues being used by the event, such as hotels and in ticketing and transport operations. The volunteers have been recruited through a variety of resources, as well as members of the public answering the call to get involved. Every volunteer is put through a generic training program, with sessions in English and Arabic, before taking on job-specific training at their venues.
A history of the tournament
Often referred to as The Gulf Cup, the Arabian Gulf Cup, and now the Khaleeji Zain 26, has been the region’s premium football competition since its inaugural tournament was held in 1970 in Bahrain. That first tournament saw the participation of four teams – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the eventual champions Kuwait.
The event is organized every two years and, over the decades, four more teams were added with the United Arab Emirates in 1972, Oman in 1974, Iraq in 1976, and finally Yemen in 2003, so that the 2024/25 edition in Basra will feature eight nations.
The tournament was originally organized in a league system, but has evolved into the current format of eight teams divided into two groups of four. The top two teams from each group will proceed to the semi-finals with the winners going through to the final at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium on Jan 3.
The host country (Kuwait) always joins Group A, and the reigning champions (Iraq) go into Group B. Kuwait is the most successful nation in the Cup’s history, winning it an impressive 10 times, with Saudi Arabia and Qatar winning it three times and 2023 winners, Iraq, winning it on four occasions each.
Oman and UAE have won it twice, while Bahrain won their only title in 2019. Yemen will be looking to make it out of the group stage for the first time in their history since joining the competition.
This will be the fifth time that Kuwait have hosted the Cup, but they have only won it once before on home soil back in 1990. The tournament is organized by the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) in co-ordination with the local football association and will be delivered in 2024/25 from Dec 21-Jan 3. Only Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar have featured at every edition of the tournament since its inception, with the trio set to make their 26th appearances in Iraq.
Who is the tournament’s all-time top scorer?
The all-time top goal scorer for the Gulf Cup is Kuwait’s Jasem Yaqoub, who has scored 18 goals, closely followed by Saudi Arabia’s Majed Abdullah and Iraq’s Hussein Saeed who have scored 17 goals each. Saeed scored an incredible 10 goals at the 1979 tournament, the most by a Golden Boot winner.
What is the transport/parking situation at the stadiums?
There is parking for 12,000 cars available at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium. And there is ample parking at the smaller Jaber Al-Mubarak International Stadium.
How easy will it be for fans to access the stadium?
Each ticket has a unique QR code that can only be scanned once at the stadium to avoid fake or duplicated tickets. The first check will take place at the exterior perimeter of the stadiums with trained staff and volunteers using hand held devices to authenticate the ticket. There will be 130 devices at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium and 50 used at the smaller Jaber Al-Mubarak International Stadium.
Once the ticket is scanned and cleared, fans will then proceed towards a second check before they can advance into the stadium bowl itself. At Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, 50 double full-height turnstiles with 100 QR code readers are installed, while this second tier of checks at Jaber Al-Mubarak International Stadium will consist of 58 readers on 36 ‘tripod’ turnstiles.
The spectator-management system will allow for a steady flow of fans into the stadium and avoid overcrowding at the gates. It is a similar system used at major football tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup.
Will there be entertainment at the grounds on match day?
Fans attending games for the Khaleeji Zain 26 can expect a World Cup-style experience on match days at both stadiums. Fan zones and activities are being created and music and in-stadium interactive entertainment will be happening up to three hours before kick-offs when the turnstiles open to encourage supporters to arrive early and enjoy their Khaleeji Zain 26 experience.
