ShareKUWAIT: The competitions committee of the Gulf Football Federation has decided to postpone the final match of the Khaleeji Zain 26 championship to Saturday, January 4, instead of Friday, January 3. The dates and venues of the two semifinal matches remain unchanged, with Saudi Arabia facing Oman at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, Dec 31 at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium, and Kuwait playing Bahrain at 8:45 pm on the same day at Jaber International Stadium.
Khalid Al-Muqrin, head of the GCC Football Federation’s competitions committee, confirmed that a proposal to postpone the semifinal matches was not discussed. He added that the decision to delay the final by one day aimed to provide the finalists with additional rest. All four federations of the semifinal teams agreed to the proposal.
Renard: Title is our goal
The Khaleeji Zain 26 tournament has entered its final stages, with Saudi Arabia advancing to the semifinals after defeating Iraq 3-1 in the final round of Group B. Yemen achieved a historic victory over Bahrain in the same round.
Saudi coach Herve Renard expressed dissatisfaction with his team’s performance despite the win. “We were not good in the first half, but our performance improved in the second half, and we succeeded in scoring goals,” Renard said during the post-match press conference. He emphasized that the team’s goal is to win the championship, stating, “Reaching the semifinals is not enough. Our main goal is to win the title.”
Renard praised striker Abdullah Al-Hamdan for his two goals that sealed the victory and highlighted the importance of improving the team’s mindset and physicality in duels.
Casas: Absences affected performance
Iraqi coach Jesus Casas attributed the loss to a penalty kick that shifted the match’s momentum. He acknowledged that absences within the squad had a significant impact but emphasized that the Gulf Cup experience was valuable for testing new players. Casas reassured fans that the team’s exit from the tournament would not affect their progress in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where Iraq currently holds second place in their group.
Talajic: Yemen deserved to win
Bahrain’s coach Dragan Talajic commended Yemen for their strong performance and historic victory. “We played with a full team of substitutes today,” Talajic said, adding that while he aimed to win every game, the team is now focusing on their semifinal against Kuwait.
Ould Ali celebrates Yemen’s historic win
Yemeni coach Noureddine Ould Ali dedicated his team’s 2-1 victory over Bahrain to Yemeni fans and players. “We achieved our first Gulf Cup victory, and we dedicate it to the Yemeni people,” he said. The win marked Yemen’s first triumph in 21 years of Gulf Cup participation.
Media praise for Khaleeji Zain 26
Gulf and Arab media have lauded the organizational and media efforts behind Khaleeji Zain 26, hosted at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Journalists highlighted Kuwait’s administrative and media success, crediting the tournament’s smooth coverage to the diligent work of the media center and committee.
Emirati journalist Mohammed Al-Jawkar noted the exemplary coordination at the media center, while sports commentator Khalil Al-Balushi praised the fraternal atmosphere of the Gulf championship. Iraqi journalist Saif Al-Malki commended Kuwait’s preparations, and Qatari journalist Ahmed Salim appreciated the detailed daily updates provided by the media committee. Saudi commentator Ali Al-Mohsen described the tournament as a sports carnival that reflects Kuwait’s rich football history.
First-round statistics
•Goals: 34 goals scored (16 in the first half, 18 in the second half).
•Offense: Saudi Arabia led with eight goals; Iraq scored the fewest with two.
•Defense: Kuwait and Oman had the strongest defenses (three goals conceded each); Saudi Arabia conceded the most (six goals).
•Historic victory: Yemen achieved their first Gulf Cup win after 21 years and scored four goals in the tournament for the first time.
•Unbeaten teams: Kuwait and Oman remain unbeaten.
•Fastest goal: Qatar’s Almoez Ali scored in the second minute against Oman.
•Own goal: Bahrain’s Ibrahim Al-Khattal scored the only own goal against Yemen.
•Penalty kicks: Six awarded; five converted, one missed (by UAE’s Fabio Lima).
•Red cards: Four issued, including to players from the UAE, Qatar, Yemen and Bahrain.
•Yellow cards: 57 shown, with three matches seeing the most (eight each).
•Top scorers: Oman’s Essam Al-Subhi and Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al- Hamdan lead with three goals each.
