The Blues face Saudi Arabia's Greens in the 23rd Gulf Cup derby
The 27th Gulf Cup competition kicks off tomorrow in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, under the patronage of His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Eight Gulf national teams are participating, divided into two groups of four, competing for the title.
Tomorrow, the Kuwaiti national team seeks a strong start in the 27th Gulf Cup ("Gulf Cup 27"), hosted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and running until October 6. The opening ceremony and the inaugural match between the "Blue" (Kuwait) and the "Green" (Saudi Arabia) will be held at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, while Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium will host the matches for the second group.
In the opening match of their campaign toward an eleventh title in their history, Kuwait will face the host nation, Saudi Arabia. The Kuwaiti national team aims for a strong start and a victory to bolster their hopes of reaching the semifinals, a step toward returning to the podium. Kuwait has been absent from the top spot for 16 years, since their last title in the 2010 edition held in Yemen.
Tomorrow's opening match between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia is part of the first round of Group A, which also features a match between Oman and Iraq. Meanwhile, Group B will see two matches tomorrow: the United Arab Emirates versus Yemen, and Qatar versus Bahrain.
A Rich History for the "Blue"
The Kuwaiti national team holds the most titles in the tournament, which holds a special place in the hearts of the region's people. Kuwait leads the list of title holders with 10 trophies. Saudi Arabia follows with three titles, placing third in the all-time standings behind Iraq (four titles) and tied with Qatar (three titles). The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman each have two titles. Yemen remains the only team to have never reached the podium.
Gulf Derby: Historical Advantage for the "Blue"
The "Gulf Derby" holds a special place for Kuwaiti and Saudi fans, with matches between the two sides known for their intensity and drama. Kuwait also holds a historical advantage in head-to-head meetings. The two teams have faced each other in 22 previous Gulf Cup matches, with Kuwait winning 10, Saudi Arabia winning 5, and 7 matches ending in a draw.
Match Calculations
The Kuwaiti national team enters tomorrow's match under the guidance of Portuguese coach Hélio Sousa, on whom Kuwaiti fans pin their hopes of returning the team to the podium. This follows his previous success with the Bahraini national team, where he led them to their first-ever title. Meanwhile, the Saudi "Green" will compete under the leadership of Greek coach Georgios Donis, who took over the role earlier, replacing French coach Hervé Renard.
Sousa prepared for the tournament by holding training camps in the recent period, the most recent of which was in Qatar. There, the team played one match against Qatari club Lusail, winning 2-1, before facing the Yemeni national team in Jeddah in their final pre-tournament test.
Sousa relies on his squad, led by Yousuf Nasser, Shabib Al-Khalidi, Mohammed Daham, Abdullah Al-Owaidi, Mubarak Al-Fanani, and Eid Al-Rashidi in the attacking line, along with his distinguished defensive unit led by Fahad Al-Hajri, Khalid Sabah, Yousuf Al-Haqan, Abdulaziz Naji, Abdulwahab Al-Owaidi, Raed Al-Dosari, Muath Al-Zafiri, and Mohsen Fallah. The midfield features key contributions from Rida Hani, Khalid Al-Marshad, Jassim Al-Mutar, Ahmed Al-Zafiri, Adhebi Shahab, Abdullah Al-Qazaei, Nasser Falah, and Mahdi Dashti.
Saudi Attacking Power
On the other side, despite the absence of two key Saudi players, Saud Abdulhamid and Salem Al-Dawsari, the "Green" will still possess significant attacking power in the tournament, featuring players such as Firas Al-Buraikan, Mohammed Al-Shehri, Saleh Al-Shamrat, Mohammed Kano, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Sultan Mandash, and Abdullah Al-Salem. The defense will be highlighted by Abdulilah Al-Omari, Hassan Kadesh, Nawaf Boushal, and Zakaria Hawsawi.
Tomorrow's Matches
Match | Time | Broadcasting Channels
Kuwait vs. Saudi Arabia | 9:00 PM | Shasha – Al Kass – Oman Sports
Iraq vs. Oman | 5:30 PM | Shasha – Al Kass – Oman Sports
Sousa: Our Goal is to Beat Any Opponent
Portuguese coach Hélio Sousa, manager of the Kuwaiti national team, confirmed that his team is aiming to compete for the "Gulf Cup 27" title. He noted that the match against Saudi Arabia in the tournament opener will be an important test of the stage the "Blue" have reached in their technical project.
Sousa said: "The general atmosphere is good. We began preparations on September 7 and underwent extensive training. The camp was good, and everything is going smoothly here in Jeddah. We are preparing in the best possible way for the opening match."
Regarding the team's ambitions, he added: "We are building a team to compete for the upcoming Asian Cup, and everything we do is moving in that direction. We always prepare to win the next match. We don't know what will happen, but we are working on the ideas and tactics we want to implement."
Fahad Al-Hajri: A Tough Opening Match
For his part, Fahad Al-Hajri, defender for the "Blue," expressed his desire to compete for the "Gulf Cup 27" title, confirming that the match against Saudi Arabia in the tournament opener will be difficult, but the "Blue" have the capability to achieve victory.
Al-Hajri said: "I extend my sincere thanks to the Kingdom for its hospitality and appreciation. From our first day in Jeddah, we felt that, and it is not surprising given their nature. We look forward to a wonderful tournament by all standards."
He added: "We have a great legacy in the Gulf Cup. Whenever we participate, our goal is to win the title. We will play in a strong group; Saudi Arabia and Iraq both participated in the World Cup. The opening match is difficult and important, and we are here to win the tournament."
Donis: The "Green" Aims for the Title
Greek coach Georgios Donis, manager of the Saudi national team, confirmed that the "Green" aim to win the Gulf Cup title. He noted that the exclusion of Musab Al-Juwayr for disciplinary reasons represents a technical loss for the team, but he emphasized his confidence in the current squad and its ability to overcome the circumstances surrounding the team.
Donis said during the press conference ahead of tomorrow's match: "I am happy with this competition and its hosting in Saudi Arabia, specifically in Jeddah. We must represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the best possible way to please our fans, and we invite them to support us and give us more confidence."
Al-Owais: Absence from the Title is a "Challenge and Motivation"
Mohammed Al-Owais, goalkeeper for the Saudi national team, confirmed that the "Green" absence from the Gulf Cup title for 23 years does not represent pressure on the players, but rather a challenge and motivation to reclaim the title. He emphasized that the team aims for an ideal start against Kuwait in a match that coincides with Saudi National Day, as part of the "Gulf Cup 27" held in Jeddah.
Al-Owais welcomed the participating Gulf national teams during the press conference ahead of tomorrow's match, expressing his happiness with Saudi Arabia hosting this Gulf gathering.
