Gulf Football Union launches ticket sales for the 27th Gulf Cup

- Eight national teams will compete in 15 matches between September 23 and October 6 next year.

The Gulf Football Association, in cooperation with the Local Organizing Committee, announced on Monday the launch of ticket sales for the 27th edition of the Gulf Cup, which will be hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah from September 23 to October 6 next year.

In a statement, the Gulf Football Association noted that the tournament will be held in the Kingdom for the fifth time, featuring eight Gulf national teams competing in 15 matches at the King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal City stadiums.

The statement added that ticket prices for the opening match, the two semi-finals, and the final include five categories, starting from 120 Saudi rials for the first category, 97 rials for the second, 71 rials for the third, and 45 rials for the fourth. A premium category is available starting from 243 Saudi rials, while the gold category is priced at 355 rials and the silver category at 315 Saudi rials for all matches.

It clarified that group stage matches held at King Abdullah Sports City feature five ticket categories, starting from 93 Saudi rials for the first category, 67 rials for the second, 45 rials for the third, and 22 rials for the fourth, with a premium category available starting from 187 Saudi rials.

Group stage matches hosted at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal City stadium have three ticket categories, starting from 60 Saudi rials for the first category, 37 rials for the second, and 22 rials for the third.

The statement indicated that fans can purchase tickets via the official website of the Gulf Football Association at the-gff.com/tickets or through the (GFF Tickets) app. The system allows each fan to book up to six tickets per match and select attendance for their national team’s matches during the group stage and knockout rounds.

All tickets are available digitally, allowing fans to download them to their phones and add them to their digital wallets, enabling use at stadium entrances without the need for an internet connection.

Gulf Football Association Secretary-General Jasem Sultan Al-Rumaihi emphasized that the Gulf Cup represents the "most prominent platform for Gulf football," expressing his hope that the next edition will witness unprecedented levels of attendance and fan engagement.

Al-Rumaihi praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting the tournament for the fifth time, citing its advanced infrastructure and accumulated organizational expertise. He highlighted the Local Organizing Committee’s and the Saudi Football Federation’s commitment to delivering an exceptional edition featuring a select group of the best players from across the Gulf region.

For her part, Mee Al-Hilabi, CEO of the Local Organizing Committee, confirmed that the launch of ticket sales marks an important milestone in preparations for hosting the (Gulf Cup 27). She noted that work is continuing at a rapid pace to complete organizational and operational readiness and deliver an edition befitting the tournament’s status among Gulf football fans.

Al-Hilabi added that the committee looks forward to welcoming Gulf fans to Saudi Arabia and presenting an exceptional edition that combines competitive intensity on the pitch with a comprehensive fan experience, befitting the history and status of the Gulf Cup and reflecting the Kingdom’s capabilities and expertise in hosting and organizing major sporting events.

The tournament draw, held in Jeddah, resulted in the eight participating teams being divided into two groups. Group A comprises Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Kuwait, while Group B includes the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Yemen.

The host nation, Saudi Arabia, will kick off their campaign against Kuwait on Wednesday, September 23, coinciding with Saudi National Day, at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, which has a capacity of 65,000 seats, in the opening match of Group A. Meanwhile, Iraq and Oman will face each other at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium.

The tournament features several notable clashes, most prominently the Group B match between Qatar and defending champions Bahrain on Thursday, September 24, as well as the encounter between the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.