Jeddah Ready For Gulf Cup Kick-Off

TDT | Manama

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The 27th Arabian Gulf Cup, also known as Khaleeji 27, gets underway in Jeddah today, with eight teams beginning their pursuit of one of the region’s most coveted prizes.

Iraq and Oman raise the curtain on Group A at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium at 5.30pm before hosts Saudi Arabia meet record 10-time champions Kuwait at Al-Inma Stadium at 9pm.

A brief opening ceremony will be held before the Saudi-Kuwait clash, with the 12-minute programme set to feature musical and cultural performances celebrating the tournament and its participating nations.

Saudi National Day will also form part of the ceremony, which is expected to conclude with a fireworks display before the hosts take to the pitch.

The Saudis are chasing a fourth Gulf Cup title and their first since 2003, while Iraq enter as four-time winners. Oman, meanwhile, have finished runners-up in each of the last two editions.

Focus shifts to Group B tomorrow, when defending champions Bahrain launch their bid for a third title against three-time winners Qatar at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium at 9pm.

Dragan Talajic’s men return to the competition as holders after their 2-1 comeback victory over Oman in the previous final.

The UAE, champions in 2007 and 2013, face Yemen at Al-Inma Stadium at 6.55pm in tomorrow’s earlier Group B encounter.