The Peninsula
Asian champions Qatar will know their group opponents at next year’s 25th Arabian Gulf Cup as stage is set for tournament’s draw to take place in Basra, Iraq today.
The eight participating teams will be divided into two groups for the January 6 to 19, 2023 tournament, with hosts Iraq and defending champions Bahrain leading the two pots in the draw.
The other competing teams include Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Yemen and Kuwait.
Qatar Football Association (QFA) President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, who also heads the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) reached Basra yesterday and was received by Iraq's Minister of Youth and Sports Adnan Dirjal and Governor of Basra Asaad Abdulameer Al Eidani.
With organisers announcing the readiness to hold the draw ceremony, QFA delegation including Hani Ballan, member of the QFA Executive Office, Mansoor Al Ansari, Secretary-General of QFA, and Fahd Thani, QFA’s Director of the Development Department also reached Basra yesterday to attend the draw.
AGCFF Secretary-General Jassim Al Rumaihi accompanied by Khaled Mubarak Al Kuwari, head of the Qatar media delegation reached Basra on Saturday.
“All the final arrangements and preparations for the ceremony of the 25th Gulf Cup are on track,” Al Rumaihi said.
“The preparations in Iraq are in full swing to host the tournament, which will be a Gulf carnival. The coordination meetings are continuing and we will share more details regarding the tournament in the coming period,” he added.
The Arabian Gulf Cup, which was initiated in 1970, is organised after every two years. Qatar hosted the previous edition when Bahrain emerged as champions for their maiden title.
Kuwait are the most successful team in the tournament’s history with 10 titles while Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iraq won the event three times each. Oman and the UAE triumphed in two editions each.
Iraq is hosting the tournament for the second time in its history after the first in 1979, when it hosted the fifth edition in the capital, Baghdad, at Al Shaab International Stadium, and was crowned with its title.