Saudi Arabia and the UAE will face off in the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup final on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah, following semifinal victories that kept both national teams undefeated in regulation play throughout the tournament.
The Road to Jeddah for the Green Falcons and the Whites
The regional tournament began on September 23 with eight national squads divided into two groups, culminating in the first-ever Gulf Cup hosted by the city of Jeddah. In Group A, Saudi Arabia secured the top spot with a flawless nine points, defeating Kuwait 1-0, Oman 3-0, and Iraq 2-0. The squad scored six goals in the opening stage without conceding a single one, finishing six points clear of its closest group rivals. Saudi coach Georgios Donis expressed observations regarding a decline in performance during the second half even after the three-goal victory over Oman in the group stage. Meanwhile, striker Abdullah Al-Hamdan urged supporters not to focus on criticism directed at him on social media, reflecting how some members of the team remained subjects of public discussion despite positive outcomes.
The Whites opened their campaign with a decisive 4-0 victory over Yemen, followed by a 3-0 win against Bahrain.
Saudi Arabia Beats Qatar in Penalty Shootout
Neither finalist reached Tuesday’s championship match without a fight. Saudi Arabia met reigning Asian champions Qatar in the semifinals, where neither side managed to break the deadlock through regulation and 30 minutes of extra time. After 120 scoreless minutes, the match moved to a penalty shootout that ended 3-2 in favor of the hosts. Goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais proved decisive during the kicks from the mark by turning away Qatari attempts, including two shots from Boualem Khoukhi after one was ordered to be retaken. The result meant the Saudi team preserved an unbroken defensive record across all four tournament matches prior to the final, spanning 390 minutes of play including extra time against Qatar.
Ousmane Camara headed in the decisive goal in the 22nd minute, giving his side the lead that they defended until the final whistle.
UAE chases the cup and BBC
With those results, the final showdown is set for Tuesday evening at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium, locally known as Al-Inmaa Stadium. Historical records show Saudi Arabia holds three Gulf Cup titles, having won its first crown in the United Arab Emirates in 1994, earned a second on home soil in 2002, and defended the trophy in Kuwait between December 2003 and January 2004, while finishing as runners-up in 2009, 2010, 2014, and 2019.
Regional Networks Broadcast the Championship Match
Kickoff is scheduled for 9:00 PM local time in Saudi Arabia, which corresponds to 10:00 PM in the United Arab Emirates. Several regional networks secured broadcast rights for the 27th edition of the competition, led by KSA Sports, Sharjah Sports, and Abu Dhabi Sports, with commentators including Musa Eid on Sharjah Sports and Salah Al-Hamdani on Oman Sports and Kuwait Sports. Viewers seeking online streaming options can access the match through the Shasha application, MBC Shahid, and Shoof platforms.