25th Gulf Cup: Qatar drawn in Group B

Basra, Iraq: Three-time Qatar have been placed in Group B of the 25th Arab Gulf Cup, after the tournament draw held in Basra, Iraq on Tuesday. Joining Qatar in the group are defending champions Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, Group A consists of hosts Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.

The 25th edition of the Arab Gulf Cup will be played in Basra, Iraq between the 6th and 19th of January 2023. Iraq is hosting the tournament for the second time, and after a gap of 43 years, following the fifth edition which was held in Baghdad in 1979.

The draw ceremony was attended by top football officials from across the Gulf region, led by H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, president of the Qatar Football Association and the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation.

Sindbad the Sailor was unveiled as the mascot for the tournament, celebrating one of the region’s legendary characters.

AGCFF general secretary Jassim Al-Rumaihi stated in a post-draw press conference that all nations are to participate in the tournament with their first teams, as per the statutes of the federation. He also revealed that fans from the Gulf countries will be allowed to enter Iraq without visas for the durations of the tournament.

Qatar will play in the tournament just around a month after their first-ever World Cup appearance. Al Annabi have won the Gulf Cup title on three previous occasions, twice at home – in 1992 and 2004 – and once in Saudi Arabia, in 2014.

Bahrain are the title holders, having defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final of the 24th edition held in Doha in December 2019, to win the trophy for the first time in their history.