MUSCAT, SEPT 17
The Oman national football team travelled on Thursday to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in preparation for the 27th Gulf Cup, which will be hosted by Jeddah from September 23 to October 6.
Oman will open their campaign against Iraq on September 23 at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, which has a capacity of 27,000 spectators. The match will kick off at 6:30 pm (Oman time).
The team will begin a short training camp upon arrival in Jeddah ahead of the start of the tournament.
The Red Warriors will then face hosts Saudi Arabia on September 26 at 10 pm (Oman time) at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
Oman will conclude their group-stage campaign against Kuwait starting at 9:30 pm (Oman time) at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium.
The travelling delegation consists of the technical and administrative staff, along with 26 players who form coach Tarik Sektioui’s squad for the upcoming Gulf Cup campaign.
The Moroccan coach will rely on the selected players as Oman seek to challenge for the Gulf title, despite some criticism over the exclusion of several influential players from the squad.
Jeddah will host the Gulf Cup 27 matches at Alinma Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium, two of the city’s prominent sporting venues.
EIGHT TEAMS
The tournament features eight teams: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, the UAE, Yemen, Qatar and Bahrain.
Fans can book tickets for Gulf Cup 27 matches through the official ticketing platform or the GFF Tickets app, allowing them to select the matches they wish to attend.
The Gulf Football Federation announced on Wednesday the signing of an agreement with Al Diyar Al Arabia Real Estate Development Company coinciding with hosting of the 27th Gulf Cup.
Under the agreement, the tournament will officially be named 'Gulf Cup Al Diyar Al Arabia 27.'
The partnership reflects the sporting, fan and media profile of the Gulf Cup, as well as its strong commercial value and popularity among football fans across the region.
Several tournament teams have announced their squads. Saudi Arabia named a squad of 26 players, while the UAE also selected 26 players.
Kuwait announced a preliminary squad of 27 players, while Yemen named 20 players, with its overseas-based professionals expected to join the team’s camp in Jeddah.
Bahrain, meanwhile, announced a preliminary squad of 37 players.
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