Five nations to compete in the tournament from November 24 to December 6
Published: 24 Oct 2019 - 01:43 am | Last Updated: 04 Nov 2021 - 08:25 am
Officials conducting the draw of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup in Doha yesterday. Pic: Mohamed Faraj
Asian champions and hosts Qatar will take on Yemen in the opening match of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup which will kick off on November 24 at the Khalifa International Stadium, it was revealed here yesterday during the draw ceremony.
Five nations will contest in the tournament with all the matches taking place at the Khalifa International Stadium from November 24 to December 6.
At the draw ceremony in Doha, it was announced that hosts Qatar would be joined in the tournament by defending champions Oman and ten-time winners Kuwait, along with Iraq and Yemen. The teams will compete in a round-robin format, with the side which finishes top of the group claiming the coveted trophy.
This will be the fourth time Qatar has hosted the tournament, which is organised by the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF).
The Maroons have twice won the event on home soil – in 1992 and 2004 – and will be aiming for a glorious double in 2019 after lifting the AFC Asian Cup in February.
The Arabian Gulf Cup was conceptualised in the 1960s, with the first edition taking place in 1970. Kuwait became the first country to win the title after defeating Bahrain.
“We are pleased to announce that five teams will compete in this year’s edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup, including the reigning champions of Asia and nations who, between them, have claimed this prestigious trophy 18 times,” Jassim Al Rumaihi, General Secretary of the AGCFF, said.
“We are looking forward to hosting thousands of fans from across the region as Qatar continues its preparations for the FIFA World Cup in 2022,” he added.
The tournament venue, Khalifa International Stadium, reopened in May 2017 following an extensive redevelopment to prepare it for Qatar 2022. Located in Aspire Zone, this historic venue has previously hosted the Arabian Gulf Cup, the Asian Games and the AFC Asian Cup.
The stadium, which recently hosted the IAAF World Athletics Championships, is equipped with state-of-the-art cooling technology, which allows it to be used all-year-round.
Tickets will be available to buy online from today at www.GulfCup2019.qa and at outlets across the country from November 1.
Tickets will be available in three categories and priced at QR50, 30 and 10. Besides been available online – from 1 November 2019 – they will be available at Mall of Qatar, Doha Festival City, Villagio, Souq Waqif and Hamad International Airport.
“We are excited to again be hosting the Arabian Gulf Cup in Qatar. This is yet another opportunity to host a major football event as Qatar continues its preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup, which will be held here this year and in 2020, and the FIFA World Cup, which will kick off in just over three years’ time,”Saud Al Mohannadi, Chairman of the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup Local Organising Committee and Vice President, Qatar Football Association, said.
During the draw ceremony the tournament emblem and mascot were unveiled. The emblem showcases the Qatari flag and a football, and symbolises the country’s passion for the beautiful game. The mascot is an oyster holding a pearl called ‘Sodeifi’, the Arabic word for ‘shell’. The mascot features the colours of the Qatari flag and pays homage to the country’s seafaring and pearl diving past.
