Two-time Asian champions Qatar are gearing up for the 26th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup, which will be hosted by Kuwait from December 21, 2024, to January 3, 2025. The highly anticipated regional tournament will feature eight nations from the Arabian Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF), all vying for glory.
Having successfully defended their Asian Cup title earlier this year, Qatar will target a fourth triumph in the Arabian Gulf Cup, a prestigious competition they have won in 1992, 2004, and 2014. Al Annabi are drawn in Group A, where they will face hosts Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Group B sees defending champions Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Yemen competing for semi-final spots.
Qatar will aim to return to their best form in the tournament after a shaky performance in the third and final round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers. They began the year on a high, winning their second Asian Cup title in February and topping their group in the second round of World Cup Qualifiers under coach Marquez Lopez, who also guided Qatar to a rise to 34th in the FIFA World Rankings.
However, their performance dipped during the third round of World Cup Qualifying, leaving them in a precarious position. After six games, they sit fourth in Group A with seven points, nine points behind group leaders Iran and six points behind second-placed Uzbekistan, with four games remaining. The top teams from the group will secure direct qualification for the World Cup. This decline in form led to Lopez’s departure as head coach, with his assistant, Luis Garcia, promoted to the top job. Prior to joining Qatar, Garcia had coaching stints with La Liga side Espanyol, where he also played, as well as Mallorca and several other clubs.
Upon his appointment as head coach, Garcia made significant changes to the squad, including dropping senior players Boualem Khoukhi, Abdelkarim Hassan, Karim Boudiaf, and Abdulaziz Hatem, while recalling Assim Madibo, Mohammed Ayash, and Ahmed Al Rawi. The team is preparing for the tournament in a brief training camp underway in Doha. Their campaign kicks off on December 21 against the UAE, followed by a match against Oman on December 24, and final group match against Kuwait on December 27.
With the likes of playmaker Akram Afif and striker Almoez Ali in their ranks, Qatar are still considered one of the favourites despite their recent struggles. A title win would elevate them alongside Iraq, who have lifted the trophy four times. Kuwait, the most successful nation in the history of the tournament, have won it a record ten times. A successful run in Kuwait would bring immense joy to Al Annabi fans, and the team certainly has the potential to deliver a historic victory.
