Gulf Cup group stage delivers late drama, historic draw and Yemen’s record win

The group stage of the Gulf Cup produced a series of dramatic twists, from a last-gasp Iraq victory over Kuwait to a decisive draw between Oman and Iraq, while Saudi Arabia advanced with a perfect record and no goals conceded.

The opening phase of the tournament was marked by intense competition, unexpected results and moments that captured the attention of supporters across the region, both inside stadiums and on social media.

Al-Hamdan answers Saudi criticism

Saudi Arabia forward Abdullah Al-Hamdan faced a difficult moment during his side’s opening-round match against Kuwait. As he was substituted in the 83rd minute, some Saudi supporters greeted him with loud whistles after he had missed several scoring opportunities.

Another section of the crowd responded by applauding and chanting in support of the striker. The divided reaction quickly became a major talking point in media coverage and analysis.

Al-Hamdan responded on the pitch in the third round, scoring against Iraq to confirm Saudi Arabia’s position at the top of the group. He celebrated passionately in front of the supporters, bringing the dispute to an end and underlining his value to the team.

Iraq win Kuwait derby in added time

The second-round meeting between Iraq and Kuwait was a fiercely contested encounter that remained open until the final moments. Both teams exchanged attacks and periods of control in a fast and physical Gulf derby.

The decisive moment came in the ninth minute of added time, at 90+9, when Iraq scored to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory. The late goal intensified the battle in Group A and demonstrated the teams’ determination to fight until the final seconds.

Draw sends Oman through

Oman and Iraq later found themselves level on every relevant numerical measure. The teams had the same number of points, identical records for goals scored and conceded, and an equal head-to-head record.

Even their disciplinary records matched: both had the same number of yellow cards and neither had received a red card. With the sporting criteria unable to separate them, the tournament organising committee held a decisive public draw at the teams’ hotel in Jeddah.

The draw favoured Oman, who claimed the official qualification place alongside Saudi Arabia. Iraq were eliminated in highly disappointing circumstances after one of the rarest conclusions in Gulf Cup history.

Saudi Arabia perfect, Yemen make history

Tournament hosts Saudi Arabia were the only team to reach the knockout stage with a perfect record, collecting nine points from three consecutive victories. They also finished the group stage with the strongest defence, having conceded no goals.

Yemen then delivered one of the biggest surprises of the group stage by defeating defending champions Bahrain 5-2 in the final round. The result was the first time Yemen had scored five goals in a single official match throughout their history and participation in the Gulf Cup, while Bahrain’s hopes of retaining the title were ended.