Jeddah to Host 27th Arabian Gulf Cup in 2026
Jeddah will host the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup (Khaleeji 27) from 23 September to 6 October 2026, marking the first time the city stages the tournament in its history. All matches will be played in Jeddah, under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The competition brings together eight national teams: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq and Yemen. A total of 15 matches are scheduled across two venues. King Abdullah Sports City – Al-Inma Stadium, known as the Shining Jewel and located in north Jeddah, seats about 62,345 spectators, while Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium in southeast Jeddah holds around 27,000.
The opening match pits Saudi Arabia against Kuwait on Wednesday, 23 September 2026 at 21:00 Mecca time at Al-Inma Stadium. The tournament culminates in the final at the same venue on Tuesday, 6 October 2026 at 21:00. A semi-final between the Group A winner and Group B runner-up is set for 3 October 2026 at 18:55, also at King Abdullah Sports City.
Tickets and prices
WeBook is the primary official distributor for match tickets in Saudi Arabia. Group-stage and general matches at King Abdullah Sports City start from 22 SAR for Category 3 seats behind the goals, with higher categories priced Standard tickets for the final start from 30 SAR, while semi-final seats begin at 22 SAR for the lowest category.
A local organizing committee is overseeing stadium readiness, match operations, transportation, logistics and fan services. For football fans across the Kingdom, the tournament offers a rare chance to watch Gulf national teams compete on home soil, further cementing Jeddah's long-standing football heritage.
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