VIP attendees during the draw for the 'Gulf 26'.

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 10: Minister of Information and Culture, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, and Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee for "Gulf 26," Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, shared that while the tournament is a sports competition, its true purpose is to unite "brothers and strengthen ties with our guests in Kuwait, the land of friendship and peace."

Speaking during the tournament draw held recently, Al-Mutairi expressed that the event would help elevate the level of sports in Kuwait, with hopes for a successful tournament that lives up to its slogan, "The Future is Gulf."

"We warmly welcome all our guests," Al-Mutairi added. "The presence of fans will bring energy to the tournament, and we are optimistic about its success."

The "Gulf 26" will take place in Kuwait from December 21 to January 3, featuring the Kuwaiti national team in Group A with Qatar, the UAE, and Oman, while Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Yemen form Group B.

Director General of the Public Authority for Sports, Bashar Abdullah, emphasized the focus on organizational excellence, noting that Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium, and Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium are ready to host. He remarked that the draw was fair, with seven teams having strong chances to compete for the title, and affirmed that "the Kuwaiti team, the Blues, will compete regardless of recent form."

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef, President of the Football Association, observed that the teams are closely matched based on recent World Cup qualifiers. He highlighted the value of Gulf unity and fair competition, stating, "Eight teams will compete for the title, and there will ultimately be one champion."

Regarding local league games before "Gulf 26," the KFA President clarified that it would not be feasible due to tournament preparations. He added that after the fifth and sixth rounds of the World Cup qualifiers, and Kuwait and Qadsia’s external tournaments, the Kuwaiti team would head to Qatar for a training camp in Doha.

Secretary-General of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation, Jassim Al-Rumaihi, commended the organization of the draw, noting its fairness and expressing optimism for a high-quality tournament. He remarked, "Kuwait has successfully hosted the tournament twice in the past seven years, and everyone is working toward its success." He concluded, "Kuwait is well-prepared to host, with all teams set to bring their main squads as per tournament rules."

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff