KUWAIT CITY, Feb 17: The Gulf teams have started arriving in Kuwait to participate in the first Gulf Cup for veteran players, which the country will host from February 22 to 26. The Yemeni delegation was the first to arrive, coming on the evening of the day before yesterday, with the Saudi delegation expected to arrive today and the Iraqi delegation tomorrow.

The other teams are set to follow over the next two days. Dr. Saleh Al-Majroob, Secretary- General of the Kuwaiti Football Association and Tournament Director, confirmed that all preparations for hosting the tournament have been completed. In a statement to the press, Al- Majroob said, “We have finished preparing the hotels where the teams will stay, in addition to the Jaber Al- Mubarak Al-Sabah Stadium at Al- Sulaibikhat Club, which will host the competition, as well as the training fields that were allocated earlier. All logistical arrangements for the event have also been completed, including communication and transportation services.” Al-Majroob pointed out that the initiative for this tournament came from His Excellency, the Minister of Information, Culture, and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Abdulrahman Al- Mutairi, during the “Gulf 26” tournament hosted by Kuwait from December 21 to January 4, which was a huge success and earned widespread praise.

This initiative led to the establishment of a competitive tournament for veteran players who have previously participated in Gulf competitions, coinciding with Kuwait’s national celebrations. He added that such tournaments aim to strengthen bonds among the Gulf nations, solidify relationships, and encourage attendance from fans of all teams in the spirit of friendship and peace. He continued: “There is also an ongoing initiative within the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation to host this tournament alongside future tournaments, starting with ‘Gulf 27,’ which will be hosted by Saudi Arabia.” Al-Majroob emphasized that the Kuwaiti Football Association’s President, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousuf, and board members have consistently supported the tournament to ensure its success and to showcase Kuwait’s ability to host football tournaments and other sports events. At the end of his statement, Al-Majroob wished success to all participating teams and hoped for a pleasant stay and experience for all delegations and fans, welcoming everyone to their second home, Kuwait.