Al-Sulaibikhat Stadium is one of the stadia to host the ‘Khaleeji Zain 26 matches.

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 24: Kuwait is putting the finishing touches to what promises to be a spectacular and entertaining Khaleeji Zain 26, one of football’s most prestigious regional tournaments that was previously known as the Arabian Gulf Cup.

Tens of thousands of fans are expected to descend on the Gulf state for the 26th edition of the biennial tournament which runs from December 21 to January 3, with eight Gulf national teams playing 15 matches at the state-of-the-art Jaber Al-Ahmad

International Stadium and Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah Stadium (Sulaibikhat Club Stadium).

The tournament will throw the spotlight on Kuwait as a sporting and leisure destination, a challenge that is being grasped with both hands by a state with a rich and proud sporting heritage.

Kuwait announced itself as an accomplished sporting host nation when it welcomed the Asian Cup to its shores in 1980, and it used home advantage to become the first Arab nation to win the much sought-after continental football title. The state was captivated and enjoyed how the power of sport could unite a nation in support, encouraging Kuwait to open its doors to more prestigious sporting championships at the Arab, Asian and World level.

Supported by a growing and well-trained volunteer workforce, which is vital to the success of any large-scale event, Kuwait has since developed an impressive hosting CV that can list numerous sports.

It has become a key component of Kuwait’s sports strategy implemented by the Public Authority for Sports, which was created in partnership with the relevant bodies and institutions from both the public and private sectors.

The strategy has succeeded in advancing the sports sector in Kuwait by harnessing resources and developing systems that have improved sports activity and placed Kuwait on the international sporting map as a desirable sporting destination.

It all bodes well for the Khaleeji Zain 26 which Kuwait is hosting on behalf of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation for the fifth time.

With an admirable recent track record of hosting major sporting events Kuwait hosted the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship Division IV in April 2024, featuring Mongolia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the hosts, Kuwait.

In 2023, Kuwait hosted the World Bowling Championships featuring 400 of the planet’s best male and female players.

Also, in 2023, Kuwait hosted the inaugural Middle East Asia Pentathlon Championships on behalf of the International Modern Pentathlon Federation, and the 1st World Police Futsal Cup for the International Police Sports Union.

Back in September this year, Kuwait was praised for its staging of the FIP World Padel Championships Qualifiers for Asia and Africa, featuring 14 nations.

Over 150 athletes from 36 countries took part in the Freediving World Indoor Championship last year and, still in the pool, the World U20 Water Polo Championship was superbly held in Kuwait in 2019.

There have been so many more international championships from shooting to even wireless car championships that have shown Kuwait’s hosting pedigree time and time again.

In combat sports, Kuwait has proudly hosted the International Women’s Boxing Championship and has staged many contests across several combat sports.

Kuwait has hosted the Khaleeji Zain 26 on four previous occasions in 1974, 1990, 2003/04, and 2017/18, and will be hoping that it can make home advantage count like in 1974 when they clinched one of their record 10 Gulf titles on home soil.

But one thing is for certain, the seven visiting Gulf teams, officials, fans, and media making their final preparations to travel to Kuwait can be assured that they will be arriving at a friendly destination that places the well-being of its visitors at the heart of its preparations for Khaleeji Zain 26.