"Gulf Cup 27" behind the scenes: How is the tournament managed before the starting whistle?

Final preparations have begun for the Arab Gulf Cup 'Gulf 27' in Jeddah, with a comprehensive organizational system in place ahead of the tournament's opening whistle, which the city is hosting for the first time since the competition's inception.

The tournament will take place from September 23 to October 6, 2026, featuring eight teams competing in 15 matches, held at the King Abdullah Sports City 'Al-Inma' and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City.

Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Kuwait have been drawn in Group A, while Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, and Yemen make up Group B. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.

The local organizing committee is operating through a control room that monitors the reception of delegations, prepares the stadiums, organizes crowd movement, manages hospitality areas and media centers, in addition to coordinating the transportation of teams, referees, and officials.

The broadcasting rights crisis has been resolved after negotiations between IMG and Gulf channels, with Al Kass Sports Channels securing the transmission rights to continue their presence in the tournament since Gulf Cup 18 in 2007.

Referees prepared through a camp in Jeddah with participants from 11 countries, which included lectures, physical tests, and practical training, focusing on VAR technology and recent changes in football laws.

The Competitions Committee, chaired by Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Muqrin, discussed organizational files and training schedules. It also approved match officials and a daily monitoring mechanism that includes morning meetings to address operational observations.

Preparations at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium, which has a capacity of around 27,000 spectators, have been completed. The committee is focusing on training volunteers, organizing crowd entry, and implementing a list of 32 prohibited items inside the stands.