Saudi Arabia target strong start in opening Gulf 27 against Kuwait

The Saudi Arabia national team is set to kick off its campaign in the Gulf Cup 27 when they face Kuwait on Wednesday evening at the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah, in the first round of Group A, in a match that carries the character of a Gulf derby.

Jeddah is hosting the 27th edition of the Gulf Cup until October 6, with 8 teams participating, divided into two groups, amid an early battle for qualification to the next round.

The match between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait carries a rich record of competitiveness, as they have met 41 times in various tournaments, including 22 encounters in the Gulf Cup, reflecting the historical strength of the rivalry between the two sides.

Saudi Arabia have won 15 matches, compared to 14 victories for Kuwait, while 12 matches have ended in a draw. The Green scored 45 goals, while the Blue netted 44.

The Saudi Arabia national team enters the match with the ambition of securing three points, having won the Gulf Cup three times. They held a short training camp in Jeddah, where Georgios Donis focused on physical readiness and technical and tactical aspects.

The Green Falcons hope to leverage home advantage and fan support for an ideal start, which would give them a boost ahead of their second group match and strengthen their position in the race for qualification to the semi-finals.

The Kuwait national team is entering the tournament with a historic tally of 10 titles in the Gulf Cup. They have been preparing in Doha under the guidance of Portuguese coach Hélio Sousa before arriving in Jeddah.

Kuwait lost a friendly match against Yemen by two goals to one, but they are looking to overcome that result and make a different start against Saudi Arabia, in a match that brings together the ambition of the hosts with the experience and history of the Kuwaiti national team in the Gulf.