Muscat: The Gulf Football Federation meeting was held on Sunday after the conclusion of the group stage of the Arabian Gulf Cup Kuwait 2024 “Gulf 26,” with Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait advancing to the semis.
During the meeting, the Competitions Committee of the Gulf Football Federation, chaired by Khaled al Muqrin, confirmed the schedule for the semi-final matches of “Gulf 26,” set for Tuesday without any changes to the venues.
The first match will see Oman face Saudi Arabia at Jaber al Mubarak Stadium in Sulaibikhat at 6:30 PM Muscat time. The second match will feature Kuwait against Bahrain at Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium at 9:45 PM Muscat time on Tuesday.
The organising committee’s proposal to postpone the tournament’s final to January 4 (Saturday) instead of Friday (January 3) was approved by all participating federations.
It is worth noting that the Kuwait Football Federation had proposed adjusting the semi-final match schedule to allow fans of the four teams to attend games at larger-capacity venues due to high demand. However, the Competitions Committee decided to keep the semi-final schedule unchanged, postponing only the final match.
The Oman Football Association had threatened to withdraw from the Arabian Gulf Cup due to the Gulf Federation’s consideration of rescheduling the semis after determining the semi-finalists.
The Omani team qualified for the semi-finals after an impressive performance in the group stage. They drew 1-1 with Kuwait, defeated Qatar 2-1, and drew 1-1 with the UAE, securing the top spot in Group A with 5 points.
The Omani team is preparing to face Saudi Arabia, who finished second in Group B, in a match where the “Reds” aim to achieve victory and advance to the final. The match is expected to witness a large crowd, especially from Oman, to support the team in this crucial encounter.
The Omani national team is striving to win its third Arabian Gulf Cup title, having previously claimed the trophy in 2009 and 2017.
It is noteworthy that ticket sales for the semi-final matches experienced overwhelming demand, with over 130,000 requests received through the online platform. As a result, ticket sales have been postponed to 12 noon on Monday, with tickets exclusively available via the “Hayakom” app and official websites.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
