Gulf Cup 27: Qatar Face UAE Tomorrow Seeking Group B Top Spot

Qatar will face the United Arab Emirates tomorrow, Wednesday, at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in the third and final round of Group B at the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup, currently being held in the Saudi city of Jeddah, as both teams seek to finish top of the group.

Both teams have secured qualification for the semi-finals after collecting the maximum six points from two successive victories in the first and second rounds, with the UAE holding the advantage on goal difference. Qatar opened their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain before defeating Yemen 1-0. They kept clean sheets in both matches, underlining their strong presence since the start of the tournament and strengthening their bid to regain the Gulf title, which they have not won since the 22nd edition held in Saudi Arabia in 2014.

The UAE also collected the maximum points after beating Yemen 4-0 and Bahrain 3-0, taking their total to six points, level with Qatar and leading the group on goal difference. A draw would therefore be enough for the UAE to reach the semi-finals in first place. Qatar are relying on technical stability and a squad containing several players with international experience, along with the desire to continue performing strongly during the tournament. The match against the UAE represents a different test against an opponent with clear attacking strength after scoring seven goals in their opening two matches.

Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui said the team would seek to follow the same approach shown in the previous two matches during the final group round, deliver the best possible performance and preserve their morale before entering the semi-finals. The Spanish coach explained that securing early qualification for the semi-finals had been the objective set by the technical staff, helping to ease pressure on the players and allowing as many squad members as possible to participate in matches so the entire group would be ready for the knockout stage.

The coach stressed that the technical staff's objective in the tournament is to compete for the title, while treating each match separately, preparing properly for every encounter and producing the required performance. He explained that the numerous changes he had made during matches were caused by fatigue and exhaustion affecting some members of the squad. He noted that the players are now going through a recovery phase, adding that he had not yet decided the line-up he would field against the UAE in the third round and affirming that he always tries to select the best available players.

Lopetegui concluded by confirming that the technical staff would wait for the match results to determine Qatar's opponent in the semi-finals. He noted that Qatar would approach every team with determination, competitiveness and the desire to win. In the group's other match, Bahrain and Yemen will meet at the same time at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium in a dead rubber after both teams were eliminated from semi-final contention following defeats in each of their first two rounds.

The early elimination of defending champions Bahrain was a surprise after they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Qatar and then lost 3-0 to the UAE, particularly as they had been among the favourites to retain the trophy they won at the previous edition in Kuwait. Yemen's results, meanwhile, did not reflect the form they had shown recently, especially after securing qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

The Group B winners will face the Group A runners-up in the semi-finals, while the Group A winners will play the second-placed team from Group B. Both matches will be held on the third of next month, with the winners meeting in the final on the sixth of the same month.

Source: QNA

--

About Qatar Living:

Since 2005, Qatar Living has been the trusted destination for everything Qatar. As the country's largest online community and marketplace, Qatar Living connects people with opportunities through jobs, property, vehicles, services, classifieds, events, local insights, and breaking news. Trusted by residents, newcomers, visitors, and businesses alike, Qatar Living brings Qatar together in one place.

Instagram - @qatarliving

X - @qatarliving

Facebook - Qatar Living

YouTube - qatarlivingofficial