25th Arabian Gulf Cup

25th Arabian Gulf Cup in Iraq

25th Arabian Gulf Cupكأس الخليج العربي 25

Tournament details
Host country| Iraq
Dates| 6–19 January 2023
Teams| 8 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)| 2 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions|  Iraq (4th title)
Runners-up|  Oman
Tournament statistics
Matches played| 15
Goals scored| 39 (2.6 per match)
Attendance| 665,495 (44,366 per match)
Top scorer(s)|  Ibrahim Bayesh
Aymen Hussein
(3 goals each)
Best player(s)|  Ibrahim Bayesh
Best goalkeeper|  Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini

<- 2019

2024–25 ->

International football competition

The 25th Arabian Gulf Cup, known as Khaleeji Zain 25 for sponsorship reasons,[1] was the 25th edition of the biennial football competition for the eight members of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation. The tournament was hosted in Iraq for the first time since 1979, in the host city of Basra.

Hosts Iraq won their fourth title by beating Oman 3–2 after extra time in the final.[2]

## Teams

[edit]

Team  | Appearance  | Previous best
performance  | FIFA Rankings

|
|
|

October 2022
Qatar | 25th | Winners (1992, 2004, 2014) | 50
Saudi Arabia | 24th | Winners (1994, 2002, 2003–04) | 51
Iraq (hosts) | 16th | Winners (1979, 1984, 1988) | 68
United Arab Emirates | 24th | Winners (2007, 2013) | 70
Oman | 23rd | Winners (2009, 2017–18) | 75
Bahrain (holders) | 25th | Winners (2019) | 85
Kuwait | 25th | Winners (1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2010) | 149
Yemen | 10th | Group stage (2003–04, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2017–18, 2019) | 155

### Draw

[edit]

The draw was held on 25 October 2022 at 11:00 UTC+3 at the Grand Millennium Al Seef in Basra.[3][4] The eight teams were drawn into two groups of four, by selecting one team from each of the four ranked pots. For the draw, the teams were allocated to four pots based on the FIFA World Rankings of October 2022. Pot 1 contained the hosts Iraq and the holders Bahrain, who were assigned to A1 and A2 respectively.[5]

Pot 1  | Pot 2  | Pot 3  | Pot 4

|
|
|

Iraq (68) (hosts)
Bahrain (85) (holders) |  Qatar (50)
Saudi Arabia (51)  |  United Arab Emirates (70)
Oman (75)  |  Kuwait (149)
Yemen (155)

### Squads

[edit]

Main article: 25th Arabian Gulf Cup squads

Each team had to register a squad of 23 players, three of whom must be goalkeepers.

## Venues

[edit]

300km
200miles

Location of areas hosting the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup

Basra

Basra

Basra International Stadium | Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium
Capacity: 65,227 | Capacity: 30,000

## Officials

[edit]

Referees

* Ma Ning
* Ali Sabah
* Abdullah Jamali
* Ahmed Al-Kaf
* Salman Falahi
* István Kovács
* Shukri Al-Hanfoush
* Adnan Al-Naqbi
* Ilgiz Tantashev

Assistant Referees

* Zhang Cheng
* Zhou Fei
* Rashid Abdi
* Rashad Al-Hakmani
* Ovidiu-Mihai Artene
* Vasile Marinescu
* Zahi Al-Shammari
* Khaled Ayed

Video Assistant Referees

* Fu Ming
* Mohanad Qasim
* Jérémie Pignard
* Rédouane Jiyed
* Abdullah Al-Marri
* Abdullah Al-Shehri
* Ahmed Darwish

|
|

## Group stage

[edit]

Tiebreakers

The ranking of teams in the group stage was determined as follows:

1. Points obtained in all group matches:

* Win: 3 points;
* Draw: 1 point;
* Loss: 0 points;

2. Goal difference in all group matches;
3. Number of goals scored in all group matches.

### Group A

[edit]

Main article: 25th Arabian Gulf Cup Group A

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  Iraq (H) | 3  | 2  | 1  | 0  | 7  | 0  | +7  | 7  | Advance to knockout stage
2  |  Oman | 3  | 2  | 1  | 0  | 5  | 3  | +2  | 7
3  |  Saudi Arabia | 3  | 1  | 0  | 2  | 3  | 4  | −1  | 3  |
4  |  Yemen | 3  | 0  | 0  | 3  | 2  | 10  | −8  | 0

Source: AGCFF
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

6 January 2023 (2023-01-06)

19:00 UTC+3

Iraq | 0–0|  Oman

|
|

| Report |

Basra International Stadium, Basra

Referee: István Kovács (Romania)

6 January 2023 (2023-01-06)

21:45 UTC+3

Yemen | 0–2|  Saudi Arabia

|
|

| Report |

* Al-Nabit 18'
* Al-Juwayr 34' (pen.)

Basra International Stadium, Basra

Referee: Salman Falahi (Qatar)

* * *

9 January 2023 (2023-01-09)

16:15 UTC+3

Oman | 3–2|  Yemen

|
|

* Fadhl 2' (o.g.)
* A. Al-Alawi 37'
* Al-Sabhi 47'

| Report |

* Al-Matari 12' (pen.)
* O. Al-Dahi 30'

Basra International Stadium, Basra

Referee: Abdullah Jamali (Kuwait)

9 January 2023 (2023-01-09)

19:15 UTC+3

Saudi Arabia | 0–2|  Iraq

|
|

| Report |

* Bayesh 30'
* Rostam 86'

Basra International Stadium, Basra

Referee: Adel Al-Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)

* * *

12 January 2023 (2023-01-12)

18:00 UTC+3

Iraq | 5–0|  Yemen

|
|

* Nadhim 40'
* Attwan 64'
* Hussein 74' (pen.), 75'
* Ali 88'

| Report |

Basra International Stadium, Basra

Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

12 January 2023 (2023-01-12)

18:00 UTC+3

Saudi Arabia | 1–2|  Oman

|
|

* Al-Ammar 41'

| Report |

* R. Al-Alawi 34'
* Al-Saadi 84'

Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium, Basra

Referee: Ma Ning (China)

### Group B

[edit]

Main article: 25th Arabian Gulf Cup Group B

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  Bahrain | 3  | 2  | 1  | 0  | 5  | 3  | +2  | 7  | Advance to knockout stage
2  |  Qatar | 3  | 1  | 1  | 1  | 4  | 3  | +1  | 4
3  |  Kuwait | 3  | 1  | 1  | 1  | 2  | 3  | −1  | 4  |
4  |  United Arab Emirates | 3  | 0  | 1  | 2  | 2  | 4  | −2  | 1

Source: AGCFF
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

7 January 2023 (2023-01-07)

16:15 UTC+3

Bahrain | 2–1|  United Arab Emirates

|
|

* Al-Aswad 60'
* Al-Shaikh 77'

| Report |

* Tagliabúe 90+2'

Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium, Basra

Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)

7 January 2023 (2023-01-07)

19:15 UTC+3

Kuwait | 0–2|  Qatar

|
|

| Report |

* Surag 21'
* Alaaeldin 37' (pen.)

Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium, Basra

Referee: Ma Ning (China)

* * *

10 January 2023 (2023-01-10)

16:15 UTC+3

United Arab Emirates | 0–1|  Kuwait

|
|

| Report |

* Al-Dhefiri 90+3'

Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium, Basra

Referee: Shukri Al-Hanfoush (Saudi Arabia)

10 January 2023 (2023-01-10)

19:15 UTC+3

Qatar | 1–2|  Bahrain

|
|

* Alaaeldin 34'

| Report |

* Waad 72' (o.g.)
* Yusuf 89' (pen.)

Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium, Basra

Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

* * *

13 January 2023 (2023-01-13)

18:00 UTC+3

Bahrain | 1–1|  Kuwait

|
|

* Al-Humaidan 26'

| Report |

* Al-Khaldi 45'

Basra International Stadium, Basra

Referee: István Kovács (Romania)

13 January 2023 (2023-01-13)

18:00 UTC+3

United Arab Emirates | 1–1|  Qatar

|
|

* Lima 77'

| Report |

* Al-Abdullah 88'

Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium, Basra

Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)

## Knockout stage

[edit]

Main article: 25th Arabian Gulf Cup knockout stage

### Bracket

[edit]

| Semi-finals| | Final

|
|
|

|  |  |  |  |  |

| 16 January 2023 – Basra| |

|  Iraq| 2

| 19 January 2023 – Basra

|  Qatar| 1 |

|  Iraq (a.e.t.)| 3

| 16 January 2023 – Basra

| |  Oman| 2

|  Bahrain| 0

|  Oman| 1 |

### Semi-finals

[edit]

16 January 2023 (2023-01-16)

16:15 UTC+3

Iraq | 2–1|  Qatar

|
|

* Bayesh 19'
* Hussein 43'

| Report |

* Surag 28'

Basra International Stadium, Basra

Referee: Ma Ning (China)

* * *

16 January 2023 (2023-01-16)

20:15 UTC+3

Bahrain | 0–1|  Oman

|
|

| Report |

* Al-Yahmadi 83'

Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium, Basra

Referee: Adel Al-Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)

### Final

[edit]

19 January 2023 (2023-01-19)

19:00 UTC+3

Iraq | 3–2 (a.e.t.)|  Oman

|
|

* Bayesh 24'
* Attwan 116' (pen.)
* Younis 120+2'

| Report |

* Al-Yahyaei 90+10' (pen.)
* Al-Malki 119'

Basra International Stadium, Basra

Referee: István Kovács (Romania)

## Winner

[edit]

25th Arabian Gulf Cup Winner

Iraq
Fourth title

## Goalscorers

[edit]

There were 39 goals scored in 15 matches, for an average of 2.6 goals per match.

3 goals

* Ibrahim Bayesh
* Aymen Hussein

2 goals

* Amjad Attwan
* Ahmed Alaaeldin
* Amro Surag

1 goal

* Mahdi Abdullatif
* Kamil Al-Aswad
* Jasim Al-Shaikh
* Abdulla Yusuf Helal
* Hussein Ali Al-Saedi
* Mustafa Nadhim
* Aso Rostam
* Manaf Younis
* Ahmed Al-Dhefiri
* Shabaib Al-Khaldi
* Arshad Al-Alawi
* Rabia Al-Alawi
* Omar Al-Maliki
* Harib Al-Saadi
* Issam Al-Sabhi
* Jameel Al-Yahmadi
* Salaah Al-Yahyaei
* Tameem Al-Abdullah
* Turki Al-Ammar
* Musab Al-Juwayr
* Sumayhan Al-Nabit
* Fábio Lima
* Sebastián Tagliabúe
* Omar Al-Dahi
* Abdulwasea Al-Matari

1 own goal

* Mohammed Waad (against Bahrain)
* Ali Fadhl (against Oman)

## Team statistics

[edit]

This table shows all team performance.

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Final phase
1 |  Iraq | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 13
2 |  Oman | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 10
3 |  Bahrain | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 7
4 |  Qatar | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4
Eliminated in the group stage
5 |  Kuwait | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 4
6 |  Saudi Arabia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 3
7 |  United Arab Emirates | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 1
8 |  Yemen | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 | −8 | 0

## Prize money and awards

[edit]

### Prize money

[edit]

Position  | Amount (USD)

|

Champions  | 1,000,000
Runner-up  | 750,000
Total  | 1,750,000

Source: [6]

### Player awards

[edit]

The following awards were given:[7]

Award  | Player

|

Top Scorer |  Aymen Hussein
Most Valuable Player |  Ibrahim Bayesh
Best Goalkeeper |  Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini

## Broadcasters

[edit]

Middle East

Territory  | Broadcaster  | Ref.

|
|

Bahrain | Bahrain Sport |
Iraq | Al Iraqiya Sports
Alrabiaa Sports
UTV
Al Sharqiya
Al Sumaria |
Jordan | Jordan Sport |
Kuwait | KTV Sports |
Saudi Arabia | KSA Sport |
Oman | Oman Sports |
Qatar | Alkass |
United Arab Emirates | AD Sports
Dubai Sports
Sharjah Sports  |

Rest of the world

Territory  | Broadcaster  | Ref.

|
|

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Serbia
Slovenia | Sport Klub | [8]
Poland | Polsat Sport | [9]
Greece | Nova Sports

## Controversies

[edit]

### Opening ceremony

[edit]

Ahead of the opening ceremony, a scuffle ensued in the VIP section of the Basra International Stadium. Sheikh Fahad al-Nasser, who represents Kuwait's emir, was unable to enter as a result, and the Kuwaiti delegation left the stadium soon after. The Iraqi representatives apologised for the incident.[10]

### Crowd stampede

[edit]

Further information: 2023 Basra International Stadium stampede

A stampede outside Basra International Stadium, ahead of the final, killed one person and injured up to 60 others, according to reports.[11] The incident was said to have been caused by thousands of fans without tickets turning up to the match early while the gates were still closed.[12] In the afternoon, Basra authorities said the situation was under control and that the crowds had moved away from the stadium, and the final match went underway as scheduled.[13]

## See also

[edit]

* 2023 WAFF Championship
* 2022 EAFF E-1 Football Championship
* 2023 SAFF Championship
* 2022 AFF Championship
* 2023 AFC Asian Cup

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "نحو شراكة رائدة ونجاح مثمر مرتقب .. اتحاد كأس الخليج العربي لكرة القدم يتفق مع مجموعة زين لرعاية خليجي 25" (in Arabic). Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation. 29 December 2022.
2. ^ Lucente, Adam (19 January 2023). "Iraq wins Arabian Gulf Cup championship defeating Oman in Basra". Al-Monitor.
3. ^ "قرعة "خليجي 25".. العودة إلىسحب قرعة كأس الخليج العربي "خليجي 25"" (in Arabic). beIN Sports. 25 October 2022.
4. ^ "Stage set for Arabian Gulf Cup draw". 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
5. ^ "قرعة "خليجي 25".. العودة إلى العراق بعد 40 سنة" (in Arabic). Emarat Al-Youm. 24 October 2022.
6. ^ الدقاق, المعتصم بالله (2023-01-17). "جائزة المركز الأول في كأس الخليج 2023 بطولة خليجي 25". خبرني (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-01-21.
7. ^ "سيطرة عراقية على الجوائز الفردية لكأس الخليج". 19 January 2023.
8. ^ "Match. Yemen vs. Saudi Arabia". livesoccertv.com. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
9. ^ "Arabian Gulf Cup 2023 na sportowych antenach Polsatu". polsatsport.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 11 January 2023.
10. ^ "Brawl at Arabian Gulf Cup shocks onlookers, forces Kuwaiti delegation to leave". Al Arabiya English. 2023-01-07. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
11. ^ "Deadly crush outside Iraq football stadium before Gulf Cup final". BBC. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
12. ^ "Ticketless fans, organisers blamed for Iraq stadium stampede - Football News - Al Jazeera". Al Jazeera. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
13. ^ "25th Gulf Cup: Seats secured by Iraq government for Omani fans to attend Gulf Cup final". Times of Oman. 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2023-01-21.

* v
* t
* e

25th Arabian Gulf Cup

Stages|

* Group stage
* Group A
* Group B
* Knockout stage
* Final

General information|

* Broadcasting rights
* Draw
* Squads
* Venues

* v
* t
* e

Arabian Gulf Cup

Tournaments|

* Bahrain 1970
* Saudi Arabia 1972
* Kuwait 1974
* Qatar 1976
* Iraq 1979
* United Arab Emirates 1982
* Oman 1984
* Bahrain 1986
* Saudi Arabia 1988
* Kuwait 1990
* Qatar 1992
* United Arab Emirates 1994
* Oman 1996
* Bahrain 1998
* Saudi Arabia 2002
* Kuwait 2003–04
* Qatar 2004
* United Arab Emirates 2007
* Oman 2009
* Yemen 2010
* Bahrain 2013
* Saudi Arabia 2014
* Kuwait 2017–18
* Qatar 2019
* Iraq 2023
* Kuwait 2024–25

Finals|

* 1970
* 1972
* 1974
* 1976
* 1979
* 1982
* 1984
* 1986
* 1988
* 1990
* 1992
* 1994
* 1996
* 1998
* 2002
* 2003–04
* 2004
* 2007
* 2009
* 2010
* 2013
* 2014
* 2017–18
* 2019
* 2023
* 2024–25

Squads|

* 1970
* 1972
* 1974
* 1976
* 1979
* 1982
* 1984
* 1986
* 1988
* 1990
* 1992
* 1994
* 1996
* 1998
* 2002
* 2003–04
* 2004
* 2007
* 2009
* 2010
* 2013
* 2014
* 2017–18
* 2019
* 2023
* 2024–25

Category:Arabian Gulf Cup
*[Pos]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points