Saudi Arabia kicked off their Gulf Cup campaign in Jeddah with a narrow 1-0 win over Kuwait. The match was tight from the start. The only goal came when Yusuf Al Haqqan of Kuwait accidentally put the ball into his own net. That mistake handed Saudi Arabia three valuable points. The AFC confirmed the goal as an own goal, not credited to Abdullah Al Hamdan.
Opening games in big tournaments are rarely easy. Al Hamdan spoke about the nerves after the final whistle. "Congratulations to us, and better luck to Kuwait. Opening matches are always tough, but thank God we got the win," he said. He made it clear how much the first win means. The match also opened the 27th Gulf Cup, with Jeddah hosting the tournament, as reported by Gulf Times.
Group A of the Gulf Cup 2026 features Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Kuwait, with only the top two teams advancing to the semi-finals.
Even with the win, Al Hamdan did not hide his concerns about the team's play. He said a one-goal win is not enough to feel safe. He also admitted the squad did not reach the level they wanted. "Winning by one goal is not reassuring, and I think we did not show what we wanted, but we were not that bad either. The next matches will be better, God willing," he said. He set the tone for what he expects in the next games.
With this result, Saudi Arabia now lead Group A with three points. According to The AFC, Iraq and Oman drew 1-1 in the other group match. Iraq scored first in the 6th minute. Oman leveled in the 67th. This puts Saudi Arabia on top, while Iraq and Oman share second place. Kuwait have yet to earn a point.
Next, Saudi Arabia face Oman. This match now carries extra weight as they try to stay at the top. Iraq will play Kuwait in the other fixture. The National noted that the second round of matches could decide who makes the semi-finals.
After the first round, Saudi Arabia leads Group A with 3 points and a 1:0 goal difference. Iraq and Oman are tied with 1 point each after their 1-1 draw, while Kuwait is yet to earn a point. The second round of matches is considered key for determining which teams will advance to the semi-finals.
Kuwait now face a tough task against Iraq. If they lose again, their chances of reaching the semi-finals will take a big hit. The first round has already brought drama, showing how unpredictable Gulf football can be. This was seen earlier with high-profile moves shaping the competition, as reported earlier.
Saudi Arabia have shown they can get results under pressure. But relying on an own goal and winning by a single goal shows they need to be sharper in attack. As the tournament goes on, all eyes will be on Al Hamdan and his teammates. They have the early lead, but now they must prove they can keep it. The opening win is a good start, but the real test is still to come.
