Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will vie for a long-awaited title when they meet on Tuesday at Alinma Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah in the final of the 27th edition of the Gulf Cup.
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Playing at home in front of their supporters, Saudi Arabia reached the final for the first time since 2019 after beating Qatar on penalties in the semifinals following a goalless draw in regulation and extra time.
The Green Falcons will have a chance on Tuesday to reclaim the title, which has been absent from their trophy cabinet since 2004, and lift their tally to four Gulf Cup titles. That would move them into joint second place on the all-time list alongside Iraq, five titles behind Kuwait, who have won the competition 10 times, most recently in 2010.
The UAE, meanwhile, are aiming to win their third title after a 13-year wait, drawing inspiration from their strong performances in the current edition. The Whites last stood on the podium at the 21st Gulf Cup in Bahrain in 2013, when they secured their third title, following their first triumph in 2007.
Greek Saudi Arabia coach Georgios Donis praised his players’ technical level and tactical discipline throughout the tournament, particularly their defensive performances, which have kept their goal unbeaten thanks to collective work and significant effort.
“We faced a difficult team that played defensively, so creating chances was difficult. We managed to create some, but we did not score, and that is normal in football,” he said after the win over Qatar.
The Greek coach also pointed to the impact of a demanding schedule, saying: “In short, condensed tournaments, fatigue is always present. We now have to focus on the final step, and we look forward to having the support of the fans in the final because their impact on us is significant.”
Asked whether his team’s level was good enough to win the title, the former coach of Al-Hilal, Al-Fateh, Al-Wehda and Al-Khaleej said: “We have to take each match one at a time. These are big games, and it is not easy to face these teams within such a short period. We are trying to give our best.”
He added: “The best thing is that we have played five matches at home without conceding a goal. That is positive and comes down to the players, their abilities and their great qualities. Possession is also important. Step by step, we will build our own identity and continue working hard.”
“We have great respect for Saudi Arabia”
On the other side, the UAE, who defeated Oman 1-0 in the semifinals, had not expected such an impressive start under new Croatian coach Zlatko Dalić, who took charge of the Whites just one week before the start of Gulf Cup 27.
Despite the short preparation period, Dalić led the UAE to the top of their group with seven points from two wins and a draw, while they scored eight goals for the first time since the tournament adopted the group-stage format.
The Whites have also kept three clean sheets in their four matches so far, conceding only once in their 1-1 draw with Qatar in the final group-stage match. Dalić fielded a reserve lineup in that game after securing qualification for the semifinals.
Tuesday’s final against Saudi Arabia will be the toughest test yet for Dalić’s side, with the coach acknowledging that his opponents have “an extra advantage from playing in front of their home crowd.”
The UAE Football Association sought to narrow the gap in terms of home support by announcing plans to operate 12 charter flights to Jeddah and purchase tickets for its supporters, with around 12,000 fans expected to attend based on the allocation provided to the UAE in the stadium.
Dalić, who knows Saudi football well from his spells coaching Al-Faisaly and Al-Hilal between 2010 and 2013, said: “We have great respect for the Saudi national team. They are strong and will play in front of their fans, so it will be a very difficult match. I expect a strong game and a stadium full of supporters.”
The Croatian coach said the limited recovery time was a challenge for both teams.
“The short amount of time is a challenge for both teams. The most important thing [after the semifinal against Oman] is to get the players back to full readiness. We only had two days, but Saudi Arabia also played extra time against Qatar, so they will face the same challenge in terms of fatigue,” he said.
“We will analyze the Saudi team and prepare for the match in order to put in a better performance than we did against Oman, and that is important for us,” he added.
One of the most successful coaches in the history of the Croatian national team, Dalić also faces a personal challenge: overcoming his difficult record in major tournament finals. He finished runner-up in the 2016 AFC Champions League with Al Ain, the 2018 World Cup with Croatia and the 2023 UEFA Nations League with Croatia.
To achieve his goal, Dalić called on his players to raise their level from what they showed in the semifinal.
“The match [against Oman] was not the way I expected it to be. I cannot say much because my team won, and that is the most important thing. But I feel we can perform better, improve the way we play and create chances, and I hope our performance in the final will be better,” he said.
