Jeddah to host Arabian Gulf Cup for the first time — Asharq Al-Awsat
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, will host the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup from September 23 to October 6, 2026, for the first time in the tournament's history. Eight national teams from countries in the region will take part in the competition, with matches to be held at King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City.
Matches at two venues
According to Asharq Al-Awsat, Jeddah's sports infrastructure has developed over decades. In 2014, King Abdullah Sports City opened in the city, featuring a stadium with a capacity of more than 62,000 spectators. This venue enhanced the city's ability to host major international and continental tournaments.
The second match venue will be Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City. Its stadium opened in 1970 under the name Jeddah Youth Welfare Stadium in the Al-Waziriyah district; at the time, it accommodated approximately 22,000 spectators. In 2001, the venue was renamed Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, and following extensive modernization that began in 2012, it reopened in 2021 with a capacity of 27,000 seats.
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The city's football history
Jeddah's institutional sports history began in 1950 with the opening of Al-Sabban Stadium in the Al-Qurayyat district. The 12,000-seat venue became the kingdom's first official sports facility, hosting the inaugural King Cup final and subsequent decisive matches of the tournament.
In 1973, Al-Sabban Stadium hosted Brazilian club Santos, led by Pelé. The team held an exhibition training session at the venue, which drew a large number of spectators. The publication notes that football pitches in the city's districts served for many years as training grounds for players of local clubs and national teams.
