Gulf Cup host Qatar says it is ready to ‘welcome’ the eight teams and their fans for the region’s most popular national team event after it was announced that Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain had agreed to feature in the November 26-December 8 tournament.

According to Jassim Al Rumaihi, Secretary General of the Arabian Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF), Qatar is pleased to play host to the entire regional football family.

Almost three weeks ago, Doha had conducted a draw for a five-team event that did not have confirmation from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain.

However, the Executive Committee of AGCFF yesterday confirmed that the football bodies in the three countries had accepted the invitation to feature in the event.

“We are honoured, We are very pleased all the teams are coming to participate in this tournament. It shows how important this event is for all participating countries,” Al Rumaihi said yesterday.

“They want to be here, leaving behind whatever political issues. We are playing under one umbrella of AGCFF,” he added.

“Fans from all countries are welcome. Qatar welcomes you. Qatar has its doors open to all visitors,” Al Rumaihi told reporters.

“All the (participating) countries are anxious to play here in Qatar. The most important thing is to play under the umbrella of AGCFF. It will be a united event.

“Sports is a different field and I hope we can continue like this, God Willing,” Al Rumaihi added after attending a press conference in the company of Vice-President of the AGCFF Jassim Al Shukaili.

“(We) officially accepted Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain’s participation in the 24th Gulf Cup in Doha at their request,” Al Rumaihi said.

French ambassador to Qatar, Franck Gellet welcomed the news of the three teams getting ready to play in Qatar.

“We welcome the good news, announced today by the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation, that the national teams of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain will participate in the 24th edition of the Arab Gulf Cup in Doha,” Gellet told The Peninsula yesterday.

“Beyond the football fans from the eight competing countries, the friends of these countries including France are delighted to see a fraternity once again shared through sport. Congratulations to those who made this rapprochement possible and may the best team win,” the Ambassador added.

The last Gulf Cup was scheduled to be held in Qatar at the end of 2017. However, with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain not agreeing to take part in the event, Qatar voluntarily agreed to giving the hosting rights to Kuwait where Oman emerged as champions after beating the UAE in the final.

In a statement issued earlier yesterday, the AGCFF said it ‘appreciated the response of the associations of these countries to the invitation extended to them to reunite the friends for a tournament that has always been one of the successful means to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and love among the peoples of the region’.

Organisers yesterday confirmed a fresh draw of the Gulf Cup will be conducted today.

World Cup side Saudi Arabia, regional giants UAE and Bahrain will now join defending champions Oman, Yemen, Iraq, Kuwait and hosts Qatar .

Previously the organisers announced all matches were scheduled to be played at the iconic Khalifa International Stadium. Whether more venues are added to that list of one will be confirmed at the draw ceremony today.

Qatar have won the Gulf Cup three times while Kuwait have claimed the title 10 times in the event first played in 1970.

Qatar, who won the 2019 Asian Cup in the UAE in February this year, last won the event incidentally in Saudi Arabia where the home team lost the final at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.