Dubai: Former champions UAE were drawn alongside Saudi Arabia and Oman in Group B of the Gulf Cup in Qatar on Monday. Qatar were drawn in Group A alongside Bahrain, Iraq and Yemen.
The tournament is due to be played in Qatar from December 22 to January 8, however, it remains to be seen if the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain will take part following a diplomatic dispute with Qatar.
On June 5 the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, along with Egypt, severed ties with Qatar, citing Qatar’s alleged support of terrorism.
The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain didn’t send representatives or acknowledge the result of the draw, and have yet to comment on whether they would be competing in the tournament.
Kuwait will not be taking part due to a Fifa ban on playing international football because of political interference dating back to 2015.
Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation (AGCFF) secretary general Jasem Al Rumaithi said at the draw that if the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain pull out, the tournament would be reduced to four teams and one round.
The Gulf Cup has been held roughly every two years since 1970. It is usually an eight-team affair with two groups of four, whereby the top two in each group go through to the semi-final and final.
Kuwait hold the record for most wins with 10, while Qatar are the holders having won the last edition held in Saudi Arabia in 2014. The UAE have won the tournament twice in 2007 and 2013.
