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Saudi Arabia's national football team clinched the 2024 Gulf Cup of Nations (Gulf Cup 27) with a commanding 2-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates in the final held at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. The tournament concluded an exceptional defensive campaign by the squad, which maintained a perfect record throughout the competition under Greek coach Georgios Donis.
The championship marked the Kingdom's first Gulf Cup title since 2001, ending a 23-year drought in the regional tournament. The victory arrived before an estimated 62,000 spectators, marking the largest attendance in the history of the Jeddah stadium.
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Saudi Arabia wins Gulf Cup 27 — The Saudi national team defeated the UAE 2-0 in the tournament final on Tuesday evening at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, clinching the title and bringing an end to the nation's 23-year wait for a Gulf Cup championship. The victory concluded a flawless campaign in which the squad achieved maximum points throughout the tournament.Mohammed Al-Owais named best goalkeeper — Saudi Arabia's goalkeeper and captain Mohammed Al-Owais received the Golden Glove award as the tournament's best goalkeeper following an exceptional defensive display. Al-Owais and his counterpart from the UAE made history as the first goalkeepers to both serve as captains in a Gulf Cup final.Hamam Al-Hammami wins player of the tournament — Midfielder Hamam Al-Hammami earned the award for best player of Gulf Cup 27 in his first international appearance for the Saudi squad. The Al-Hilal midfielder impressed throughout the tournament with consistent performances in the starting lineup.Firas Al-Buraikan awarded top scorer — Saudi forward Firas Al-Buraikan won the tournament's top scorer award following his goal contributions in Gulf Cup 27. The striker's performances were instrumental in the team's successful campaign.Dragane Taljic sacked by Bahrain — Bahrain's Football Association terminated its contract with coach Dragane Taljic following the team's early exit from Gulf Cup 27. The dismissal came after the squad's failure to advance from the group stage.What to Watch:
The Saudi national team will look to build momentum from its Gulf Cup success as it prepares for upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifying matches. Meanwhile, Saudi club football continues with the ongoing Roshn Saudi League season, which broadcasts to over 140 countries and attracts international star players.