Iraq faces Gulf Cup hosting challenge from Bahrain, Oman
Iraq remains the only official bidder for Gulf 28, but Bahrain and Oman are reportedly considering rival bids before Monday’s decision
BASRA, Iraq (MNTV) — Iraq’s hopes of hosting the 28th Arabian Gulf Cup face fresh uncertainty as Bahrain and Oman consider entering the race despite Baghdad currently being the only country to have submitted an official bid.
The latest developments were reported by GOAL, citing Asharq Al-Awsat, as the executive office of the Arabian Gulf Cup Football Federation prepares to meet Monday in Jeddah alongside the ongoing Gulf 27 tournament. The hosting bid for Gulf 28 is expected to be a central issue on the agenda.
Iraq’s bid has previously been confirmed by Basra Governor Asaad Al-Eidani, with the southern Iraqi city of Basra expected to be the principal host location. Iraq successfully staged the Gulf Cup in Basra in 2023, providing the country with recent experience of organizing the regional tournament.
However, sources cited in the report said Bahrain and Oman could formally enter the competition in the coming hours. Neither country had submitted an official bid at the time of the report, but their potential participation could complicate Iraq’s effort to secure the tournament for a second time in a short period.
The Gulf football federation is also reportedly examining whether to restore a rotational hosting system instead of relying exclusively on competing bids.
Under such an arrangement, the tournament would periodically move among Gulf countries, potentially reducing the importance of individual hosting campaigns.
Recent editions have already been distributed among several Gulf states. The United Arab Emirates hosted the 2007 edition, Oman hosted in 2009, Bahrain in 2013, Saudi Arabia in 2014 and 2026, Kuwait in 2017 and 2024, while Iraq hosted the 2023 tournament in Basra.
Supporters of rotation argue that spreading the tournament among Gulf countries can encourage investment in sporting infrastructure while giving different cities opportunities to attract visitors and generate tourism-related activity.
The system could also allow another host to step in when the scheduled country cannot stage the competition.
For Iraq, however, a return to rotation or the emergence of competing bids could disrupt plans to build on Basra’s successful 2023 tournament.
The Iraqi bid remains the only officially submitted offer, but the final decision will depend on the federation’s deliberations and any formal proposals received before the selection process concludes.
The federation is expected to clarify the hosting arrangements following its meeting in Jeddah, potentially determining whether Iraq will receive another opportunity to stage the Gulf Cup or whether the tournament will move elsewhere.
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